The color replacing grey in interior design is primarily beige and other warm neutrals, like creams, taupes, and sandy shades, bringing warmth and coziness, while green (especially sage) is also emerging as a popular, nature-inspired alternative, moving away from cool tones to more inviting, earthy palettes for 2025 and beyond.
Beige is often considered a bland, uninspired choice, but it needn't be. It's an excellent alternative to white and grey if you want to create an understated look, and it encompasses a huge range of shades -- everything from pale creams and taupes to richer camel, honey and sand hues.
Gray prevailed in home design for years, offering a neutral backdrop for any decor style. However, experts agree this trend is finally losing its appeal as 2025 approaches. “While gray had a long reign as a neutral, it's time to step aside," Will Brown, principal designer of Will Brown Interiors, says.
Short answer: No--grey was not going out of style in 2022; it shifted from a dominant neutral to one of several neutral choices as designers and consumers broadened their palettes. By 2022 the trend was less about abandoning grey and more about using it differently and pairing it with warmer, richer accents.
Timeless wall colors focus on versatile neutrals and classic hues that offer longevity, including soft whites (White Dove, Alabaster), warm grays and greiges (Revere Pewter), soothing greens (sage, moss), calming blues (navy, pale blue), and warm beiges/taupes (Accessible Beige, Jitney). These colors serve as adaptable backdrops, easily coordinating with diverse decor styles and enduring beyond fleeting trends, creating a classic and sophisticated feel.
The shades of grey that will make a splash in 2025
Pearl grey is the undisputed star of grey shades. This delicate, iridescent hue brings understated sophistication to any space. Perfect for accent walls or designer furniture, it creates a refined atmosphere without ever dominating the room.
In relation to food: Blue is actually known to suppress appetite and reduces hunger. Simply put: the most unappetizing colour.
Beige is a warmer alternative to gray, making it a great choice for designers who want to create a more cozy and welcoming space. Not quite as warm as tan, beige is beautifully bright and airy. Jump on this sand-inspired trend and watch how beige can transform your home.
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The first color is your main color, the second color is still prominent, but not as much as the main color. The third color is your accent color that you use sparingly or sprinkled here and there. If you're into numbers you could break this down into 60%, 30%, and 10%.
Outdated Cabinetry
Granite countertops typically pair with natural wood cabinets, but pine or hickory cabinetry can date your kitchen's style back a few decades. Additionally, cabinetry with gold or brass fixtures shows that the kitchen hasn't had an update for a while.
5 Paint Color Trends to Say Goodbye to in 2025
Joanna Gaines has a new favorite paint color: Cottage Grove. It's a moody navy-green blend from her Magnolia Home collection. Inspired by a historic castle renovation, the shade has been used throughout her kitchen and butler's pantry for a cozy, cocooning effect.
In 2025, warm neutrals like beige, taupe, and creamy off-whites are replacing gray as the go-to base color in interior design, bringing warmth and coziness, while bolder colors like earthy browns, rich greens, and even purples are also trending for accents, moving away from cool grays for more inviting, character-filled spaces.
Beige is replacing gray as a popular interior color, offering warmth and versatility for various design styles. Sandy beige is ideal for creating inviting atmospheres in kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms, enhancing overall decor without overwhelming the space.
Leave overused, cool neutrals in 2025 and take advice from interior designer Marianne Jones and embrace warm, earthy, and saturated color palettes. "Hello rich browns, dusty olives, tobacco tones, warm yellows, deep teals, plums, and moody reds and burgundies," the designer says.
While opinions vary, experts often suggest avoiding bright red, dull cement grey, and olive green, as these can deter buyers or look uninviting, with black and some neons also discouraged for heat absorption or jarring intensity, according to insights from real estate sites like Zillow and designers.
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Popular Greys for 2025
With an increase in demand for shades that bring warmth to a modern interior theme, grey beige, or greige, is currently a shade that's winning in the popularity stakes. It's a timeless trending colour that's well suited to a serene living room, a child's nursery or a contemporary kitchen space.
The overwhelming opinion is that “Millennial Gray” (really, any cool tone grays) are out—93% of the designers agreed. The majority also advised steering clear of cool whites in interiors, as well as bright colors, specifically primary hues (23%), chalky pastels (20%), and dark browns (13%).
10 colors that go with gray in decorating
Green – Quiet and restful, green is a soothing color that can invite harmony and diffuse anxiety. Blue – A highly peaceful color, blue can be especially helpful for stress management because it can encourage a powerful sense of calm. Purple – In many cultures, shades of violet represent strength, wisdom and peace.
What color is the least popular? Overall, the least popular color was orange, with 30% of those surveyed voting for it as their least favorite. Other unpopular colors included brown (23%) and purple (13%).
According to a survey conducted by YouGov in 10 different countries, the most popular color in the world is blue. Not only does this survey confirm it, but any other survey conducted for the most popular color also consistently reveals blue as the top choice.