Grey is the great chameleon — it'll partner with almost anything, but you've got to read its undertone first. A cool, blue-leaning grey wants warm accents to stop the room feeling clinical. A warm, taupe-ish grey can take cooler partners without losing its cosiness. Get that wrong and your scheme falls flat.
For a warm, characterful contrast, pink is a cracking choice with grey. Something like Dulux Fuchsia Falls 2 (LRV 29.8) brings a punchy, modern lift — fantastic on a single chimney breast or in soft furnishings rather than every wall. If pink's too bold, a softer dusty version still does the job.
Mustard and ochre are the other classic. Mylands Beehive Place No.140 (LRV 58.6) is a warm, honeyed yellow that glows against grey and reads beautifully in a north-facing room where you want a bit of sunshine. Use it on woodwork, a console or curtains.
For something deeper and more grown-up, pair grey with a rich blue. Paint & Paper Library Blue Blood (LRV 16.4) is a proper inky navy — superb as a feature alongside mid-grey for a tailored, masculine feel. It anchors a scheme that might otherwise drift.
And don't forget your whites. Grey almost always needs a clean white on the trim and ceiling to give it definition. Farrow & Ball All White (LRV 92) is about as crisp and pure as it gets — no yellow, no grey lurking in it — so it keeps the edges sharp.
The but-what-about here is metals and wood: grey loves brass, warm timber and rattan, which add the warmth a hard accent can't. Layer those in and even a cool grey feels inviting.
Practical advice: sample your grey AND your chosen accent together, on the same board, and view them morning and evening. Greys shift dramatically with light, and an accent that sings at noon can turn muddy by lamplight.