Gray and the Model T Ford

Henry Ford once said, “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black.” As I walk through new construction these days, or browse online, it seems that Henry Ford would agree that gray is the new black. Walls, décor, tile, and granite are saturated with gray themes. The question is, will we tire of this? Is this a trend that will make us crazy in ten years? I am no Nostradamus, but I think the answer is no.

Gray has become a welcome addition to the family of comforting neutrals that provide peaceful backdrops to our homes and lives. These grays join the classic group of colors like creams and beiges that make up the easels in our home décor. They are there to strengthen and complement the other colors with which we choose to surround ourselves. There is even a whole new group of warm colors, the ubiquitous “greiges,” that combine the grays with beiges. However, unlike the Model T, we are not mired in a single gray. Grays can show sides of blue, green, silver, and warm beiges.

The nuances of gray can provide a classic family of colors for any environment. And the beauty of gray, like other neutrals, is that it is very accommodating for those pops of color we so enjoy. Of course, Henry Ford also said, “Don’t find fault. Find a remedy.” If I am wrong, and gray surfaces become the shag rugs of the ‘70’s in the next generation, then we will indeed find a remedy and yet be thankful we enjoyed so many years of soft colors in our homes or long piled, soft rugs under our feet!