Grey is on its way out...finally!

After over a decade of nothing but grey (and white), what's next?

Ragno's ahead of the trend with their Amuri collection

Change is inevitable. Trends in interior design are no exception. The lifespan of even the most seemingly "timeless" colors, finishes and patterns only last, on average, around 10-15 years. We started to see grey dominate the interior design world around 2009. Now designers are turning away from the cool greys and are leaning into warm colors.

How are these finishes different from what was so popular in the 2000s? Instead of a yellow/orange undertone, the travertine sought after now is beige and cream. Instead of 18x18 yellow travertine with 1x2 bricks mosaics, the updated look is large format (30" or larger) with zero entry showers that allow for shower floors with less grout lines. Handmade subway, Zellige, Moroccan decorative tile, flagstone and chiseled Versailles pattern natural stone floors are replacing white 3x6 flat subway and Bianco Carrara marble.

Ragno's Wish Collection for wall tile and Realstone Travertino for floors

Manufacturers seem to be catching up with the demand for the color pallet that designers are looking for. Earth tones are still hard to come by. Warm greys are becoming more common. We are seeing new tile series that mix warm grey with rust, cream and browns. It's a slow transition that allows homeowners looking to integrate their existing grey pallet with warmer tones. Green is becoming more popular for backsplashes, shower walls and even cabinets. Quartz manufacturers are embracing the trend and creating new options with more gold and cream. Travertine, limestone and terra cotta are top choices for designers looking to switch to the warmer color trend.

Mir Mosaics Alcazar Collection has 3 shades of floor and wall tile in warm tones with a handmade appearance

White shaker cabinets have reached their pinnacle of popularity. Rift sawn white oak is seen all over Pinterest. Very different from the honey oak cabinets popular in the 90s, these tend to be very high-end, custom cabinets that are not cost-effective for most homeowners. With time, manufacturers of faux wood cabinets will catch on and produce affordable alternatives to the beautiful, but wasteful rift sawn wood.

Despite the difficulty in finding earth tones that cater to the changing trends, designers are excited to embrace a long-awaited shift away from grey.