Gray is the New Beige: Interior Paint Colors for 2011 and Beyond

Gray is the new beige. This range of Benjamin Moore grays will make you view gray in a new way. If you can't embrace gray as the new neutral, then you've completely missed the elegant color palettes of Windsor Smith and the move toward a neutral which can go cool or warm. Gray is calming and smoothing. Gray is a polite neutral which happily makes room for a pair of contrasting colors, or a quiet party of muted colors to keep it company.

If you want your room (not your hair color) to go gray, use this guide to help narrow down the array of gray interior wall paint colors. Whether you want an ethereal gray, a comfortable sweatshirt gray or a cool and modern gray, you won't be sorry you when you see your color scheme on the wall.

Gray is the New Beige: Benjamin Moore Interior Paint Colors for 2011 and Beyond

Anchor Gray

Anchor gray is a dark gray, ideal for accents. Use with a deep blue and hints of warm red for a nautical theme.

Kendall Charcoal (HC-166)

Windsor Smith probably eats Kendall Charcoal for breakfast. Use this subduing hue in any bathroom, formal living room or feminine bedroom. Use equal amounts of Smoke (2122-40) blue, white and Porcelain (2113-60) a dusty pink. The result is a softer version of 1920s Art Deco.

Gray Mountain (1462)

Warm up the den or his office with an almost umber brown infused gray, Gray Mountain. Use the creamy Ivory Porcelain (239) as your neutral. Spice up the room with Pottery Red (2085-20).

Stormy Sky (1616)

A woman's touch takes a serious note in any room using Stormy Sky (1616), a deep gray. Use medium blush pink Victoriana (1263) with the airy pink, Wild Aster (1240). Pump up the color volume with window treatments, rugs or lamps to match the deep, Valentine's wine, Bordeaux Red (1365).

Gray and Tranquil

Combine three grays for a peaceful and tranquil feel in any room. Try Night Train (1567), a dark gray with two lighter grays, the greenish gray Silver Crest (1583) and a more blue gray Pale Smoke (1584). Add accents or home decor accessories in a deep mustard yellow, similar to Aztec Yellow (2152-20). Or go with Fort Pierce Green (712).