The popularity of grey in interiors knows no bounds. I’ll bet we all have a room with grey walls now. What. You don’t? Where have you been? What’s wrong with you? Even if you don’t have grey walls, I’ll bet you have a grey rug, or sofa, or curtains. But how many of us have painted our walls a lovely deep shade of grey to receive comments that it’s a nice shade of green? Or blue. I know I have, and that’s because grey is the hardest colour to get right.

photograph by Polly Wreford

But help is at hand. Shades of Grey by the lovely Kate Watson-Smyth will help you find the exact shade of grey for your space. She’ll guide you through the minefield of hundreds of variations of this elusive hue, sharing essential information, quotes from industry experts, and lots of gorgeous inspiration. Not to mention save you tons of money on wasted tester pots.

photograph by Polly Wreford

I’ve photographed Kate’s home and I know she practices what she preaches. Her living room is a gorgeously deep shade of this oh, so sophisticated colour. And she even has a matching cat. She’s also very funny and the book is peppered with her humour, making the book distinctly ‘un-preachy’. In fact, Kate shares lots of her decorating disasters too, so reading it is like having a chat with a good friend, round the kitchen table over a cup of coffee.

photograph by Polly Wreford

photograph by Jan Baldwin

But what I love most of all is the pages and pages of inspiring photographs. From Scandi chic to industrial glamour, country cottage to grand Georgian proportions. There’s something here for you whatever your personal style. Grey can be dark and dramatic or cool and Nordic and everything in between. And I happen to love every variation, as does Kate.

photograph by Debi Treloar

I’ll bet by the time you’ve read this lovely book you’ll be reaching for the paintbrush.

Shades of Grey by Kate Watson-Smyth, published by Ryland Peters & Small.

All images © Ryland Peters & Small