What Are Neutral Colors & How to Use Them in Your Home
When in doubt, go neutral.
Neutral colors are the basis to any well-balanced color palette. From soft whites to crisp grays, neutral colors are incredibly versatile hues that will help ground your home with a timeless color scheme. But, what are neutral colors? Keep reading to uncover the answer to this question and find tips for styling neutral colors in your home.
What Are Neutral Colors?
Neutral colors don’t appear on the color wheel but instead all stem from the four ‘pure’ neutrals: white, black, brown, and gray. Different undertones and levels of saturation are used to create different hues and shades of neutral colors like cream, beige, taupe, and charcoal. Depending on the undertone of the color, neutrals can be either ‘warm’ or ‘cold.’ Neutral colors with a brown or yellow undertone are warm, whereas colors with a gray or blue undertone are considered cold.
Why Use Neutral Colors?
Neutral colors pair well with primary and secondary colors, making them a great base for any color palette in your home. Their understated appearance will make your accent colors pop, creating dimension in your space that complements any style – traditional, modern, coastal, industrial, or otherwise.
While color trends come in and out of style, neutral colors will always be in – making them a safe choice for any room in your home. Their versatility also makes it easy to switch out your decor based on season or changing trends for an adaptable space that showcases your creativity and personal style.
Neutral color palettes are also known to have a calming effect, so they are ideal to incorporate in relaxing spaces like bedrooms. Neutrals, especially the light shades, can help create an open and airy atmosphere in your home that reflects natural light and enhances the relaxation factor of the room.
Tip!
Check out Decorating With Neutrals: How to Achieve a Well-Balanced Space for more tips on using neutral colors effectively in your home.
How to Style Neutral Colors
1. Choose a Neutral Wallpaper
A simple way to establish a neutral color scheme in your home is to choose a beige wallpaper that utilizes a pattern for visual interest. Wallpaper will serve as a perfect backdrop to your neutral furniture and decor, but it can also go with pops of color should you choose to incorporate them.
Create a foundation for a neutral color palette in your living room by incorporating an ivory or beige area rug that ties the room together. Continue the color scheme throughout the room by adding details – like throw pillows and curtains – that reflect the neutral colors used in the area rug for a cohesive look.
Opt for a color pairing of light gray and pure white for a crisp, clean look in your home. These cool-toned, neutral colors create an airy atmosphere in this bedroom and enhance the natural light from the windows. The low-contrast color palette used in this room creates a relaxing ambience fit for a bedroom oasis.
Lean into the tan and brown tones found in natural materials for a simple way of bringing neutral colors to your home. Whether you choose to incorporate a natural wood coffee table, brown leather chair, wall of woven baskets, or all of the above, using natural materials can help you find a neutral color palette suited for your personal style.
Artwork is essential when it comes to personalizing your home and it’s a great way to incorporate your color scheme into the details of a room. Neutral artwork can still make a statement on your walls when you opt for wall art that incorporates interesting shapes and motifs. Pair your wall art with pendant lights to create a visual focal point in an all-neutral colored room.
Using an all neutral color palette doesn’t necessarily mean low-impact designs. Black and white are a classic color combination that create high contrast for maximum visual impact. Pairing black accent chairs with a white sofa, for example, adds dimension to this dual-tone living room. A black and white color palette pairs well with the sleek furniture that is common in modern-style homes.
Blankets and throw pillows are the perfect finishing touch in any living space or bedroom to make your home extra cozy. Mix and match different materials to bring texture to the room while complementing your neutral color scheme.
Tip!
For more inspiration to help you bring neutral colors to your home, check out our related guides:
Neutral Living Room Ideas to Cleanse Your Palette
Brown Living Room Ideas to Ground Your Space in Earthy Hues
White Bedroom Ideas for the Ultimate Dreamy Space
Neutral Bathroom Ideas for a Stylish Space
