I’ve never met a green I don’t like, and there’s a reason for that. Green sits in the middle of the colour spectrum which makes it practically one of the easiest colours on our eyes. It makes us feel safe, it’s soothing and doesn’t over stimulate our minds.
French Gray sits between light to mid tones of green, which makes it even more preferable. It’s one of Farrow and Ball’s most popular green greys which flits between these two colours depending on the light the room receives, and the time of the day.
If you’re looking for a comfortable green, you won’t be disappointed with this one. I’ve pulled together different colours that go well with French Gray and how to style it to perfection, no matter the room it’s in.
French Gray Farrow and Ball: 13 Perfect Colour Pairings For Any Room
The beauty of a comfortable green like French Gray is that it virtually pairs well with any colour. It’s very popular used as a base colour in an earthy inspired design, this lends itself to positioning in a colour palette with creams, whites, browns, rusty reds and sometimes blue.
From traditional to contemporary schemes, this colour can be positioned with any colour depending on how you want the room to feel. It also pairs well with contrasting shades on the colour wheel such as mustard yellows, reds and purples.
Here are 13 colour pairings in real homes, styled to perfection.
1. Layer With Green
French Gray is the perfect platform for layering with darker, more defining shades of green for a really tactile, well put together scheme.
Introducing other green tones onto bedding, textiles and rugs is a lovely, and really easy way to do this. You may choose to use whites and warm creams in the rest of your scheme to create a soft balance between the shades. To recreate a similar half wall panelling look, use Wimborne White on the upper walls and ceiling.
2. Tap Into The ‘Unexpected Red Theory’
I always think that red is one of the best colours to pair with a green. Due to them sitting opposite on the colour wheel it makes it a highly contrasting, but very complementary colour.
One of the latest things on the interior block is something called ‘the unexpected red theory’ this theory suggests that adding a pop of red to a room is key to pulling any colour scheme together, and what can I say? It really works!
You only need a single pop of red to pull this off, and this has been put into practice on the headboard in the below bedroom. A stunning contrast against the half wall panelling which is painted in French Gray.
You could also recreate this by painting a piece of furniture, such as bed side tables or a console table. Farrow and Ball Eating Room Red is a beautiful shade to do it with.
3. Lean Into A Warm Off-White
Kitchen cabinetry in this lovable green sets the tone for a soothing, welcoming space. For the walls, a warm off-white creates a subtle, elegant contrast that works in both north and particularly sunny south facing rooms.
For darker spaces, use a white with a warm red, yellow, pink or green undertone. School House White would be my top recommendation, it’s a warm neutral with slightly cool undertones that is evenly balanced, and a fantastic complement to greens.
My top tip? If you’re decorating in this way, use this off-white shade up and across the ceiling for a cosier, and stylish feel.
4. Ground The Scheme With Black
This colour also works well in both modern and traditional interior schemes, with French Gray being a mid range green, introducing a darker, more defining colour will help to ground the overall look.
Black on woodwork? Yes! Acting almost in a similar way to a red, black has the ability to bring a touch of modernity and complete any scheme.
If you’re using a black on woodwork such as Pitch Black, tie it in with a few other black accents such as on photo frames, decor accessories or door hardware. It’s the perfect finishing touch for a French Gray colour scheme.
5. Use As A Defining Colour On Woodwork
Switch it up and instead use French Gray on woodwork for a defining look against your favourite off-white. As a designer this is one of my favourite ways to pick a wall colour vs skirting and woodwork. Depending on the colour I use on the walls and the look I’m trying to achieve, I lean into a colour at least two shades darker on woodwork to bring definition, and a stylish feel.
Pointing has been used on the walls in the picture below, a warm, red based white which brings a soft yet warm contrast to the green.
6. Wooden Elements Pair Beautifully
Earthy interiors are heavily based around greens and any colour that you can take from nature will work here. Natural elements are an absolute must to dot all the i’s and cross the t’s, so to speak.
Wood will ground and define a French Gray room, and it makes a space feel even more comfortable to be around. Wooden flooring will help to instantly tap into this, but wooden furniture and even small decor accents can be lovely ways to incorporate this.
Don’t just stop at wood, other natural elements will help to create an earthy scheme around this green, look at elements such as seagrass, rattan, marble, stone and ceramics.
7. Pair It With Brass For Natural Warmth
Proof that this green makes for the cosiest living room scheme! You could go one step further and colour drench the entire space with the colour if you want to create a more intimate feel, particularly clever in very large spaces.
Brass hardware is one of the best contrasting elements against green as it brings natural warmth and beauty, be it to a set of bespoke cupboards or picture lights to bring ambient lighting to shelving and artwork.
8. Bright White For A Crisp Contrast
A clean, bright white shade like All White remains a popular decorating approach against any colour, specifically on ceilings and woodwork. Or perhaps even being used on half wall panelling in a hallway to create a crisp, pristine contrast.
Personally, leaning into a warm off-white is a better approach if you have a cold space or one with limited light as the room can only bounce around what light is available. In a situation like this, it will instead make a bright white feel flat in a space.
9. Green & Blue – The Unexpected Colour Pairing That Just Works
Unexpected, but totally delicious when sat side by side in an interior. If you’re planning a coastal theme, a blue accent against green will bring definition and balance between the two.
This bathroom below has nailed it! I adore the blue gingham print on the pelmet and curtains, it’s different but one that frames the window for the right reason and breaks up the straight run of green across the rest of the walls.
10. Pink & Green
Needless to say, pink pairs with a green like no other colour can. A soft pink such as Calamine which has been used on the door here creates the daintiest colour palette against French Gray on the bedside table, and white across the rest of the room.
Green and pink used as accent colours, rather than dominant colours in their own right is just another way you can choose to position this green in your interior.
11. Add High Impact With Mustard Yellow
Green and yellow sit next to each other on the colour wheel (also known as analogous colours) which means they are highly complementary colours when used together.
This mustard yellow sofa brings a high impact colour against the green, but in this small dose, it really works. Avoid leaning into yellows that are too soft and instead use mid to dark heritage yellows for a more defined colour scheme.
12. Layer With Warm Neutrals
A neutral colour palette is a soft and soothing one that is ever popular in bedrooms, living rooms and beyond. Because of the grey green complex of this shade, it works beautifully as the foundational colour in a neutral palette.
Layer with warm neutrals in differing shades through textiles and decor for a cosy, well put together room.
13. A Timeless Pairing With Grey Marble Tiles
Due to the grey undertones of French Gray, it seamlessly pairs well with any type of grey. Whether you want to introduce another paint shade such as Purbeck Stone or in a bathroom using grey marble tiles. Name a more timeless combination!
In a bathroom such as the below, introducing a warm accent on hardware such as brass is the perfect way to avoid the scheme running away with itself and looking too cold.
If you have any other Farrow and Ball questions or paint colour questions, please leave me a comment below!
