Grey has taken the place of the previously favoured cream and beige as the default neutral in UK bathroom design, and it's easy to appreciate why; the neutrality of grey compared to white panels, as well as its versatility with almost any fitting finish and resistance to dating trend-led colours. If considering a grey Multipanel installation tools finish for your bathroom, it might be worth noting the different shades available, and the applications these shades are most suited for.
Why Grey Has Become the Go-To Choice
Grey neutralises in a way which pure white does not; panels of pure white can be stark in the right or wrong lighting, but also tend to highlight limescale, grime and soap scum to a greater extent than greys would, and split the difference between the brightness of white and the depth of dark tones, probably playing a role in its popularity as the safe choice for refitted bathrooms over the past several years.
It compliments almost any fitting colour too, with chrome, brushed nickel, matt black, and brass fittings all pairing well with grey. This is also an important factor if not looking to re-fit the entire bathroom, and looking for a wall finish which will complement any other fitting finishes chosen at a later date.
Light Grey Panels
Light grey sits nearest to white in terms of tone; it shares the lightness of a white, but avoids its practical downfalls. It reflects light, and is therefore a sensible choice for smaller, darker bathrooms and rooms without much natural light, without being so stark as some may find white panels.
It also compliments other design features, patterned floor tiles, a coloured vanity unit, and brass fittings, well without overshadowing them, making it a relatively safe long-term choice, as it is neutral enough to still look current several years down the line, despite trends in bathroom design shifting.
The primary consideration when using a light grey panel is that shadow from wall imperfections is more visible on light colours than dark ones, so flat wall preparation is just as important here as with any panel; especially true with lighter finishes.
Mid-Tone Grey Panels
Mid-tone greys, the range which sit comfortably between light and dark, are one of the most commonly selected options for family bathrooms; they are less affected by everyday splashes and marks than lighter tones are, but still manage to keep the bathroom feeling light enough not to feel dark or oppressive.
The range also pairs well with stone or marble effect texturing, as the subtle vein patterns are more easily seen on a mid-tone than on a very light grey, or very close to black dark grey, and offers a sensible, everyday option for standard bathroom refits, with a light stone effect texture being a common example of this.
Dark Grey and Charcoal Panels
Dark grey and charcoal have seen a rise in popularity over the past few years, and are now commonplace within larger bathrooms and en-suites which have plenty of natural light, as a full wall or even feature wall. Using a darker grey as a base, and then contrasting it with lighter panels in areas, or lighter surrounding walls, offers a more dramatic look than the lighter shades are able to achieve.
Pairing dark grey with fittings of a similar, if slightly lighter, tone or with matt black or brushed brass fittings, and photographing them under warm light, is the reason dark grey has become a popular choice for more design focussed bathroom renovations in recent years. However, some consideration of the amount of natural light the bathroom receives is a necessity, as a small, north-facing bathroom with few sources of natural light will feel much smaller with dark-coloured panels covering all of the walls, and so it is more practical to use dark grey as a feature wall or on one side of the bathroom, as opposed to all over.
Combining Grey Panels With Other Design Elements
Grey pairs particularly well with being the backdrop to other design features, with a grey panelled shower enclosure, contrasting with a white bath and black fittings, being a safe, clear way to define features without having multiple accent colours compete; similarly, wood-effect vanity unit panels with a grey background can help add warmth to what might otherwise be a fairly cold colour scheme if using grey panels.
If planning to combine grey panelled walls with another design surface on adjacent walls, such as a painted surface, or a wallpaper in a dry area, it is worth being careful about the tone before committing to buying any materials, as grey shades vary significantly, including subtle warms and cools across different shades, and mismatched undertones can create strange effects in areas which have both types of panel.
Practical Considerations Before Choosing a Grey Panel
Aside from the aesthetic considerations, there are a few practical points to consider before ordering. Texture affects how the grey is seen in the room, with a matt grey panel clearly looking different to a glossy or textured stone-effect grey panel, even if the base colours are the same, and so it is worth looking at a physical sample in your bathroom lighting as opposed to going purely on an image of a sample board from the website.
If planning to cut and fit the Multipanel panels yourself, grey panels generally behave the same as any other panel colour in terms of cutting and fitting, aside from textured stone-effect greys with a directional pattern, which may require some planning to ensure that seams and pattern flow make visual sense after fitting.
Pre-wall preparation is also worth considering when choosing between a light or dark grey, as lighter greys tend to showcase wall imperfections more, and so if the wall is not flat, it is worth either spending the time preparing the wall, or choosing a mid-tone or dark grey to avoid imperfections being visible.
Fitting Grey Panels Over Existing Tiles
Grey panels are a popular choice for updating an existing bathroom, and so this may be an option depending on how worn the existing bathroom is; fitting panels over existing tiles is possible, and generally recommended for a refitted bathroom, so long as the existing tiled wall is flat and sound, and free of any loose or cracked tiles.
Some general advice on the suitability of Multipanel over tiles UK may be worth reading before making any assumptions, as grout lines and uneven tiling can be more noticeable on a lighter grey panel than a darker or more textured one.
More general guidance on Multipanel over tiles UK is useful in this section, and covers what general condition the tiled wall will need to be in for panelling directly over it to be a viable option, regardless of the shade of grey chosen.
Choosing the Right Grey Panel Range
With so many shades of grey and finishes available from different manufacturers, it is worth comparing a few ranges thoroughly to find one which fits the preferences before settling on the first grey panel range seen. A guide to choosing a shower panel system provides an overview of the key trade-offs between finishes, costs and practicality, regardless of colour, and a comparison of what generally makes up the best shower panel system may help to narrow down the ranges which offer the preferred shades and textures of a grey panel design. If still comparing panels and tile surfacing options for a bathroom refurbishment more generally, a guide to PVC shower panel walls covers that comparison in more depth.
Having the right Multipanel install Multipanel panels tools on hand before the panels arrive means there is no delay in the job due to a necessary tool, such as a saw blade or adhesive gun, not being present.
Conclusion
Grey has asserted its place as the default neutral colour for UK bathroom design due to its versatility and neutrality compared to white panels, its ability to compliment almost any fitting, and its lack of tendency to date trend-led colours. Light grey is suited for smaller, darker rooms, mid-tone grey is a safe choice for family bathrooms, and darker charcoal panels offer a more dramatic look for larger bathrooms with plenty of natural light. Whatever shade is preferred, seeing a physical sample in the lighting of the bathroom and ensuring the wall is properly prepared will do more for the finished look than the shade choice itself.
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