Colors come and colors go. One fashion cycle might feature bright-popping greens and blues, another suggestive pinks, lavenders and purples, and yet another whites and off-whites in all their variations. Sometimes you can glance at a living room and name the decade. Those trendy colors that were such eye-catchers ten or twenty years ago might look dated today. That’s why so many designers are coming back to grey. Grey is timeless, versatile and able to hold its own through whatever color trends the future has to offer.

Some might argue that grey doesn’t have the personality of a bright color like red or yellow or even green, and it certainly doesn’t jump up and insist on being recognized like some shades do. But if you think grey is cool, impersonal and unemotional, you might want to think again. Like that friend that you’ve known for years, it is not merely reliable and dependable, but it can surprise you with its subtlety, its depth, and, yes, also its sense of adventure.

Consider all the diversity it exhibits. All its potential in your decorative repertoire. There’s light grey, dark grey, charcoal grey, smoky grey and steel grey. In some greys, you see only variations of black, while others contain patterns, tints and undertones of other colors. And what a universe of complementary colors there are! Grey “plays nice” with everybody in the rainbow. A grey sofa, for example, might have touches or hues of pink and purple, of blue and green, even of yellow and orange.

The quickest way to set a new design tone is to change the large pieces of furniture, and that’s the easiest way to make your living room theme a grey one. In that room, a grey sectional or a dark grey sofa provides the blank canvas where you apply your transformed look. It’s a style you can build around, adding more grey pieces or polishing your room’s appearance with complements. You might go with a uniform look, matching exactly a grey couch with some grey chairs and possibly an ottoman, or maybe you’ll use as many shades of grey as your fancy pleases. They’re never going to clash!

Grey provides a bridge between black and white. Lighter shades of grey substitute for white in the way they brighten a room, and they wear much better: they don’t get tired or dirty. A dark and tintless grey brings a large dose of intensity, but you can soften things by using multiple shades, especially lighter ones, or by employing a grey containing another color, either as a pattern or a tint. Beige tints are classic, and blue undertones are “safe” variations, while pink and purple are riskier. Does that mean you shouldn’t use them? Not necessarily! Echo the highlight of your grey sectional with the colors of your artwork and frames and your lamps, not to mention your walls. With grey chairs and a grey sofa, you’re free to employ extra boldness when choosing harmonizing furnishings and decor.

Learn more about greige, a grey and beige color trend.

And don’t hesitate to experiment with throw pillows! There’s no limit to your creativity here! Use solid colors that match the accents of your grey sofa, or enjoy some frivolity with stripes, florals and geometric designs. Even after your ensemble has been in place for a while, you can achieve a renewed version by bringing in some different pillows.

In addition to choosing shades of grey or grey with complementary colors, you can also vary pattern, style and material. A light grey sofa could be leather, natural fibers or synthetics such as microfiber. Legs can be high and exposed or covered with upholstery, or the couch might sit on a plinth. Different textures—smooth, rough, raised design—result in different looks as well as a variation in feel. While most grey pieces are a solid color, there’s no rule against pattern: swirls or designs using harmonizing grey shades or possibly other colors. A single furnishing might feature multiple greys or even a little black and white.

What about flooring? The good news is, if you want to keep the carpet or floor you have, it’s not a problem to choose a grey sectional that will sit beautifully on it. If you have hardwood, tile or a neutral-colored carpet, there’s a wonderful opportunity to add some stunning accents with area rugs. If you decide to go for a new carpet, choose a different shade of grey than your furniture, or bring another color entirely to the party. Whichever option you select, you can combine floor, walls, furniture and accessories for either a traditional or a modern theme.

Whether you’re furnishing a room from scratch or just changing a sectional or some chairs, give grey a chance to show what it can do. It’s hard to go wrong with grey, and your room is likely to exhibit sophisticated stylishness for years and years.