How to pick the right grey paint: expert advice

Grey is the new neutral that stylists love to work with. It’s sophisticated, versatile and can add depth or lighten up any room.  But there’s one problem – finding the right shade without professional advice can prove extremely difficult. Unfortunately, I know from experience. Despite trying numerous samples in the room, in different lights, I painted our bedroom walls lilac not once, but twice. Ahh! So, how can you avoid making the same mistake? I quizzed colour consultant Lisa Harragon to find out.

Tip 1. A grey with a beige base will stop your walls looking purple. To identify the base colour look at the darkest colour on the fan deck or colour atlas, then run your eyes up to find the shade you’re after.

Tip 2. Don’t assume the grey in your friend’s home or on Instagram will work in your home too. Natural light, the colour of the floor, overhead lighting and the aspect of the house all play tricks on the eye and transform the colour.

Tip 3. Always buy a sample pot and test the paint on every wall in the room. Make sure the test patch is at least one metre squared and apply two coats. A small test patch and one coat won’t give a true indication of the colour.

Tip 4. Don’t rush out and buy 4 litres of paint before you’ve checked the grey on all walls, at different times of day, with the lights switched on and off. A wall with no natural light looks much darker than the colour chip in store and as the sun sets, more of the base colour will show. It takes patience but this is the only way to get an accurate idea of whether you really like the colour or not.

So there you have it. Simple tips that will hopefully save you from painting your walls twice, like me!

–Lauren Ellis is a reporter/senior producer for TODAY, the face of Interiors Addict TV and a graduate of ISCD. Follow her on Instagram @mypicketfence_