What You Need To Know About Neutral Colors

Sep 2, 2020

Elif Naz Kaya

Elif Naz Kaya

Architect/ Designer

If you are a huge interior design fan and want to learn some inside tricks, this is where you need to be. More about me…

neutral color scheme for interiors

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What You Need To Know About Neutral Colors

Colors are an essential part of designing everything from interiors through graphics, and the neutral colors are the trickiest ones.

Why should you learn and use neutral colors?

I told you that using neutral is a tricky job, but you can easily learn how to use them. After you know how to use neutral colors, you will achieve a whole different perspective about using colors.

Neutrals are generally used to balanced colors. If you want to create harmonious color palettes, you need to balance everything by picking the most suitable neutral choice.

Do you know what the best thing about designing interiors with neutrals is?

If you primarily use neutrals in your home decoration, you can quickly refresh your interiors by adding new colors.

You don’t even need to change anything but adding new colors, yet you can feel like a whole different ambiance.

Designing color palettes become easy if you have an inspiration source. So follow up Color Schemes for Home and stay tuned new color trends.

Let’s delve into everything you need to know to work with neutral colors.

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# What is a Neutral Color?

Neutrals define as a color that lack of color. Neutral colours are separated from the color wheel.

In the color wheel, the primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. Apart from that, we also have neutrals, which are primarily white, black, grey, brown, and beige.

You may be wondering, are neutrals cool or warm?

There are, of course, warm and cool neutrals. I can say that other neutral colors are the warm or cold versions of these primary hues.

For example, the cream was created by a mixture of white and yellow that makes the cream a warm neutral color.

We cannot say that all whites are cold, or all browns are warm.

Whites and greys are more on the cool side, but there are some warm whites and greys.

Warm Whites and Greys
Warm Whites and Greys

The brown color is generally on the warm side, but if you use really dark brown such as espresso brown with other cool colors, it will read more cool.

Warm Brown Tones
Warm Brown Tones
Cold Brown Tones
Cold Brown Tones

Black is nearly always a cool color.

The best way to understand the temperature of neutral color is to look at the most saturated version. When color-saturated, it will give clues about it is warm or cold.

Designer’s Tips: If you want to pick neutral paint colors for your home, look at the paint sheen’s bottom. The bottom of the paint sheen will always show you the most saturated version of that color. It will make it easier to understand it’s temperature.

Mainly, nature-based colors and materials are considered neutral as well. 

Green tends to read more neutral than other hues, but this would not mean that every green shade is considered neutral.

Olive green, sage green, navy, and blush colors act like neutral colors when used in interiors.

# How to use Neutrals When Creating a Color Palette

When designing color palettes, if you want to make a confident start-up, I recommend picking neutrals first. Finding the neutral colors you love will lead you through other color choices.

After selecting 2-3 neutral colors with similar temperatures to your color palette, you now know what kind of color choices will fit perfectly.

If your neutrals are towards warmer, then adding some warm colors will look great with each other.

Designer’s Tips: If you have no idea about what neutrals to choose, deciding by looking at your furniture or fixed surfaces (floor, cabinet, etc.). Agree on your neutral paint colors will be easy if you know how to choose paint colors. Your home or room rotation will also help you select.

Use neutrals primarily whether you are designing interiors or a neutral color palette. All colors go well with neutrals, even if you want to add more neutrals.

By doing it, you can guarantee that you will not be bored, or even if you are bored, you can always add some new colors or accessories and layers into your home.

neutral color scheme
neutral color palette

# Designing Chic Interiors by Using Neutrals

Everything is excellent about neutrals… but how can you create the chicest interiors by using neutral color schemes?

This question may not come up into your mind because neutrals are great for every space and every situation; unless you decide to use monochromatic neutral color schemes. You will probably end up having an unexciting space.

There are some tips and tricks to implement if you do want to. I believe that you are already here for these tips 🙂

First of all, do not afraid to use different textures and adding some patterns. Using neutrals will allow you to use as many surfaces as you can.

neutral color for living room

If you have a neutral color bedroom, try to layer your bed with more neutrals but have different textures. Mix linen sheets with some cotton pillows, or whatever you are comfortable.

Another tip is to collaborate with interior styles that prefer to use neutrals.

The contemporary interior style uses neutrals for the primary colors as well as the accent colors.

Industrial style is all about celebrating raw materials in our interiors. So, most industrial interiors use neutral paint colours and color schemes.

Last but not least, Scandinavian style interiors, pioneer of minimalism, often prefer to use a neutral color scheme.

If you want my advice, the sooner you start using neutrals in your home, the better your interiors will serve you.

And, once you taste how comfortable to work with neutral colors, you don’t want to live in an un-neutral world.

What is your favorite neutral colors?

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1 Comment

  1. Emy

    Thank you

    Reply

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