Grey hallway ideas – 10 ways to decorate your entryway with the most versatile shade

If you're dabbling with the idea of going for a grey scheme for your entryway, take a look at this list of the best grey hallway ideas.  

Grey is has been coasting on a wave of popularity for a number of years now and shows no sights of losing favor. Available in a whole gamut of hues that will lure in the most color happy decorator, grey provides a smart and sophisticated base from which you can build a variety of coordinating and contrasting colors to make your scheme sing.

Grey hallway ideas – decorate your entryway with this popular shade

The best grey hallway ideas are the ones that take light, size and style into consideration. 

'Grey offers infinite possibilities for making a hallway feel relaxing, refined, and timeless, or elegantly sophisticated, but its most redeeming quality is the feeling of calm it creates in any space,' says Farrow & Ball's Color Curator Joa Studholme. 

It's endlessly practical, too, becoming a calm neutral for a whole host of shades.

1. Go for grey in a spacious hallway

A mid-toned grey that can be used as a neutral is a good choice for a hallway, especially if you wish to keep the space light and airy. Team it with a host of darker and lighter neutrals to create a layered scheme, creating the perfect conduit for a pop or two of bold color. 

2. Reach for a dramatic shade of grey

This charcoal grey number adds elegance and interest to a minimal or small hallway. Darker tones of charcoal can be used to add drama to an otherwise 'dead space'. With clever hallway lighting ideas you can create a look that is both strong and atmospheric upon entrance. 

These dark greys are also a wonderful strong background for small amounts of contrasting color, artwork and fabric.

3. Use a blue-grey in a traditional hallway

Tipping toward the blue side of the spectrum, this color is a wonderfully chic shade, perfect for narrow hallways and landings alike. Good if you want to add warmth to a cold space, and an ideal option for country and traditional hallways.

4. Add depth and dimension by using grey on walls and furniture

An excellent choice for small, light filled rooms, this grey adds a subtle hint of color if you prefer to keep a room fresh and bright (but not white). By using the same color for walls and on furniture, but in both its palest and deepest incarnations, you can create a rich, contrasting look that is co-ordinated yet contemporary.

5. Use grey as a blank canvas for standout furnishings

Believe it or not, grey paint creates the perfect backdrop for standout colors, pattern and texture in interior design.

However, if your hallway is starved of warm daylight, choose a grey with a touch of warm brown in it – you'll get the elegance of a grey room without it feeling too cold. Opt for soft furnishings in your favorite colors – they will really sing out against a cool backdrop.

6. Take it to the floor with marble and stone

New interpretations and refreshing schemes make this metamorphic rock an enduring classic. Classic marble may be centuries old, but this versatile material can feel just as relevant in a contemporary setting, and is a beautiful way to add a touch of grey underfoot. 

Too much stone can feel cold and sterile – and marble is no exception. Be sure to include elements of wood, brass and fabric to introduce warmth and deaden the echo of hard surfaces. The mix of materials will help to break up the monotony of the stone. 

7. Paint a narrow hallway in a richly-pigmented grey

This deep grey shade is ideal for those that want to add some drama to their scheme. Richly pigmented, this will soak up cold light so is a great choice for north-facing rooms or spaces with little natural light. Team with warm lighting and reflective surfaces for a more sophisticated feel.

8. Opt for a grey color scheme in a family home

There is something quite delightfully decadent about a grey color scheme. It is cold yet warm at the same, and can be used a backdrop to highlight a carefully-curated selection of wonderful artwork, family heirlooms and well-chosen furniture. 

What's more, grey – particularly dark grey – is perfect color choice if you have children, as it will hide any unsightly fingermarks on the walls. 

9. Channel the restful nature of grey in a landing space

Use grey to create a harmonious look in a landing – one that will make a great first impression. Whether it's pale or slight darker, dove grey is a great all-rounder.

You can dress it up with metallic shades for a luxe look, or keep it simple with natural colors and earthy textures.

10. Introduce a subtle shade

This subtle stone shade is an excellent choice for those that wish to dip their toe in the grey color trend without adding too much drama. Flipping between beige and grey depending on whether the room receives warm of cold daylight, making it the perfect choice for an entryway.

Is grey a good color for the hallway?

‘The use of grey in a hallway is often dependent on the light conditions,' says Joa Studholme. 'Dark greys can work superbly in light starved halls to create drama on arrival and make all the rooms off it look huge and super bright, while colder blues are better suited to gritty industrial kitchens.'

Pale greys provide a softer alternative to whites, while deep dark greys are packed with drama allowing contrasting shades to pop against their bold backdrop. While the darker shades usually have the strongest appeal, when push comes to shove, having such a deep color on the walls may be too much of a commitment for some.

The key is to choose the right undertone for your space. 'With almost as many grey paint colors to choose from as off-whites, finding the perfect grey can be a minefield,' says Benjamin Moore UK Director, Helen Shaw.