It’s interesting to note that the color grey continues to trend along with black – still dominant on the color wheel. Yet, only 1% of people select grey as their favorite color. For many, it’s considered drab and boring; but for others, it’s restrained elegance. If you describe it as ‘battleship grey’ that’s dull; but if you call it ‘titanium’ or ‘dolphin’ you generate interest. When you remove color from an image, you have a completely ‘tonal’ color’ known as greyscale with its roots in black and white; did you know there are over 250 shades of grey? And therein lies the major significance of grey in both our worlds of color – and our thought processes.
Maybe this is why the color grey has take the world by storm. Grey is the color of intellect, knowledge, and wisdom. It is perceived as long-lasting, classic, and often as sleek or refined. It is a color that is dignified, conservative, and carries authority. Grey is controlled and inconspicuous and is considered a color of compromise perhaps because it sits between the extremes of black and white. Grey is a perfect neutral, which is why designers often use it as a background color.
Life is also about the grey areas; things are seldom black and white and even when we wish they were, its good to explore nuanced terrain. One might argue that grey has no fixed agenda which leads to a discussion of dichotomous thinking – also known as ‘black or white thinking.’ If you are a dichotomous thinker, you struggle to find middle ground – also referred to as grey thinking – as you mostly see only the absolutes and extremes in things. However rarely can life be seen in only two different shades of color since there are so many different underlying factors.
So think about yourself, and your relationship with grey. How do you feel about the use grey in your home’s color palette or in your wardrobe? And, think about how you think – dichotomous or in ‘shades of grey’. When it comes to the color palette for your home, let us advise how you might incorporate grey into your interior or exterior paint scheme as you plan an update or refresh in the near future. We’re color consultants, artisans, and will steer you towards the right choice for your home or business. Call us today!