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16 Orange and Gray Living Room Ideas

By: Katie Barton |

It’s no wonder designers often pair orange with gray – these colors balance each other. The orange offers warmth while gray offers contrast with its cool undertones and neutral coloring.

If you’re considering using this duo in your living room, there are several ways to go about it. You can create a bold modern look or incorporate gray and orange in a soothing living room setup.

Ready to design your next space? Here are 16 of the best orange and gray living room ideas to use as inspiration.

Get a Modern Look with a Charcoal Couch and Orange Accessories

 Get a Modern Look with a Charcoal Couch and Orange Accessories scaled

While orange best compliments blue-gray, it matches all neutrals, including charcoal. If you have a charcoal couch and want a modern look, add a couple of orange throw pillows and orange curtains.

Go minimal with other accessories, and you’ll have an elegant yet cozy living room.

Design a Retro-Inspired Living Room

 Design a Retro Inspired Living Room scaled

If you like retro-inspired designs, a gray and orange color palette provides the perfect starting point. A retro style is especially fitting if you’d like to feature an orange couch.

You can carry this look by choosing furniture with fun organic shapes and hanging interesting artwork over the sofa.

Use Gray Furniture and Burnt Orange Accessories

 Use Gray Furniture and Burnt Orange Accessories scaled

Light gray and light burnt orange pair well for a soft and pretty living room. If you use this color palette, consider bringing in natural elements like wood and greenery to create a calming space.

You can paint your walls a creamy white or go with a light gray or beige. 

Go Bold with an Orange Sofa And Gray Floors

 Go Bold with an Orange Sofa and Gray Floors scaled

Bright orange is an ideal color choice for a bold living room. When you use an orange like this on your sofa, it makes a loud statement – especially against the gray floors.

You can let your sofa do the talking and keep everything else pared down or continue the bold look by adding more color and patterns.

Incorporate Light Colors for an Easy Look

 Incoporate Light Colors for an Easy Look

If you want to use orange in a more subdued way, try a light velvety orange on your sofa. This color works well for modern spaces but also looks good in boho living rooms.

You can use gray throw pillows on an orange sofa like this and anchor the room with a gray rug. Greenery and wood pieces will help you pull off a more earthy feel.

Sprinkle Orange Throughout the Room

 Sprinkle Orange Throughout the Room

Gray couches have risen in popularity over the past decade and are here to stay. So if you have a gray sofa, give it a punch of color with bright orange throw pillows.

Adding little sprinkles of orange is a great way to add character without making the room too loud.

Bring In Orange Through Your Rug

 Bring in Orange Through Your Rug scaled

If you want some orange in your room but don’t want it to be overpowering, bring it in through your area rug. You can use a mostly warm-orange rug like pictured or one with a pattern.

Any color gray couch will look great over an orange rug like this – charcoal, light gray, or something in the middle.

Add Velvety Orange Pillows for Texture

 Add Velvety Orange Pillows for Texture scaled

It’s always wise to incorporate multiple textures into any room design. To do this, start by choosing one primary color and an accent color.

Use the primary color for your sofa and bring in your accent color using different materials. If you have a gray linen couch, add orange velvet or wool pillows.

Create a Lounge Effect with an Orange Sectional

 Create a Lounge Effect with an Orange Sectional scaled

A bright orange couch on its own can look bold and in-your-face. But pairing this color with charcoal creates a look that’s easier on the eyes and has a more mature feel.

If you have an orange sectional and are looking for ways to tone it down a bit, use charcoal-colored throw pillows and curtains. Keep the rest of the room simple.

Try a Muted Palette for a Natural Look

 Try a Muted Palette for a Natural Look

If you want your room to look modern yet tranquil, a simple neutral color scheme is the way to go. This room features white walls, a gray couch, orange throw pillows, and black accessories.

The orange and gray color scheme is understated and elegant. If you want this look in your home, don’t forget to bring natural elements like greenery and wood.

Make Gray and Orange Fit a Small Space

 Make Gray and Orange Fit a Small Space

Do you need to maximize a tiny living room? Make this color scheme work by bringing in a gray settee and using oversized orange throw pillows as a backing.

This simple idea marries the two colors cohesively and maximizes space. You can continue the color scheme through your rugs and accessories or keep the rest a simple white.

Get a Rustic Look with Orange-Brown Leather

 Get a Rustic Look with Orange Brown Leather

The orange you choose for your design doesn’t have to be the typical in-your-face-bold color. Instead, you can subtly bring in this hue with an orangish-brown leather couch.

Using a natural material like leather is a great way to bring in color while fitting into a neutral design. The orange leather looks fantastic next to the other gray pieces of furniture.

Consider a Minimal Design with Desert Orange

 Consider a Minimal Design with Desert Orange scaled

Whether you like southwestern design or minimal style, this is a living room that appeals to both. The warm desert orange works flawlessly with the light gray furniture.

A simple living room setup like this is ideal if you’re after minimal design but don’t want your space to feel cold or off-putting.

Combine Warm Gray and Orange for Autumn-Vibes

 Combine Warm Gray and Orange for Autumn Vibes

The coziness of autumn is undeniable. And if fall is your favorite season, who says you can’t enjoy the colors all year?

Choosing a light gray sofa and accent chair is an excellent start for a fall-inspired living room. Then, layer on the orange plaid throw pillows and blankets for a comfy space.

Put Gray Throw Pillows on an Orange Sofa

 Put Gray Throw Pillows on an Orange Sofa

If your living room borders modern and glam, get an orange sofa, gray throw pillows, and black or gold accessories.

This living room looks modern but has some retro vibes. If you want more modern and less retro, use a gray sofa with orange accent pillows.

Warm Up Your Space with Orange and Greige

 Warm Up Your Space with Orange and Greige scaled

Greige is the combination of beige and gray. It’s a warm neutral that coordinates perfectly with burnt orange. 

If you prefer greige’s warmth over standard gray’s coolness, it’s an easy swap. You can paint your walls greige and use orange furniture, or do like this homeowner and add greige pillows to orange chairs.

Final Thoughts

Orange and gray are a classic color combo. These two pair effortlessly, and you can use them with any style. A cool gray with a warm, burnt orange will help balance a room and provide a natural feel.

If you’re after a bold look, go for a bright orange sofa and cool gray wall. And don’t forget, the shape of your furniture and accessories influence the look of your room as much as colors do.