Color Psychology: Gray

Understanding how color affects our world.

by Kate Smith

The color gray represents knowledge. It is a classic and dignified color, suggesting authority. Somewhere between the colors black and white, gray is considered the color of compromise. It’s a perfect neutral, and designers often use gray as a background color.

Feeling Gray

The color gray affects us physically by:

• Creating expectations
• Raising anxiety

Gray in the Garden

Gray is a unique color in the garden. The Jerusalem Sage has sweet-smelling gray leaves with yellow flowers during the summertime. The Saliva Leucantha Silver Edge has beautiful gray flowers.

Unique Facts About Gray

• The New York Times is sometimes called the “Gray Lady.”
• The color gray is representative of pessimism.
• The human eye can distinguish about 500 shades of gray.
• Driving a gray vehicle suggests elegant taste and a flair for futuristic looks.

Seeing Gray

The color gray is associated with a number of religious, political and athletic customs and organizations.

• Gray is the color for Lent in Christianity. It also represents mourning and repentance.
• The Confederate Army wore gray uniforms during the American Civil War.
• The "Gray Cup" refers to the Canadian Football League championship game and also to the trophy given to the winning team.

Speaking Gray

Popular phrases and quotes that include gray are:

• Gray market: the business of buying or selling items that are priced below the regulated price
• Gray mood: an unhappy mood
• Gray area: caught between two differing views
• “If I see everything in gray, and in gray all the colors which I experienced and which I would like to reproduce, then why should I use any other color? I’ve tried doing so, for it was never my intention to paint only with gray. But in the course of my work I have eliminated one color after another, and what has remained is gray, gray, gray!” Alberto Giacomettii

Singing Gray

Songs with gray in the title:

• “Grey Ghost” by the Henry Paul Band
• “Grey Street” by Dave Matthews Band
• “Touch of Grey” by Grateful Dead
• “Blue, Red, and Gray” by the Who
• “Girls Not Grey” by AFI