Neutral Schemes That Kick Boring to the Kerb
Think neutrals are bland? Here are some wow-factor designs that beg to differ
Let’s set the record straight – neutral does not mean boring. In fact, neutral decorating schemes can offer a sense of calm and serenity, yes, but also bags of personality and interest. Choosing to decorate with neutrals also offers a certain flexibility within a space that allows it to be easily changed if the mood strikes. It also provides a backdrop – a blank canvas if you like – to make little or big changes to help bring your home to life.
Don’t get me wrong, decorating with neutrals is not the easy way out – you still need to spend time planning and editing a room to get it just right. But I believe your neutral home can be interesting while at the same time fulfil your living needs. Follow these simple tips and your home will not only look great, but will reflect your personality and become as interesting as you are, too!
Don’t get me wrong, decorating with neutrals is not the easy way out – you still need to spend time planning and editing a room to get it just right. But I believe your neutral home can be interesting while at the same time fulfil your living needs. Follow these simple tips and your home will not only look great, but will reflect your personality and become as interesting as you are, too!
Consider both tactile and visual texture
When planning a neutral room, always consider texture. Texture refers to the surface characteristics as well as the appearance of an object. Therefore, texture is not just about how something feels to be touched, but is visual as well. Tactile texture relates to an actual feeling of a surface – for example, rough, smooth, soft, hard, etc – whereas visual texture is one’s perception of what the texture may feel like.
Designing and decorating a room should be a multi-sensory experience where a room not only looks great, but also begs to be touched. The room therefore needs to stimulate us both visually and tactilely. A cosy rug, soft timber floors and furry, soft pillows all help to make a room feel complete.
When planning a neutral room, always consider texture. Texture refers to the surface characteristics as well as the appearance of an object. Therefore, texture is not just about how something feels to be touched, but is visual as well. Tactile texture relates to an actual feeling of a surface – for example, rough, smooth, soft, hard, etc – whereas visual texture is one’s perception of what the texture may feel like.
Designing and decorating a room should be a multi-sensory experience where a room not only looks great, but also begs to be touched. The room therefore needs to stimulate us both visually and tactilely. A cosy rug, soft timber floors and furry, soft pillows all help to make a room feel complete.
Let your personality and sense of style shine through by adding tactile accents such as faux fur soft furnishings, leather furniture or on-trend cowhides for an up-to-the-minute look. This room oozes texture, with its fur throw, exposed brick wall and jute rug … even the artwork begs to be touched.
This room has used a simple colour palette that relies on timber to bring texture and warmth to the space. The timber brings both visual and tactile texture to the room. The timber wall and table look both warm and natural, balancing the smooth textures of the white walls and concrete floor that could otherwise appear cold and formal.
BONUS TRICK: An easy and inexpensive way to add texture to a room is to include a jute rug. These rugs are also available in many shapes and sizes and add both tactile and visual texture.
BONUS TRICK: An easy and inexpensive way to add texture to a room is to include a jute rug. These rugs are also available in many shapes and sizes and add both tactile and visual texture.
Choose one colour to stand out in your space
In a true neutral colour scheme, a pop of colour should always be used sparingly. Consider adding a bright artwork, coloured cushions or a side table. Remember to only choose one stand-out colour and not to overdo it. This can be particularly useful when decorating a child’s room as their favourite colour can change frequently!
In a true neutral colour scheme, a pop of colour should always be used sparingly. Consider adding a bright artwork, coloured cushions or a side table. Remember to only choose one stand-out colour and not to overdo it. This can be particularly useful when decorating a child’s room as their favourite colour can change frequently!
Keep the colour pieces simple so you can easily change the accent when you need a different look. In this photo, the accent piece is the red chair; the rest of the room is simple and neutral. A chair makes a great accent piece as it can be reupholstered in the fabric or colour you like, and when you are tired of the look, can be moved to another room. Just remember that colours increase in vibrancy if against a white background, so even a little colour can have a huge impact.
If you remember this, each room in your home can have its own selected colour accent with the neutrals anchoring the overall look.
If you remember this, each room in your home can have its own selected colour accent with the neutrals anchoring the overall look.
Go back to nature
Plants tick all the right design boxes. They can improve your mood and purify the air while at the same time add interest, texture and colour to your neutral scheme.
Plants tick all the right design boxes. They can improve your mood and purify the air while at the same time add interest, texture and colour to your neutral scheme.
Another way to add nature to a room is by including timber. Display those timber chopping-boards in the kitchen; add some natural timber shelving to your bedroom; or introduce a timber coffee table in the living room. Against a neutral backdrop, natural timber furniture gives an earthy look and creates a relaxed vibe.
BONUS TRICK: If adding the colour of leafy greens is not your thing, a bunch of twigs from the garden or some driftwood from the beach can also add personality to the room.
