This 'dated 00s color trend' made Jennifer Aniston, Vanessa Hudgens, and Meg Ryan's decor look so chic – and it has made me rethink using it myself

It's all too easy to fall foul of uninspiring color fads. One such color that is always quick to raise a few eyebrows is gray. I was always quick to silently sigh every time I heard someone was decorating with this much maligned non-color. However, we've noticed more and more interior designers and celebrities welcoming this outdated color trend back into their homes to stunning effect.

Could decorating with gray be having a renaissance? Yes, but only if you know how to choose the right shade for your home.

The problem with gray is not necessarily the shade itself, but the overuse of gray during the early noughties. Much like the popularity of beige in the nineties, gray became the catch-all color for residential and commercial properties. Come 2020, with a pandemic in full swing, we were sick of this gloomy shade – we wanted color.

But like most color trends, they are cyclical, and gray is back and better than ever, or perhaps we just understand gray room ideas more. Of all the neutrals, gray is one that instantly brings gravitas, so it is worth learning how to get it right.

It's not just designers who share our renewed love for this popular color. American actresses Jennifer Aniston, Vanessa Hudgens, and Meg Ryan have recently used gray in their latest projects. The final results, which use some of the best gray paints, are a visual triumph.

Gray is a color that has its own weather system of light levels and hues. From the gentle gray morning rain of a bright wide sky to the breathtaking drama of dark storm clouds, the scope for creating beautiful interiors is endless. It is a shade with myriad subtle color notes that draws inspiration from beach pebbles and clay, as well as from slate and charcoal.

If you're stuck for inspiration, or worry that gray is too cookie-cutter, simply borrow inspiration from Jennifer Aniston's tranquil bedroom, which beautifull mixes gray, brown and soft purple tones – all restful colors that blend beautifully. The key for designer Stephen Shadley was to use texture, and plenty of it. It's a way of adding depth and dimension to a room as well as comfort.

Gray harmonises well with almost every other hue, making it a most adaptable neutral and giving good reason for its popularity, says Helen Shaw, director at Benjamin Moore. She says there are three approaches to take when using gray as a base.

‘Tonal grays are perfect for anyone looking to add an accent color, as a complementary gray with a matching warm or cool undertone can be chosen for a harmonious look.’

Alternatively, she suggests layering a gray paint with a green undertone: this is a fool-proof choice, as green grays sit at the center of the color wheel and flatter both warm and cool colors.

Finally, to make more of a statement, go for corals and pink peach tones. ‘They create a rich, warm, welcoming feel with undertones of red, orange, and pink. It works beautifully as an accent to a gray scheme or as a statement wall color,’ she adds.

My favorite way to decorate with gray is to make do like Becker Studios, the design team behind Meg Ryan's kitchen, and introduce gray in all its glorious shades and variations.

To avoid a gray-on-gray color scheme feeling cold, you can add warmth through textured fabrics and the layering of patterns.

Mood is one consideration, but it is also helpful to consider how gray might affect the size of a room.

‘The paler the tone, the more it will reflect the available light. The darker the tone, the more light it will absorb,’ says Justyna Korczynska, senior designer at Crown Paints.

‘At the extremes, white will make a room look more spacious, and black brings the walls visually inwards. This rule applies to all colors. So, a pale grey is ideal if you want to make a room look larger; a deep charcoal would make it appear smaller. Having said that, a dark color used in a small room can be really effective.’

Perhaps the most modern way to do gray is to replicate Vanessa Hudgens' daringly dark gray bathroom. Interior designer Jenna Peffley took inspiration from the trend for color-drenching to create this decadent look.

This paint trick acts as a beautiful canvas for interesting architecture, beautiful furniture, and accessories. It is a fantastic way to make a statement, and gray is perfect for color-drenching.

Shop the gray edit

My final piece of advice is to treat gray as a neutral and layer it with darker and lighter tones, including plenty of texture and some accent pattern. It makes a cozy and wonderfully dramatic statement at the darker end of the grey spectrum, and at its lightest, it offers a sanctuary of calm.