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Your Top Neutral Color Palette Questions Answered

One of the interior design quandaries homeowners struggle with the most involves what color scheme they should use throughout their living space. Those who want to play it safe tend to favor a neutral color palette, while anyone who likes to experiment and take chances will go for bold colors. While neutral hues may be the safer, more popular option, there are still plenty of questions that arise when it comes to addressing important elements like paint colors and home decor.

From the living room, dining room and kitchen, to the bedrooms and bathrooms, you can employ neutrals to create a serene setting anywhere you go. Another reason we love neutrals is their ability to complement a variety of design styles, from minimalist and modern, to layered and traditional. If we’ve convinced you to go to the neutral zone, stick around for our answers to your top neutral palette questions.

What are the 4 main neutral colors?

You can’t have a list of neutral colors without including the most obvious and ubiquitous hue. Though it may seem simple and straightforward, white offers an array of variations that make it one of the most complicated for choosing white paint colors or white fabric colors. From eggshell and off-white, to ivory and cream, there are subtle undertones that make every version slightly unique.

If you haven’t already, you will see just how many shades of white exist when you’re picking wall colors. To avoid an overly monochromatic look with white walls, white furniture and white accessories, you can bring in pops of color through throw pillows or even your coffee table and additional accent pieces.

When researching a neutral color scheme, you’ll no doubt find that brown is one of the top options. After all, you almost can’t decorate a space without using wood furniture, and wood’s natural state is brown. Not only can you pair it with many different colors, but just like white, there are an abundance of variations - from light taupe to dark chocolate.

We especially love that it's a warm neutral, which means it’s instantly inviting and comforting. Because of its earthy appeal and grounding feel, brown has a way of creating cozy vibes.

Right around the time Fifty Shades of Grey became a massive pop culture phenomenon, the color grey also came into its own as one of the most widely used colors in interiors. As neutral tones go, it’s the perfect balance of light and dark, making it an endlessly versatile choice for neutral walls, neutral furniture and beyond.

Many of us count grey as our favorite neutral because of its easy, timeless sophistication. There’s also been an emergence of a hybrid color - greige, which combines the best of both grey and beige.

The only neutral that’s actually on the color wheel, blue is officially one of the cool neutrals. While many of us tend to think of blue as an accent color, it’s proven its neutral status by being a favorite for big-ticket items. Especially in rooms that get a lot of natural light, blue can be used in heavy doses to make an impact.

Depending on the saturation level, this cool color is perfect for more than just an accent wall. You can experiment with the entire spectrum of blue to see which shade works in your space. Navy is a rich and sophisticated option for sofas and sectionals, and you can go lighter in artwork and accessories.

What neutral colors go well together?

Neutral color combinations are a little bit easier to figure out because most of the selections go together beautifully. One of our top pairings is brown and white. By combining wood tones with shades of white, you can achieve a chic neutral look that’s airy, inviting and subtly Scandinavian. Brown and white also work extremely well as neutral paint colors that you can use throughout your home.
A classic and beloved color combo, blue and white are a natural match made in heaven. Think about the colors of the sky or the ocean…it just feels right for these colors to be together everywhere, including inside of our homes. The pair is also a lesson in contrast, as blue is bright and bold, sometimes dark and moody, and white is the perfect complement.

What are calming neutral colors?

decorating with neutral colors blue and white
Blue and White
Is it any wonder that this popular color couple also ranks as a calming combination? As we previously mentioned, we love these neutral shades together because they occur as a pair in nature. When we mimic what we see in nature in our spaces, we feel at ease and at peace. Blue and white also have that coastal connection and the beach is one of the most relaxing and restful places you can visit.
decorating with neutral colors grey brown
Grey and Brown
Whether you’re talking living room, dining room or bedroom color schemes, grey and brown are an unexpected yet supremely stylish match. You just have to get the shades right, and the key is to keep it balanced. When it comes to linens or pillows, accessories or artwork, you don’t want to overwhelm with too much dark, so create a contrast with both colors.

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