- Gray is one of the most modern and minimalist colors out there
- But as gray is so versatile, it can be tricky to decide what color to pair with it
- Here are some gorgeous gray color palettes for you to use!
Gray is the ultimate neutral you can pair with any rainbow color. Technically, it’s a tint and what you’ll get if you desaturate black. But in practice, gray is a versatile color that makes an excellent background. So, here are some gray color palettes for your inspiration.
You can use gray in art, graphic design, or even in your home. It can create very different moods depending on the shade of gray you choose. For example, a soft, pale gray is gentle and minimalist. In contrast, dark charcoal is bold and a little moody.
And how it looks will also vary, depending on which colors you pair with it. So, let’s look at some different modern gray color palettes. Browse these carefully constructed color palettes, and let me know which one(s) you prefer!
10+ Gray Color Palettes with Hex Codes
So, you know you want to use a modern gray color palette. But what shades of gray should you choose? Gray can range a lot in saturation, tone, and warmth, so which shade you go for will make a big difference. You can create different looks by pairing gray with bright or more muted colors.
Here are more than 10 gray color palettes for you to peruse. Look through them and see which ones jump out at you!
Light to Dark Gray Color Palette
Hex Codes:
Onyx: #393A3F
Gray: #8C8C8C
Iron: #DADADB
Platinum: #E7E7E7
Isabelline: #F2F2EE
Here you go if you’re looking for a pure gray color palette! This modern gray color palette contains shades from the lightest gray to the darkest. It has a nice range and contrast, so the colors won’t all blend together. This color scheme is ideal if you want to keep it simple and monochrome without looking boring. And it shows the true range of the color gray!
Gray & Red Color Palette
Hex Codes:
Silver Sand: #C1C1C3
Silver Chalice: #B2ABA5
Spanish Gray: #969291
Liver: #634A4D
Fire Opal: #ED554F
Red and gray is a bold color combination. As gray is such a neutral color, red stands out even more against it. So, it’s ideal if you want an eye-catching color scheme that grabs attention.
Using red and gray together is sure to make an impact! And the good news is that you can pair any shade of gray with red, and they will look amazing. ‘
Cool grays will provide greater contrast as red is a warmer shade. But you can create a warm and inviting color palette if you opt for warmer gray shades. So, it depends on the look you want to create.
Pastel Gray & Teal Color Palette
Hex Codes:
Pastel Blue: #A5CCD1
Cadet Blue: #A0B9BF
Metallic Silver: #9DACB2
Spanish Gray: #949BA0
Chinese White: #DEF0E2
Teal is the perfect complement to gray if you want to create a calm, soothing aesthetic. Teals and blues are cool colors on the color wheel and work well with gray.
These colors are proven to be relaxing, creating a tranquil vibe. So, they’re ideal for calm artwork like a seascape or even an abstract. And they work wonders in the home, making them a popular interior design choice.
Olive & Gray Color Palette
Hex Codes:
Olivetone: #746412
Green Smoke: #B7B77C
Sand Dune: #81725E
Oslo Gray: #959797
Loblolly: #B8C3CA
This color palette has earthy tones, from brown to olive and gray. It’s ideal if you want to channel natural vibes and create a subdued color scheme. The olive shade is the boldest color of this palette, standing out against more neutral tones.
Pink & Gray Color Palette
Hex Codes:
Isabelline: #F2EFF0
Light Silver: #D8D8D8
Black Shadows: #BFB3B8
Opera Mauve: #BC8BA0
Deep Blush: #E36397
When you pair pink with gray, you create an effective color palette. The pink makes it soft and feminine or bold and bright, depending on the shade you choose. Either way, the gray color tones it down and creates balance. As a result, you’ll have a harmonious color scheme blending cool and warm, feminine and masculine.
Yellow & Gray Color Palette
Hex Codes:
Bright Gray: #EEEEEE
Orange-Yellow: #FFD369
Arsenic: #393E46
Charleston Green #222831
Muted Blues & Grays
Hex Codes:
Blue-Gray: #6D99CE
Casper: #A6BAD0
Mischka: #CCD1DA
Shuttle Gray: #5F6B7A
Davy’s Gray: #4B5056
The colors blue and gray have a lot of similarities and look great together. Blue often has a gray undertone, so these colors complement each other rather than clash. These shades work especially well if you want a muted, soothing color palette. It’s neither too bold nor bright, making it calm with just a little edge.
Purple & Gray Color Palette
Hex Codes:
Gray: #7F7C82
Wisteria: #BFA2DB
Lavender: #F0D9FF
Anti-Flash White: #F3F1F5
Similar to blue, purple is often a cooler color on the color wheel. These pastel purples look beautiful when combined with a light and dark gray. There’s so much contrast in this color scheme. So, the pale lilac and lavender shades stand out nicely against the charcoal gray tone.
Orange & Gray Color Palette
Hex Codes:
Hot Cinnamon: #E3571A
Buttercup: #F39F1B
French Gray: #C9CACF
Gray Chateau: #9CA3A9
Ironside Gray: #64635E
Orange is a bold and vibrant color that’s full of energy. So, you could say that it’s the opposite of gray. But even so, these colors work well together. That’s because there’s so much contrast between orange and gray. As a result, they balance each other out. And the rich orange tones stand out even more against the neutral grays.
Neutral Gray Color Palette
Hex Codes:
Titan White: #EEEEFF
French Gray: #B7B6C1
Champagne Pink: #EAD7D1
Philippine Gray: #94958B
Sometimes, you want bold colors, and other times call for a more neutral color palette. In that case, this one ticks all the right boxes. It combines the palest grays, sand, and muted greens. This color palette is ideal for a minimalist look.
Modern Black & Gray Color Palette
Hex Codes:
Gainsboro: #DCDCDC
Davy’s Gray: #5C5C5C
Gray: #7E7E7E
Vampire Black: #0B0B0B
I mentioned above that gray is a desaturated shade of black. You probably know that you can make gray by mixing black and white paint together. So, it is no surprise that gray can look amazing combined with black.
This color palette is modern, edgy, and stylish. Depending on how you use the colors, it can look moody and dark or simple and minimalist. So, there’s a lot of potential for what you can do with this monochrome color palette!
Warm Pastels & Grays
Hex Codes:
Ivory: #EEEDE7
Pewter: #B9B7BD
Gray: #868B8E
Scallop Seashell: #E7D2CC
This color palette is simple and minimalist yet sophisticated. It pairs shades of gray with warm neutrals to create a calm and soothing effect. This color scheme is ideal if you don’t want anything too bright or in your face. And these colors would look gorgeous together on the canvas, too.
Dark Gray Color Palette
Hex Codes:
Black Olive: #3D3D3D
Davy’s Gray: #565656
Dove Gray: #666666
Gray: #818181
Are you looking for a dark, moody color scheme? Then, these strong gray tones fit the bill. These are some of the darkest gray shades out there. So, naturally, there’s not a lot of variation between the shades. But if you want dark grays, here you go!
The Wrap Up
There you have lots of modern gray color palettes to choose from for inspiration. And they come with names and hex codes, so you can use these color schemes any way you like.
I’d love to know which of these color palettes appeals most to you – share in the comments below!
Follow Proactive Creative on Pinterest for more arty inspiration, color guides, reviews, and more.
