After a brief hiatus, neutral paint colors have made a comeback in interior decoration. When you are looking for something classy and elegant, then the best route to take is to opt for a neutral color palette.
Neutral paint colors have been much maligned by homeowners and most people consider neutral colors to be boring and blah. But the truth is that if you are looking to infuse your interiors with chic sophistication, then there is nothing to beat the beauty of neutral colors. Leave the gaudy fuchsia and loud neon green for your wardrobe and use elegant neutrals instead on your room walls. Many people think that neutral colors only comprise stark white and dull browns. But there are many more hues that make up the neutral color palette. Warm neutrals like sand, beige and tan can give a room a sense of coziness while cool neutrals like steel gray and dull silver can give a room a spacious and airy ambiance. Choosing the right neutral shade for creating the ambiance you want in each room can be a little tricky, but by coordinating the wall paint colors with furnishings and accessories in the room, this can be done. Here we bring to you some of the best neutral colors that can enhance your living spaces.
Popular Neutral Paint Colors
Whether your home decorating style is traditional or contemporary, vibrant or more restrained, there is a neutral paint color that will complement it. One of the best things about neutral paint shades is that it is very versatile and it can be incorporated into any décor style.
Off-White
I am aware that most people have this notion, that, off-white is done to death and is utilitarian. But the thing about off-white is not how it looks alone, but how it combines with other colors to give the room character and definition. Painting an entire room in an off-white color will make it look too stark and clinical. The trick to making this beautiful color work, is by using a warm color palette since off-white is a cool color. Paint one of the walls of the living room or bedroom in off-white, with window cornices and trimmings painted in steel gray. The other walls should be painted in a brighter neutral shade like apple green to give the room a cohesive look. To finish the look of the room, upholstery and furnishings can be done in shades of dark gray or teal blue.
Wheat
A color that has been overlooked by interior decorators in the past, but which is very trendy right now is wheat. This beautiful neutral hue is warm and inviting and when paired with the right color scheme can give a room a rich look. This color is best suited to be used in formal rooms like a study or a formal dining room. Paint the walls of a room in wheat color and paint the ceiling in an earthy tan shade. The darker tan shade blends perfectly with the lighter wheat shade. To make the room look more interesting, add accessories and furnishings in a darker shade like peach and mustard yellow. Adding such punch of vibrant colors like mustard yellow and peach brings out the beauty of the neutral colors.
Taupe
Taupe is such a wonderful neutral color that I sometimes wonder why people do not use it more often in their home décor. A beautiful and rich brownish gray color, taupe should be combined with lighter colors like snow white, lavender and pale pinks for a contrasting look. Paint all the four walls of a room in taupe and cover the ceiling in a light lavender color. Add bright yellow colored window treatment and wall art to add just the right amount of color to a neutral colored room. Selecting a neutral paint color scheme of taupe and muted lavender will allow you to be more flexible about the other décor elements in the room. Taupe is one of the best living room paint colors for 2011.
Steel Gray
Steel gray is a lovely cool neutral color that gives a room a classy sophistication. To decorate a room with this neutral shade, you can paint the walls of a room in steel gray hue and paint the moldings and trimmings in dove white. Pairing gray with dove white is a great idea as it complements each other. Avoid using snow white or pristine white on the moldings and trimmings with gray walls since it will look too jarring. Another great idea to use steel gray paint in your room is by painting the bottom half of the walls in steel gray and painting the top half of the walls in pale bluish gray.
Neutral paint shades give depth to a room and allow vibrant colors in home décor accessories to pop. By choosing the best neutral paint colors for your home, you can impart the classy and sophisticated look that you always wanted.
