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Choosing a paint color is no easy task. Many people opt for a neutral shade that feels "safe" if they want to sell the home in the future. It's how many homeowners have ended up with "millennial gray" interiors — but designers now see it as an outdated paint color.
The popularity of gray interiors is understandable. The neutral shade works in kitchens, living rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms. It's easy to find decor elements that work with this hue. But designers say that gray paint can make a house feel like you're designing around a future "what if" rather than creating a home that's meant for you and your family.
According to experts, more and more people are opting for colors that are "warmer, cozier and more dramatic." Earth tones are trending, as are some unexpected neutrals. This shift reflects a larger trend in design: People want homes with personality. Just look at the nostalgia decor trend and other popular home trends of the year, like reading nooks and color-drenched spaces. The shift away from gray and towards more unique colors is just another example of this design sensibility.
Below, experts explain more about why gray paint feels outdated and the colors they recommend instead.
Why is gray no longer trending?
The answer is simple for interior designer Gail Davis of Gail Davis Design. “While gray is a neutral and soothing for some, we live in color,” Davis says. “I want to live where color saturates a space, and I share this with clients. Color is exciting, and we should be excited to live life.”
Tiffanni Reidy, founder of Reidy Creative, shares a similar sentiment, noting that "exciting design choices are making a comeback" and homeowners are no longer afraid of choosing bold interior colors, even if they intend to move or sell their property down the road. "People were hesitant to personalize their space, ignoring tiles they were excited by, cabinets they preferred and furniture in colors they love because of a future 'what if.' The all-gray aesthetic is used by teams that renovate homes to sell, and developers constructing new homes. The idea that if a home is entirely gray it can be for anyone, is akin to the idea that if a home is painted black it's suddenly 'modern.' The argument simply doesn't hold up."
"Gray has been a neutral, versatile color in design for nearly a decade," adds Autumn Pochiro of Autumn Dawn Design. "However, the hue has overstayed its welcome as a foundational color for walls, furniture and cabinetry."
What do designers prefer instead of gray?
Designer Blair Britt of Bella B Home Designs says people are leaning into colors that are "warmer, cozier and more dramatic, such as warm neutrals, browns, olives, even pops of color."
Gideon Mendelson of Mendelson Group agrees, sharing that the millennial gray trend of the last few years will be replaced by shades of brown. "With the yearning for nature and the retro '70s revival, various shades of brown, like rich taupe, warm clay and burnt umber, will become more prevalent," Mendelson says. "They provide an earthy, grounded aesthetic and have an enduring quality that makes them feel timeless."
Stephanie Brown has noticed the move to earth tones as well — but not just when it comes to paint color choices. "The shift towards these warmer shades has been noticeable in everything from marble and tile selections to rugs, furniture and decor."
"The cool gray neutral base is being replaced by a warmer palette of creams, blues and greens, accented by a striking contrast of color," says Pochiro.
If you’re really up for experimenting, designer Matthew Williamson says pink is a visually appealing option. "I’ve been using a soft plaster pink on the walls at home, and I find it to be the perfect balance. It’s warm without being overwhelming, and it offers a level of sophistication and depth that gray lacks. This soft, neutral pink feels like a fresh alternative, more interesting than beige and white but still incredibly versatile. It’s a new neutral for today’s interiors."
But if you just can't bring yourself to part ways with gray, by all means feel free to use it in your space. After all, your home is about you and what you really love. "If gray complements the overall aesthetic of a space, I will use it regardless of trends," says Amy McCoy of McCoy Design Studio.
