Elegant Bathrooms with Gray Cabinets
Looking to give your bathroom an elegant facelift? Installing gray cabinets can transform the entire look and feel of your space. Gray is a versatile neutral that pairs well with almost any color scheme, from crisp whites to bold blues. It creates a soft, soothing ambiance while still feeling crisp and clean.
We'll cover the different shades and styles of gray cabinets, tips for selecting and designing with gray cabinetry, clever storage solutions, and costs to consider for your bathroom remodel.
The Sophisticated Appeal of Gray Bathroom Cabinets
Gray is currently one of the most popular colors for kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and for good reason. Gray evokes a sense of refined, understated elegance that works well in classic and contemporary spaces alike.
Light to medium gray shades have a crisp, bright feeling that keeps a bathroom feeling open and airy. Soft gray adds a subtle touch of color without overwhelming. Charcoal and darker grays have a luxe, sophisticated vibe. The neutral undertones of gray cabinets make them easy to match with any countertop, flooring, or wall color.
Gray cabinets come in a variety of door styles including clean-lined shaker, sleek modern, and traditional framed. Matte, satin, or high gloss finishes can also customize the look. While most gray cabinets have a painted wood construction, laminates like gray oak or thermofoil offer budget-friendly options.
Benefits of Choosing Gray Bathroom Cabinets
Here are some of the top reasons gray bathroom cabinetry is worth considering for your next remodel:
- Timeless and classic - gray is always in style and unlikely to feel dated.
- Complements any color scheme - pairs well with bold or neutral colors.
- Visually expands smaller bathrooms - lighter shades keep things feeling open and airy.
- Easy to clean and maintain - durable painted or laminate surfaces.
- Matches with various materials like wood, tile, and metal.
- Available in budget-friendly options like gray oak and thermofoil.
The Versatility of Gray Bathroom Cabinets
One of the key benefits of gray bathroom cabinets is their versatility. Gray works with just about any style, from modern and industrial to traditional and cottage. It pairs beautifully with other neutrals like white and beige as well as bolder colors like navy and emerald green.
Gray cabinets complement materials like marble, stone, tile, and wood flooring. Their neutrality lets them serve as a backdrop that puts the focus onstatement sinks, faucets, and hardware. Essentially, gray cabinetry gives you the freedom to take the bathroom design in many directions.
Choosing the Right Gray Shades
With so many shades of gray to choose from, it can be tricky to select the right tone for your space. Here are some popular gray cabinet color options:
- Light gray: A soft, elegant option perfect for creating an airy spa-like ambiance.
- Medium gray: A flexible and safe neutral that works in most bathrooms.
- Dark charcoal gray: Sophisticated and luxe, ideal for modern and dramatic spaces.
- Greige: A warm gray/beige blend that provides a calm earthy feel.
- Gray with undertones: Cool blue-grays or warm taupe-grays to complement your color scheme.
View large swatches and samples before deciding on a final gray shade. Lighting can impact how gray tones look in a space. Creating a sample board with wall colors, tile, and accessories allows you to see everything together.
Designing a Bathroom with Gray Cabinets
Gray cabinetry provides a flexible neutral backdrop for bathrooms of any size or style. Here are some ideas for designing an elegant space with gray cabinets.
Select Flooring and Wall Colors
Popular wall colors to pair with gray cabinets include:
- White or off-white for a clean, bright look.
- Beige or taupe for an elegant earthy feel.
- Subtle blue-grays for a soothing spa-like ambiance.
- Bold navy or emerald to make the grays pop.
For floors, choose luxurious small-scale stone or ceramic tile, natural hardwood, or medium to large-scale tile. Clean white subway tile is another classic option that lets gray cabinetry take center stage.
Creative Cabinet Layouts
Consider your bathroom's size and existing plumbing when planning cabinetry layouts. Here are some stylish ways to incorporate gray cabinets:
- Double vanity with wall cabinets for ample shared storage.
- Floating single vanity to open up floor space.
- Freestanding tub flanked by floor-to-ceiling cabinets.
- Hidden cabinetry behind mirrors to conceal toiletries.
- Glass-front upper cabinets for displaying artful objects.
Strategic placement of gray cabinets can help create specific vibes, like a minimalist aesthetic or vintage-inspired look. Planning creative cabinet configurations will ensure your new bathroom feels cohesive and luxurious.
Clever Storage Solutions
Storage organization is key for keeping bathrooms tidy. Consider including:
- Pull-out drawer organizers for smaller items.
- Spinning lazy susan trays in corner cabinets.
- Slide-out shelving under sinks.
- Cabinet inserts to corral hairdryers, straighteners, and other bathroom electricals.
Adjustable shelves, racks for rolled towels, and built-in hampers also maximize space. For medicine cabinets, look for mirrored cabinets with outlets installed inside.
Hardware and Fixtures
Brushed nickel, chrome, matte black, and oil-rubbed bronze hardware suit gray cabinetry. For fixtures, opt for an eye-catching rectangular or oval sink basin. Create a spa-like vibe with wall-mount faucets and minimalist cabinet hardware.
Don't overlook lighting! Install lights above or inside the vanity. Sconces flanking the mirror provide ambient lighting. Lighting under cabinets illuminates sink areas.
Shopping for Gray Bathroom Cabinets
When selecting and purchasing gray bathroom cabinets, keep these tips in mind:
- Carefully measure your existing space to ensure proper cabinet sizing.
- View large color swatches in person to make final shade selections.
- Select durable finishes like thermofoil or powder-coated paints.
- Include organizational inserts like pull-out trays and lazy susans.
- Install lighting under cabinets and inside drawers for visibility.
- Purchase cabinet samples to see how colors pair together.
Stock vs. Custom Cabinet Options
Stock cabinetry costs $100-300 per linear foot. Custom cabinets range from $500-1000+ per linear foot. Stock cabinets offer more budget-friendly options, while custom allows fully customized sizing and layouts. Work with an experienced kitchen and bath designer to determine the best cabinet solution for your bathroom.