Fifty Shades of Grey in the home

Bedroom? Bathroom? Kitchen floor? Spice things up by introducing different shades of grey around your house.

Fifty Shades of Grey is seemingly all the craze at the moment and while it may be best known for livening up the bedroom, the colour itself can also be used to liven up homes in general.

Once dismissed as drab and dull, grey went 'mainstream' a few years ago and is still very much in vogue in international décor circles. The colour has also made inroads locally.

Says Richard Nuss marketing manager at Johnson Tiles: "The latest trends revealed at Cersaie - the International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings - show that grey is still a popular colour when it comes to home décor. Locally, plain cement colours in light, medium and warm grey tones coupled with soft designs are gaining popularity."

Ranging from dark and dramatic to soft and serene and anywhere in between, grey generally has a calming, soothing effect. As such, it tends to work well in bathroom spaces. That said, it can be used in just about any room to great effect. For instance, grey is a great colour for the kitchen. Kitchens are designed to be hygienic places and grey hints at cool cleanliness. Grey also works well in the kitchen as it partners well with both modern silver or classic white coloured appliances.

The following are a few more reasons why you should consider using grey in your home:

• Grey is elegant, rich and sophisticated and blends effortlessly with other vibrant tones. It also works well as a neutral backdrop
• Grey can be striking when it takes centre stage. Consider integrating it through a bold piece of furniture such as a couch or a glittering grey mosaic feature wall
• Grey can be a remedy to décor mistakes. For example, if you've purchased a bright coloured piece of furniture and feel that it is too loud, you can play it down with grey accessories to soften it
• Many décor styles work well with grey. The colour lends itself particularly well to contemporary, industrial and monochromatic interiors which typically feature clean, well defined lines
• In terms of grey flooring, concrete, which is very much on trend at the moment, may seem like a good idea. Unfortunately, it can be costly and is not easy to maintain as it needs constant sealing. Nuss suggests that concrete-look inkjet tiles could be just the ticket for those seeking an affordable and durable yet striking grey floor. Such a floor can be used as a neutral base colour to which bold coloured, soft furnishings can be added or it can add depth to a modern industrial look.

Says Nuss: "Thanks to inkjet technology tiles, home owners can now have the beautiful finish of concrete and the cost-effectiveness and low-maintenance of tiles all wrapped into one product."

Those wishing to introduce stronger grey tiled elements should consider Johnson Tiles' 'Moyo' range adds Nuss. These tiles feature a matt, weathered and variable cement appearance which provides a warm, neutral backdrop to which handcrafted items and luxurious metallic elements can be added. In a nutshell, these tiles complement simple designs and are quietly luxurious. 

Source: Jacqueline Gray