BONUS TRICK: If adding the colour of leafy greens is not your thing, a bunch of twigs from the garden or some driftwood from the beach can also add personality to the room.
Layer for contrast
Add interest and contrast by using layering. This room uses a neutral backdrop as a base, while cushions in varying shades and tones of cool and warm whites together with shades of grey have been layered onto the sofa to create warmth and interest. The use of the mohair pillow also adds texture.
Add interest and contrast by using layering. This room uses a neutral backdrop as a base, while cushions in varying shades and tones of cool and warm whites together with shades of grey have been layered onto the sofa to create warmth and interest. The use of the mohair pillow also adds texture.
There are many examples of layering in this peaceful bedroom – beautiful layered curtains, a rug layered on carpet, and layers of colour, from soft cream to a very dark wall, are all tied together with a crisp white on the ceiling and trims.
This room showcases the art of layering perfectly. Cushions are layered on the sofa using varying tones of neutral as well as varying shapes. The large sisal rug has been layered with a smaller grey/white rug, reflecting the tones used in the cushions perfectly.
BONUS TRICK: When layering cushions, artwork or decorative objects, start with the object that is the largest and move on in a descending order. Remember to go for balance, not symmetry.
BONUS TRICK: When layering cushions, artwork or decorative objects, start with the object that is the largest and move on in a descending order. Remember to go for balance, not symmetry.
Play with metal
You can follow the trends – just don’t overdo it! I’m seeing a lot of gold and copper in kitchen design at the moment and it’s spreading throughout the home. A neutral backdrop is the perfect stage on which these metallics can perform. It is important to only use metallics as accents as they can quickly overwhelm a room, making it feel more like a nightclub than a home. Look to lighting, tapware, handles, even utensils for metallic accents that won’t overpower the space and you won’t tire of.
You can follow the trends – just don’t overdo it! I’m seeing a lot of gold and copper in kitchen design at the moment and it’s spreading throughout the home. A neutral backdrop is the perfect stage on which these metallics can perform. It is important to only use metallics as accents as they can quickly overwhelm a room, making it feel more like a nightclub than a home. Look to lighting, tapware, handles, even utensils for metallic accents that won’t overpower the space and you won’t tire of.
The copper handles on these kitchen cupboards are unexpected and allow the tiles and timber to take the starring roles.
BONUS TRICK: Always look at a room and consider where you want your eye to be drawn. Is it an architectural element, a beautiful view or an introduced accent? That’s where you position eye-catching materials and finishes.
BONUS TRICK: Always look at a room and consider where you want your eye to be drawn. Is it an architectural element, a beautiful view or an introduced accent? That’s where you position eye-catching materials and finishes.
Make shapes
This room is a great example of how to use some of the tips I’ve outlined above, to give a neutral room wow factor. The owners have used layering, nature, texture, various shades of neutral, and something unexpected. This room is also an example of how to use my seventh tip, shapes. The round coffee table and side tables contrast perfectly with the rectangular mirror and sofa – even the cushions are a combination of shapes. Varying shapes creates interest and is visually pleasing to the eye.
The lighting has also been expertly thought out. The generous mirror not only provides an added shape to the room, but also reflects light and space.
All of these elements combine to make this room anything but boring.
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU
Show us your neutral scheme in the Comments and share your design tips for a snore-free space.
MORE
Nature’s Colour Wisdom: The Allure of Earthy Tones
Perfect Pairs: 8 Colour Palettes That Won’t Let You Down
12 Beige Rooms That Are Anything but Boring
This room is a great example of how to use some of the tips I’ve outlined above, to give a neutral room wow factor. The owners have used layering, nature, texture, various shades of neutral, and something unexpected. This room is also an example of how to use my seventh tip, shapes. The round coffee table and side tables contrast perfectly with the rectangular mirror and sofa – even the cushions are a combination of shapes. Varying shapes creates interest and is visually pleasing to the eye.
The lighting has also been expertly thought out. The generous mirror not only provides an added shape to the room, but also reflects light and space.
All of these elements combine to make this room anything but boring.
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU
Show us your neutral scheme in the Comments and share your design tips for a snore-free space.
MORE
Nature’s Colour Wisdom: The Allure of Earthy Tones
Perfect Pairs: 8 Colour Palettes That Won’t Let You Down
12 Beige Rooms That Are Anything but Boring
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Maybe it's my age, but only photos 5 and 8 have any appeal for me.
In photo one, I'd paint the candlesticks, or are they vases, in a bright hue, such as a teal blue, add a window treatment (shears, maybe) containing the same accent color and buy pillow cases to match.
In photo 3 I'd put a bright warm color on the under side and inner legs of the bar overhang.
I'm sure coming home from a stressful day at work to calm neutrals is restoring, but for us older folk, using all neutrals is too much like a hospital room.
Picture #1 is my dream bedroom. The only thing I would change is that the pictures on the side wall be neutral or muted beach pictures (possible abstract type).