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The general perception of the interior is largely influenced by the shade of the floor. That is why today we show you some gray floor ideas to see if this is the color for you. The gray floor covering looks noble and calm, without attracting attention. The range of colors and materials of the gray floor are so wide and varied that they will fit in any style direction.
What color of floor to choose? The general perception of the design of the apartment as a whole depends on the correctly selected combination of floor and walls. A well-chosen color of the floor in the interior can enrich the space and hide the imperfections in the room.
In interconnected spaces, such as a kitchen–living room, different wall finishes and a floor covering can be used to tie the space together. Gray is foreign to real wood floors, but modern technology has learned to do the impossible. To diversify the palette of interior designers, the market for finishing materials offers them a variety of excellent artificial surfaces, the colors and shades of which are not limited by anything. Gray tile and gray laminate flooring quickly began to gain popularity, fitting perfectly into almost any design plan and vastly pushing the boundaries of what designers can do.
The main advantage of gray flooring is its variability and plasticity, thanks to which it can, without exaggeration, fit into any interior. At any level of lighting, gray floors look noble and have a calming effect. An understated monochromatic shade relieves tension and gives a sense of balance. This makes it a suitable choice for the living room and bedroom, but for the work area, a gray floor can be too quiet and put off intellectual activity.
Gray matches most colors. At the same time, if you choose a cool gray for your floor and combine it with the same colors, the environment can be cold and lifeless. The gray floor can be light (in this case, it will be possible to visually expand the room) or darker (later it becomes an accent). In rooms with ash floors, the feeling of air movement is created, it is cool and fresh. It turns out that one of the advantages of such a floor can be called the possibility of external adjustment of the size and configuration of rooms.
The gray of the floor is an atypical shade for most types of floors. Some manufacturers produce materials as a separate collection, so their cost may be slightly higher in comparison with the usual color analogues. Gray is one of the most mysterious and multi-faceted colors. It can vary from an ashen pearl, almost bleached, to a charcoal black. If we talk about the color of the floor, then the most common options for gray are:
Without exaggeration, gray flooring will perfectly fit into any style of room. The main thing is to choose the right material and tone characteristics. Cool gray glow will be appropriate in high-tech rooms. The optimal flooring material is tiles, but linoleum and laminate are also suitable. In such an interior, the ashen shade will not “draw” attention to itself, but will emphasize the idea of minimalism, it will be well combined with surfaces made of metal and glass (characteristic features of high-tech style) .For country style, especially Provence, a gray parquet board is recommended. It will bring freedom and elegance to European village houses, it will be successfully combined with the shades adopted in these styles: blue, beige, pastel and wooden furniture, natural textiles.
Dark gray wood floors will fit in loft and Scandinavian interiors. In the first case, it can be combined with dark furniture and turquoise accessories, which will only emphasize the depth of the palette and the nobility of the floor texture. For Scandinavian interiors, natural materials and light bleached shades are appropriate. Gray flooring can be made of various materials. Let’s consider the most popular options.
Laminate Resin coated particle board with a top layer of paper. The latter is coated with a special varnish, thanks to which the laminate acquires wear resistance, practicality and an attractive appearance. Gray laminate looks especially elegant and respectable, however, the disadvantages of the material are its instability to moisture, high cost and difficulty of care.
Linoleum
One of the leaders for the optimal combination of price and quality. However, linoleum is a material that is characterized by low environmental friendliness. Its use will not achieve the same sophistication and respectability as the use of laminate. However, linoleum costs several times cheaper. The material is not afraid of frequent wet cleaning, it is quite resistant to wear and tear and durable.
Tile alternative
Recently, a tile floor has become no less popular than a laminate. Several tiles with the right distribution and the right choice of color can turn a room into a work of art, thanks to their versatility and the ability to experiment with shapes and sizes. The tile floor looks very aesthetically pleasing and easy to clean. If you opt for matte tiles instead of glossy ones, the floor will be protected from scratches, but the threat of splitting the tiles will still be relevant. In addition, correctly selected glue and correctly laid tiles will provide adequate waterproofing, allowing you to forget about moisture and not back off with every drop of spilled water.
Combination with other colors
Gray is loved by designers for its ability to combine with most shades. It will add softness and texture to pastel palettes, dilute darkness and smooth, making complex colors more natural. Indispensable is a soft ash shade in rooms with contrasting color schemes. Eliminates aggression, makes a smooth transition in the contrasts of black and white, white and red, black and red.
Stylish and elegant interiors are obtained in which various variations of gray are combined. In this case, it is better to make the floor in the lightest shade available or the darkest. Vivid details add bright accents to a monochromatic room. The latter can be yellow, orange, crimson, turquoise. It is better if there are textiles, accessories, decor elements in a bright design. An excellent option is to paint one of the walls (or part of it) with the indicated colors.
A harmonious tandem creates a gray floor with shades of lavender, pale pink, as well as wine colors, pastel blue and green.If we are talking about a room in a classic style, it is recommended to use dark gold as a decoration. It is recommended to combine a gray floor with doors of the same tone. Another safe option is a combination of light gray flooring with doors and canvas in wenge or oak. Thanks to the ash tone of the floor, the wenge looks even softer and more elegant, and the tone of the oak seems even more profound and dignified. By the way, wenge looks good with a warm and cool gray.
How to make a gray floor the highlight of your interior
When working with a gray floor, it is necessary to correctly determine the tone. A dark floor will visually reduce the room, while a light one, on the contrary, will expand. In addition, a light gray floor can help to slightly dilute the interior of rooms crowded with furniture, achieving a feeling of lightness and freshness. If the designer decides that the interior is too quiet and needs to set some dynamic notes, the correct solution would be to use gray laminate. In addition, using all the benefits of modern technology, you can choose a special laminate, gray-beige or gray-brown, which can turn the whole idea of the design, turning it into something different, more sublime and unusual.
The most common mistakes
The main problem with gray soil is its coldness. Without betraying warm accents to the interior, you can turn it into a dead, lifeless and terrifying desert. In addition, the gray coating does not tolerate monotony, therefore an illiterately selected texture or ornament, the idea of such a laminate or tile may die in the initial stages. Also, a good solution would be to combine gray flooring with dark (but not too bright) wallpaper, as well as the use of the now popular metallic color in furniture design.
If the room is done in gray colors and you can’t get away from it, the stupidest decision would be to rub everything to make it shine and turn the room into a chrome box. Correctly experimenting with materials, for example, combining silk and leather, matte and glossy surfaces, working with shadows, choosing extraordinary ornaments and patterns, you can revive even a completely gray interior.
