Home Style Trend: Too Many Shades of Gray?

Gray is the new beige, meaning it’s going out of style.

In 2005, when you asked for neutral paint, you got Swiss Coffee and Monroe Bisque, also known as off-white and beige. But since 2015, neutral has been shifting toward gray. By 2018, an afternoon browsing new and remodeled open houses could make you feel like you’d been transported into a black-and-white movie. Thank goodness for the trendy 2018 “pop of color”—a green plant here or a turquoise couch there to reassure you that you can still see color.

Gray kitchens with white waterfall islands, gray vinyl tiles that look like weathered wood, and gray veneers on cabinets are still everywhere, but the trend is starting to, well, fade away. Planning to sell soon or looking for a fresh update? Don’t rip all that gray out just yet—just consider adding feminine hues to warm up your gray house. Try a blush throw or even a floral wallpaper, both of which are trending in 2019. (Yes, you too, guys.) Or, for a big change, replace the gray carpet or tile with light wood floors, which pair well with gray but add warmth.

While a new or remodeled home is always attractive to home shoppers, keeping up with trends will help set a home apart and entice a buyer to pick your home out of a sea of gray.