GOING grey has never been so fashionable. Having already had an impact in fashion, the neutral du jour is showing its glamorous side in a whole range of interiors.

Impressing in a spectrum of shades from sexy smoke to sophisticated slate, grey matters this season.

Textile designer Liz Nilsson believes that grey is an interesting hue because of its sensitivity to the other colours set beside it. "It changes easily with the light that comes into the room.

There are also so many different greys such as yellowgreys, blue-greys, brown-greys, purple-greys and green-greys, " she says.

"Grey can create a warm or cold ambience, depending on shade, tone and value of the paint, " adds Liz. Leslie Geddes-Brown in her book Colour Essentials (Ryland Peters & Small), points out that while blue-greys may be considered cold, the near-ubiquity of central heating means that the idea of warmth is less than it used to be, especially in urban areas.

Nilsson likes using grey in interiors because of its soothing qualities and versatility. "It allows flexibility in changing accessories in a room without having to rethink the whole colour scheme."

If like Nilsson, you tire easily of the colours of cushions, throws and other textiles in a room, going for a grey scheme can be the savvy solution. "I like changing these with the seasons. I even change pictures on the wall a few times a year. My grey walls gives no restriction for this."

It's time to cast off any school-uniform associations you might harbour and experiment with gorgeous grey in every room in the house. David Oliver, design director of the Paint and Paper Library, London, sings its praises in providing a cool, calm and collected backdrop.

Darker greys, he says, are fabulous for adding a dash of drama and instant allure.

Gentle greys can be used to striking effect with bold design in wallpaper, allowing homeowners to play with texture, pattern and shimmer.

Grey can really shine with metallics, says Crown colour consultant, Judy Smith. Silver frames add glitter, says Geddes-Brown, while duller zinc and aluminium echo its colours.

Grey is the perfect foil for vibrant shades such as ultramarine, pink and scarlet. Oliver's top tip is to team cool greys with solar yellows.

Grey and steel are almost essential in minimalist urban homes, from all-aluminium kitchens where the only decoration is glass shelving, to bedrooms made comfortable by using textured grey flannels, cashmere and faux fur, Geddes-Brown says.

Country houses should be decorated with warmer greys, the hues that hover between beige, bone and string, and are more allied to earth tones such as burnt umber and sienna, which blend well with rural landscapes, the author advises.

Silver and grey can add space and sophistication to town houses, especially those with period features such as marble fireplaces, cornices to offer a variation in detailing, and ornamental doors. "Subtle changes in the shade of grey can be used to highlight these features, " suggests GeddesBrown.

Grey, she says, works well with gilding since its coolness flatters the richness of gold. "Its use makes walls appear to recede, which is valuable if you are positioning single focal points of strong colour. This may be no more than a single jungle leaf in a vase or a curvy 20th century scarlet chair."

One of the advantages of grey tones is that they are extremely easy to live with, observes Geddes-Brown. She suggests that anyone starting out in a new home who is uncertain about colours should opt for greys and live with them until they have formed more long-term ideas.

The options for introducing grey into your abode are endless, from using the Crown or Dulux palettes on your walls, to charcoal floor tiles from your kitchen to stylish mosaics for your bathroom walls from Surface Ceramics to the chenille grey Lofa sofa from Habitat.

Designers have also embraced the trend in a big way. Scavolini's 'Crystal' fitted kitchen which features doors, tops and handles all in glass, is available in an aluminum grey carcass.

Marcel Wanders' graphic snowflake tile motif in silver and grey provides an eyecatching bathroom feature while his VIP chair is sure to command lots of attention.

Smeg refrigerators and dishwashers are looking good in pale grey while Armani Casa is switched on with its Oregon table lamp.

Ralph Lauren is laying on the luxe factor with cosy cashmere throws while you can even slumber in a grey bed. The 'Camara' by Abad Diseno for Neuva Linea in soft grey 'Cardiff ' linen velveteen puts any thoughts that grey is boring firmly to rest Make a style statement with the VIP chair by Marcel Wanders

USEFUL CONTACTS
»Habitat, Suffolk Street, Dublin, 01-677 1433; Fairgreen, Galway, 091 569980; & Arthur Street, Belfast, 048-9024 9522; www. habitat. net
»Marcel wanders; www. marcelwanders. com
»Scavolin; www. scavolini. com »Surface, 69 Upper George's Street, Dun Laoghaire, 01-663 8991; www. surface. ie