Woman's Wonderla

Home Decor in Neutral Colors

Neutral colors (such as white, taupe and beige) give you a beautiful canvas to work upon when it comes to home decor. Limited use of colors and patterns help you to create a sophisticated environment along with interesting focal points in rooms, garden and living area. Natural fibers are available in these colors too and have quite different textures for experimenting. The variety of texture in neutral natural colors infuses peace and calm in the home environment. Here are some tips for home decor in neutral colors:

Simple peaceful homes mostly use off-white or beige colored furniture.

To create a warm comforting rustic look, use dark neutral colors such as shades of brown, rust and black.

Natural tones are the strong points of a neutral color scheme. Artificial tints can be disturbing to the overall effect.

Simple yet sleek homes prefer to use single, multi-purpose and versatile item rather than many small furniture objects.

Natural fibers in neutral colors can add texture and character to home in the form of curtains, window draperies, slipcovers and pillows.

Use simple and few accessories that are chosen prudently and in moderation.

Ivory, black and gray also come under the heading of neutral colors but be sure to understand their undertones while choosing their combinations. These undertones of colors can be pink, tan, gold, yellow, blue or even peach.

Remember, red is a warm color that attracts attention and represents energy, passion and healing. It can be used as accents to add instant life to a dull neutral colored home decor.

True" neutrals are classified as the colors black, white, and gray (all the shades in between black and white). Also called "non-colors", they don't appear anywhere on the color wheel. They are, essentially, a combination of all the colors in the spectrum.

Sometimes described as "every color's friend" and "the diplomats of decorating", neutrals go with everything, and clash with nothing. Essential in décor, they can be used to create a sense of visual relief in a strong color scheme, or used alone to create a subtle, calming, monochromatic palette.

Neutrals are far from boring. Used together, black and white can create stunning visual contrast—without a drop of color.

For a sophisticated, modern look, paint walls a crisp white, and fill the room with sleek black furnishings. To soften the look, add accents—like pillows, fabrics, and other accessories in varying shades of gray.

In recent years, the design community—breaking free of the constraints set by the "true" neutral definition—has reclassified neutrals.

These "new" neutrals are actually very low intensity colors, the most muted versions of colors on the color wheel.

o create the most pleasing neutral schemes, it's best not to mix the different tones. So, for example, don't pair red-toned neutrals with yellow-toned or blue-toned neutrals, but try to stick with several values of the same tone. This will create a look that's tranquil, elegant and refined.

As with the "true" neutrals, black, white, and gray, the "new" neutrals can also vary in lightness value. For example, almonds and creams are light, taupes and beiges are medium-valued, and chocolates and charcoals are dark in value.