Beige, cream, taupe, ivory, black, white, and gray – just imagine having only these colors present in your home, from living room to your kitchen. No reds. No yellows. Not even blues. Don’t you think they’re a bit, well, boring?
Yes, they can be. But if you use them wisely, you can make these timeless tones work in your space and still create a chic, refined and Pinterest-worthy interior.
If you’re going for an all-neutral home improvement, here are 9 decorating hacks you may consider.
1. Draw inspiration from natural elements
No one illustrates the best of neutral colors better than nature. Wood, stones, rattan, bamboo, and other natural elements that vary in shapes, textures, and colors, can work well to give warmth, life, and character to a monochromatic space.
Just think about the rustic charm of wooden beams, rock-filled fireplace, and driftwood furniture and how compelling they can be once you employ them subtly in your modern design. Make sure to add plants too.
2. Be bold, go black
Accents don’t always have to be bright colors. Black adds that strong touch of punctuation. Aside from having a black accent wall, think about adding black picture frames, bookshelves, lampshades, wall clock, vases, rugs, curtains, and other home accessories to break the silence in a light, neutral room.
3. Draw the eye with attractive shapes
The shapes present in the room immediately catch one’s attention. To spice up a neutral room without using such bright colors, add pieces and accessories with interesting shapes. Think of a unique ottoman, statement mirrors, honeycomb storage shelves, and other pieces that draw the eye. Have a variety of shapes that work together to break monotony.
4. Be clever with textures
With the help of contrasting textures, you can have similar tones in your space without making the room fall flat. You can introduce woven throw pillows to a leather couch, put a shiny drapery next to a matte wall, or a smooth picture frame on a brick wall.
The key to decorating with neutrals is contrast, so be clever in utilizing interesting textures as well as combining smooth and rough, hard and soft.
5. Accentuate your standout pieces
In a room dominated by bright colors, stunning pieces tend to be overlooked since the colors already steal the spotlight. With a neutral backdrop and with other furniture pieces being quiet, you can let your standout pieces and furnishings speak. Go on and let your unique and expensive furniture, art collections, photographs, pieces from world travels and other elements with character take the center stage.
6. Use interesting patterns
Aside from having a variation of textures, patterns also have a vital role in keeping an all-neutral room from being dull. Patterns with striking shapes, lines, and colors keep the eye moving throughout the space.
For instance, if you have a plain backdrop, you can put a patterned upholstery whose colors blend perfectly with every piece in the room. Throw pillows, rugs, draperies, and other accessories with captivating designs also contribute to making your space more visually stimulating.
7. Layer it on
Different combinations of fabrics make an all-neutral room a lot more interesting. If you have a boring cream microfiber couch, you can punch it up by putting a throw blanket, a few throw pillows of different textures and designs and a textured area rug. Layering these fabrics in different textures still generates unique feel even when they have similar colors.
8. Mix different materials and surfaces
Instead of going for the safe option of a buying a matching 3-piece rattan sofa and rattan coffee table set, you might want to take a shot at combining pieces of different materials and surfaces that could work well together.
Try matching different materials and textures but have similar color schemes, such as a gray granite coffee table and a metallic side table, or have a hardwood dining table paired with chairs drawn from different eras for an eclectic approach.
9. Play with different shades
Let’s say you have decided to work mostly with gray. Using several shades of this color allows the room to have depth. For your walls, you may use a lighter color on top and a darker color on the bottom, which create a 3-D effect. Faux paint technique can also be used to achieve that fascinating, time-worn charm. Again, play with contrasts. If you have a lighter shade for your backdrop, think of darker tones in terms of draperies and other furnishings.
Neutral colors never get old. They have a timeless charm which can work for any style. You just need to be thoughtful in decorating with neutrals to make the elements work well in your interior without having the need of colors.
Author Bio: Carmina Natividad is a daytime writer for PAAL Kit Homes, a renowned construction company that specializes in manufacturing and supplying top-quality steel-framed kit homes in Australia. She loves writing articles focused in real estate and interior design.
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