Decorate With A Neutral Colour Palette
Soothing, calming and relaxing, decorating with a neutral colour palette has its advantages for the modern home.
04/06/2021
Decorating with a neutral colour palette isn't about the absence of colour but bringing together colour and texture to create interesting layers that bring a sense of calm to living spaces. Think earthy woods and the raw beauty of metal and stone combined with natural textiles such as cotton, linen and velvet with chunky wool knits and sheepskin rugs.
Whether you choose to opt for a warm neutral colour palette or one on the blue side of the colour wheel that includes hues of grey, all these colour options work particularly well in both large, open plan living spaces and compact homes and apartments.
Choosing a neutral colour palette for decorating the home also gives you an easy solution if you are looking for a stylish way to achieve understated chic without the price tag. This is a style that does not require large bold patterns and prints, frills or tassels but more about simple organic shapes and natural materials that don't rely on trends to be popular. A neutral colour palette is timelessly classic and elegant in one.
Create a home that is minimal and modern yet still inviting and filled with warm neutrals and natural textures.
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Warm wood furniture, fittings and accessories are the perfect accompaniment for when decorating with neutral colours whether it's a coffee table or barn sliding door that closes off other areas in the home. Without textiles, a neutral colour palette can feel sterile and bland and lacking in personality. Even though you are decorating with neutral hues, there are differences in hue, shade and tone that fill a room to achieve an elegant and neutral space.
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A kitchen decorated in a neutral colour palette offers a calming environment that you love to spend time in, with a combination of beautiful wood tones, natural stone countertops and metallic light fittings. Finish walls with off-white and kitchen cupboards and cabinets with your choice of warm or cool neutral colour. Introduce multi-hued accessories crafted in natural and organic materials to complete the look.
A wall of open wood shelves enhance the open concept of this floor plan and allow for the addition of more texture and earth tones with the use of accessories.
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Blending in with a neutral pallet throughout this home, the kitchen is fitted with light wood cabinetry and white quartz countertops that give the kitchen a light and airy atmosphere. Consider this as an alternative to paint kitchen cabinets.
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Local paint manufacturers are always on top when it comes to predicting trends or presenting colour palettes and this is definitely true when looking at both Dulux and Plascon colour offerings. Both of these have a selection of warm and cool neutrals that you can choose from for an elegant look while using a neutral palette.
HOW TO ACHIEVE A RELAXING AND SOOTHING SPACE
Choose your colours
The first step in decorating with neutral is to select a colour palette that should consist of two or three complementary colours. As previously mentioned, you can choose from warm or cool neutrals depending on the room you will be decorating. If the room receives a lot of natural light and tends to feel heated during the day cool neutral colours will be a soothing balm by making the room feel cooler. The opposite can be achieved with warm colours in a cool or chilly room that doesn't receive a lot of natural sunlight during the day.
Having said that, you might want to select colours based on how the rest of the house is decorated. As an example, if you have a beige sofa or lounge suite, you may want to continue the warm theme throughout. There is nothing wrong with this and you can then look at bringing cool-toned accessories in the space for a hint of cool.
Add accent colours
For most people, using neutral colours is all that is needed but if you want to add more colour and switch it up a bit, the easiest way to bring in more colour is by using accessories. Items such as throw cushions, an upholstered ottoman or even lampshades can warm or cool down a room.
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Select furniture
If you don't already have furniture for the room you can select pieces that will tie in with your neutral colour palette, whether they be upholstered pieces of natural wood or even organic materials such as wicker, cane or bamboo. Almost any natural material will bring texture and warmth into a room decorated with neutral colours.
What is of importance when decorating with neutrals is to keep it as clutter-free as possible. A few select accessories will add that personal finishing touch and bring character into play.
The before and after images shown above and below show how you can introduce warm wood elements and effect a neutral colour palette simply by using a combination of pale hues.
While decorated in neutral hues, accents are introduced via large black prints and a black level recliner for a bold graphic statement in an otherwise soothing setting.
Build up layers
If there is one thing that stands out more than anything else in a successfully decorated home in a neutral colour palette it is building up layers of depth with furniture and textiles. Keep in mind that neutral is not flat and it would be boring indeed if it was. No, it's more about creating a 3-dimensional image that is filled with life.
Avoid picking out everything in matching colours if you want to avoid a lifeless room - select colour on colour and bring in wood accents, chunky fabrics and smooth metal lighting and accessories.
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The bathroom is one room where you can go to town with a neutral colour palette. Using a muted palette lets you create a space that soothes and relaxes your mind.
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Using a cool neutral palette is perfect for a bathroom as it's all about rejuvenation and relaxation and provide the perfect backdrop for pearly white fittings and fixtures. In such a small space, these colours have a wonderful way of highlighting the room and making it feel larger than it is.
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