Beautiful Bedrooms: 15 Shades of Gray

For a bedroom with verdant views of the outdoors, a simple gray, white and blue palette keeps the emphasis on the room's connection to nature. "Just as you see in in nature, a balance between warm and cool colors is important for interiors," says project designer Adriana Gerbig. "Here we selected a soft warm gray to balance the cool colors in the fabrics."

Choosing colors for a tween boy isn't always easy — nor is designing a room that will grow with him. Blue is so basic; gray, on the other hand, can add a masculine touch that feels right at any age. "Our challenge for this project was to design a room for a 12-year-old boy that wasn't too age specific, and was personalized enough for him to feel comfortable in a more 'grown-up' space as he transitioned into his teen years," says designer Laura McCroskey. "We used a soft gray paint (Benjamin Moore HC-95) on three walls and the ceiling of this room to create a neutral and cozy retreat, but painted the accent wall behind his bed with cinnabar for a splash of energy. We also used values of gray from dark charcoal to light gray in his bedding and draperies. The chrome lamps and accessories complemented the grays and added a touch of bling. The room is accessorized with a bookcase for books and his childhood treasures and a wonderful study desk in gray canvas with leather trim."

Proof that neutrals need never be boring, this bedroom's a winning combination of subtle shades in a very tight palette. "This room succeeds in creating a masculine, clubby sanctuary for the homeowner to unwind at the end of the day," says designer Brian Dittmar. "By using multiple shades of warm gray paired with taupe, camel and cream tones, we created a space that envelops you and makes you feel at ease because it's all a peaceful — yet interesting — mix of basically monochromatic neutrals."

No need to hang art against gallery-white walls: Warm gray is a great backdrop for everything from bold contemporary works to classic compositions, and allows the artwork to determine the room's color palette. "This room basically has a monochromatic color scheme," says designer M. Charles Beach. "But it's deceiving because of the splashes and punctuation of color, which add drama and sophistication."