This year one unexpected but hot trend is gray. Gray is making a triumphant return as a wall color, giving people an alternative to tried-and-true beige. It’s said that this moody hue  gains popularity in times of war and turmoil.  That’s a bit of a downer, however.

Ann McGuire, Valspar color consultant and lead designer of Beehive Studios in Pennsylvania says,  ”Gray feels fresh because it’s soft and cool.

Gray offers great support for fun, vibrant colors, such as yellows (this year’s popular accent color), purples (next year’s color) and even teals. It’s a sweet pairing with geranium pink or warm lilac for a girl’s bedroom, and it can be a sophisticated backdrop for shiny surfaces such as mirrors and art glass.

Think of grays as silvers, crystals and ice,” McGuire said. “Grays can be sad if you think of them as the color of battleships or the basement.”