Dark, charcoal gray carries with it some of the strengh and mystery of black. It is a sophisticated color without some of the negative attributes of black.

Silver, especially a shiny, metallic silver, is cool like gray but livelier, more playful. Silver coupled with turquise evokes the Southwest (U.S.). Silver can also denotes riches, just as gold does. Silver can be earthy, natural or sleek and elegant.Taupe, a grayish brown neutral is a conservative, slightly earthy color.

Gray and silver work well with other cool colors such as blue or teal.

The other neutrals: Brown, Tan, Beige, Black and White.

• Gray Color Combinations

These color palettes feature shades of gray. Although I've made a few suggestions here and there about the 'amount' of each color to use, experiment. For best results don't use even amounts of each color in the palette. Choose one or two dominant colors and use the rest for accents. Keep in mind that due to the differences between color in print and on the Web that these colors may not appear the same on paper as they appear here on the screen.

These aren't just random color combinations. Each of these are based on actual historic and modern formulas used in posters, packaging, ads, and other design work over the past century. For a much more comprehensive selection of color combinations refer to The Designer's Guide to Color Combinations by Leslie Cabarga.

C30M10Y5K20 | C10M10Y50 | M30Y70 | C10M35Y15K25 | M85Y85K10 | C40K100
Try these orange and yellows against a background of bluish gray.

C80M50Y15K15 | C25M15Y5Y5 | White
A grayish blue with a bluish gray on a background of white.

C65Y35K15 | M90Y100 | M35Y100 | Y70 | C10K35 | C40K100
The orange and yellows of sunflowers with light green are the centerpiece of this palette. Put them all on a backdrop of medium gray.

C7M5Y10 | C7M90Y100 | C100M85Y10K6 | C40M25Y25K7 | C40K100
Bold blue and orange are tamed by shades of gray from silvery to charcoal.

M10Y20K15 | K45 | M40Y40K70 | White
Neutrals combine for an unusual look. Make the gray a splash of metallic silver ink and it's not so dull a combo as you might think.

M50Y85K25 | C25M15Y20K9 | M10Y20K17 | C40K100
Another neutral palette with gray, brown, and a dose of black.

M30Y30K90 | M20Y20K75 | M10Y10K40 | M5Y5K20 | White
You could call this monochromatic palette shades of gray or tints of black. All with a dash of white to brighten.

M40Y100 | C100M65Y10K6 | C80Y40K20 | C10M30Y60K10 | C5M5Y10K5
Where white might overwhelm this bright blue and teal try a pale gray.