'The' combination vs. 'a' combination

Our current house color is the combination of beige and gray, but I'd like to pick a different one. Our current house color is a combination of beige and gray, but I'd like to pick a different one.

Which is correct?

Solution 1:

Using "the" with a singular object implies that you are identifying a unique item - the city called New York, the bottle over there. If you are not identifying one thing then you should use "a".

There can be more than one combination of beige and gray - it could be beige and dark grey, or beige and light gray, or stripes or squares of beige and gray.

So you should use "a".