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Gray and Neutral Bedroom Decorating Ideas

Three quarter view of a gray and neutral decorated bedroom

The Spruce / Alyssa Vela

Decorate a room entirely in neutrals, and while it will likely be attractive, it may also be a bit dull. Choose a palette of all gray for your bedroom and again, you’ll probably end up with a space that looks nice, but might also be somewhat chilly or grim. But marry the two together, and you’ll love the results: a room that is warm and yet not dated, tranquil but not cold, elegant but not stuffy, contemporary but not stark. If you’re looking for an extremely versatile—but still fairly safe—palette for your bedroom, it’s hard to go wrong when you mix gray with whispers of white, cream, and tan.

  • 01 of 07

    Gray and Neutral in a Teen’s Room

    Teen bedroom decorated with gray and white
    DigsDigs

    It’s not only adults who love the calm and contemporary combination of gray and soft neutrals. Many preteens and teens also love the look. The room shown here gets it right: the star-spangled gray-and-white bedding is lots of fun, but the simple, rustic wooden bedside tables, nubby cream area rug, and industrial-inspired lighting fixtures all combine to create a definitely grownup vibe.

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  • 02 of 07

    Mixing Patterns

    Gorgeous wooden ceiling and patterned carpet in bedroom
    House Beautiful

    When you’re working with a very simple palette of soft color, it’s much easier to go a little bold with your pattern play. In particular, if you love the look of patterned carpet, sticking to soft gray, brown, cream, or tan allows you to go bold on the floor without visually overloading the space. For proof, just check out the bedroom featured here. Along with the striped carpet, the patterned bench at the foot of the bed, the fabric-draped bedside table and the stunning wood-plank ceiling add a lot of patterned punch to the room, but because of the carefully controlled color scheme, the result is still soothing—not stimulating. That’s the beauty of gray and soft neutrals in the bedroom. (Love the whispery-soft gray wall color? It’s Gray Owl from Benjamin Moore.)

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  • 03 of 07

    Gray and Neutral Goes Glamorous

    Glamorous gray and white bedroom
    DigsDigs

    Never let it be said that neutrals can’t be glamorous. When you stick with colors of the same intensity throughout a room, you end up with a quietly elegant glamour that makes a statement without making a fuss. Here, the luxurious upholstered bed piled high with cozy bedding is set off by the unexpected touch of the dual-tone curtains and the lovely drum chandelier with its crystal drops. Sedate and yet stunning.

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  • 04 of 07

    Clean and Serene

    Midcentury modern chairs in bedroom
    Astronaut Images / Getty Images

    Want the clean, serene look of minimalism without going to an extreme? Then choose a palette of soft gray, natural wood, and off-white like the bedroom shown here. Sweep it free of excess adornment or clutter, but that doesn’t mean any personality or comforts; for instance, the soft gold mid-century modern chairs in the sitting area of this bedroom are on mark style-wise and comfortable, to boot.

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  • 05 of 07

    Rustic Beauty

    Rustic bedroom with gray and white
    Hero Images / Getty Images

    Do you love the casual vibe of rustic, weathered wood, but want to avoid a country look? Then choose furniture with clean lines such as the simple gray upholstered headboard shown here. Add in a pile of various-textured throw pillows for elegant style, then finish the scene with a distressed wooden bench at the foot of the bed, along with faux (or real, if you’re so inclined) wooden planking on the walls, and the result is a bedroom that is both rustic and sophisticated.

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  • 06 of 07

    Gray and Neutrals Get Eclectic

    Eclectic bedroom with leopard print chair
    Trevor Richards / Abode / Getty Images

    A bedroom with a rough brick wall could easily adopt an edgy, industrial or goth style, but if you prefer a softer look, just contrast the brick with a gentle palette of gray, eggshell white, and black. Add in a touch of quirky personality with leopard print—or whichever animal print is your favorite—and voila! You have a wonderfully eclectic decorating statement that showcases your unique personality.

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  • 07 of 07

    Lighten up Traditional Style

    Oversize gray and white striped headboard
    Abode / Getty Images

    While traditional decor is classic, it does run the risk of looking humdrum. Instead of a bedroom that feels stuck in the past, give your traditional room a touch of the present day by choosing contemporary darlings gray and white for your palette, and then go dramatic with a headboard that says, “Look at me!” Bold stripes are perfect in such a space because while they are a very classic pattern, they are also attention-grabbing enough to make a statement when they cover a large surface like the oversized headboard shown here.