It's time to get out of our gray decor

Charlotte Latvala
| Special to The Times

Sometimes when I’m bored, or waiting in line somewhere, or (um, most likely) procrastinating on a work project, I scroll through Zillow and look at houses for sale.

It’s not that we’re looking to buy a new home. My online browsing is driven by simple curiosity. And it’s unlikely that I’ll be inspired by a hot new design trend and decide to tackle a project in our current home.

(Note: I say “unlikely” because in my years of scouring Zillow, Houzz, and other similar websites and apps, I’ve never acted on a single online “inspiration.” And yet, I keep looking, because maybe one of these days, the time, energy, and money to redo a room will magically appear.)

Here’s what I’ve noticed in interior design over the past few years now.

It’s terribly gray.

What started out as a modern take on neutrals has taken an unholy turn. Gray has taken over the modern American home, and frankly, it’s disturbing.

Here’s what a recent visit to Zillow 2024 taught me:

There are far fewer than 50 shades of gray. There are three: light, medium, and dark.

Conformity is alive and well.

Utilitarianism has consigned fantasy to oblivion.

Kitchens are grey. Living rooms are grey. Faux wood floors are grey. (Or if you’re British, grey, grey, grey.)

Don’t get me wrong. I love gray. I’m the sole buyer of a plush dark gray couch, owner of a gray house, and an ardent fan of any combination of pink and gray. (The house I grew up in had a pink and gray bathroom, and I still think it’s one of the most beautiful rooms I’ve ever seen.)

But enough is enough. If you only eat grilled corn on the cob for every meal, even if you enjoy its delicious taste, you will get tired of it.

And when you can’t tell your home apart from millions of others, it might be time to rethink your choices.

Interior design trends come and go, but why? Why do we collectively decide that something is aesthetically pleasing? And why do we then change our minds?

You look at the dark woodwork of the 1970s and wonder, “What in the name of creation were people thinking?” or “Was it LSD?”

You question the common sense of the designers who once decided it would be a good idea to put thick rugs in bathrooms. Or orange shag carpet in living rooms. (Or really, shag carpet anywhere.)

You wonder why people once happily embraced sunken dining rooms, or decided to cover their living room furniture in plastic, or covered their walls with “Live, Laugh, Love” stickers.

I guess interior design trends reflect the times we live in, so I can’t help but wonder what people will think of our gray, sterile world in 100 years.

And the explosion of colors that is probably coming.

Charlotte is a columnist for The Times. You can contact her at [email protected].