No! I’m not repainting my house today, but we are going to talk about how to decorate with neutral colors! I often get asked about our neutral color scheme and how we make it work without causing our house to look bland or blah.
One of the secrets to decorating with neutral colors is, of course, to pick a really great wall color. It may sound strange, but I have a whole pallet of my favorite neutral paint colors. The subtle differences between cream, grey, white and ecru are distinct and there’s a big difference. Some neutrals read warmer and some read cooler. There’s currently a trend to go with either “griege” (grey + beige) or all-white on walls and interiors. This color scheme has been trending for a while, but it shows no signs of going out of style. I get weekly questions about the paint shade we used in our house, and how to incorporate more of a neutral color scheme into a room without causing it to feel “flat.”
The great thing about light paint shades is they lend themselves to many different décor styles—rustic, modern, bohemian, Scandinavian. It’s all about the ways you choose to accessorize the room with texture, furniture style, shape, and accents. Mirrored, silver and mercury accessories can create a lux atmosphere when combined with decadent textures like velvet and fur. At the same time, white-washed or weathered wood furniture looks charming, fresh and rustic against a neutral palette. It’s all about the style you bring into the room. Neutral colors are exciting because they create the perfect canvas for any room!
If you’re ready for the clean, bright, cheer of a neutral color palette, here are some great ideas to inspire you, along with a guide to my favorite neutral paint colors. Incorporate more “griege” into your life to create a room that stands out!
Neutral Color Palette Inspiration
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In this room, you get pops of this great shade of griege on the walls and on the furniture. The pale-yellow paint on the accent wall reads as a neutral. Adding bold stripes via the rug keeps a small room from feeling too snug. The statement chandelier expands the room by drawing your eye upward (and complements the rug). With the addition of texture on the ottoman this room feels perfectly warm and cozy. No starkness here!
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Again, the use of black as an accent makes this space have a greater visual impact. The arrangement of the warm griege chairs mirrors the two square industrial lamps hanging above. Despite the formal symmetry, this room still feels relaxed and warm due to the plush chairs, exposed beams and natural accents scattered throughout the space.
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This elegant white room manages to feel soft and inviting despite the white-on-white of the wall color, flooring, rug and couch. Using the two pewter grey ottomans along with the warm, textured wood coffee table makes this space feel comfortable and casual. Once again, touches of nature with the giant shell and beautiful hydrangea bouquet are a welcomed addition.
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Nothing makes a neutral white color scheme look more glamorous than silver accents. From the frames and the chandelier, to the pillows on the couch, this room feels elegant and stately. The dark flooring complements the room perfectly, and the color is repeated on the coffee table and little horse on the mantel.
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The cream walls with white trim are bright and inviting in this sunny room. Lots of texture in this room in the rug, coffee table and wood accessories make this all-white furniture pop and not blend in too much with the cream walls. Those big windows offer plenty of green, complemented by a few plants throughout the space. The natural woven jute and the fun shape of the light fixture keep this space playful and relaxed.
Griege also works great in a kitchen setting! As a cabinet and accent color it works beautifully!
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This kitchen is stunning with neutral white subway tile covering the walls. The griege cabinets stand out, especially with those gorgeous gold handles! Gold is an unexpected touch in the kitchen, so it really catches the eye. It plays very well with the rest of the neutral scheme which keeps a smaller cooking space feel expansive.
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A darker grey cabinet paint color also works for the kitchen with a neutral palette. Again, the subway tile backsplash is a perfect background for these dramatic cabinets. Check out that gold faucet too! I’m really falling in love with gold accents for the kitchen. They’re beautiful with the deep farmhouse sink and offer the perfect contrast against the neutral cabinets.
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In this all-white kitchen, griege tiles and weathered furniture work seamlessly together. The eclectic country pieces pair with the modern, industrial background largely because every piece reads as a neutral. Working with this color scheme is fun because almost anything goes together!
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Above is another great example of how country pieces like a farmhouse table, industrial accents and even an elegant chandelier look cohesive and deliberate when the working in a neutral palette. The exposed beams in all-white paint keep the ceiling high and open. The white walls and island are complemented by the cool white of the industrial metal chairs and the sweet ceramic pitcher on the table filled with fresh blooms.
I LOVE how the neutral color scheme and griege accents are also being used to make focal pieces in a room stand out.
Against a neutral background this griege clawfoot bathtub is breathtaking. The simple bathroom is inviting, elegant and in no-way blah, despite the simple color scheme.
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This piano is just dreamy in a creamy beige color! We often think color makes a piece pop, but against white walls, great lines can make a neutral focal piece really stand out. Who could miss this stunner? It just invites you to sit down and play a tune.
So, are you sold on the idea of neutrals? Are you ready to start painting the town (or your house, rather) greige?! Looking for the best neutral paint colors to tackle your next project?
Here are my favorite neutral wall colors I’ve used for my clients, along with a few tips for selecting the perfect paint color.
How To Select The Perfect Neutral Paint Colors:
Remember the following when selecting paint:
- Any shade, especially whites and neutrals will look different from one room to the next due to lighting.
- Always paint a 4” × 4” swatch on the wall to test your chosen paint color and see if it will work.
- Always paint at least two coats for a realistic swatch on the wall.
- If you want to frame the room, pop the trim in a white or even go in a shade darker than the wall color selected.
- Accent the wall with accessories in the same shade as your paint, to add visual interest and give your wall some depth.
Want to know what my favorite paint shades are? Grab it below!
Deanna Jones says
Thanks for the tips! I really like your suggestions for how to use neutral paint colors in my house. I’ve never really taken very much notice into how darker and lighter neutral tones can affect the mood in a room before reading this post. That can clearly be seen in the picture of the kitchen that features that table set with the plants on top. The whiter shades of the white cabinets really pop against the darker shade of the tile right behind it. I should use this same color coordinating guide for my own home now that I’m getting around to painting it.
Anita Mas says
Since all the colors in the walls and furniture are neutral, the textures can really pop if you go for that. It would be fun to play around with those colors. It’s a nice way to use the white walls. We will have to paint it. That way we can have our room look bigger while we are at it.
Hannah says
Neutral colors really bring forth a sophisticated look. Plus, they give you a lot of wiggle room with your decorations. Great post!
Anita Mas says
I have to admit that I am a fan of neutral colors on the walls. That way, they won’t clash with the color of our furniture and decorations. Still, I don’t want everything to just be a stark white. Most of these walls have a light undertone color. I like the ones that seem to have a pale golden yellow undertone. It’s not bright yellow, but it softens the white.
EmberJ says
I’m really glad that you showed the picture of the room with the silver accents. My husband wants to paint our living room grey, but I was afraid it would be a little boring. See how glamorous it looks with silver accents, I think I’ll definitely reconsider that interior paint
Ian Johanson says
I like how you pointed out in each of your examples that there was some contrasting color or accents. If it weren’t for these then I think I would hate the neutral paint colors you are showing. I do have to admit that they are classy and I like the idea of picking a color that will look different in different light. However, I still like having a little bit of color to a room. Would it be too much to add an accent wall in a room with one of these colors?
Lara says
Love your picks! We love the Repose Gray in our home. It was one of the few colors that looked true to color with our lighting, and really makes everything else in the room pop.
Whitney Shortt says
Thank you for the great tips and color suggestions!
Drew says
I love the gray cabinets! I never would have thought to make cabinets gray but it really works well against the white walls. Thanks for the idea.
Dee Francis says
Choosing paint colors based on the lighting in each room seems like a great way to choose the right neutral paint colors. That’s something I’ve been struggling with since I decided that I wanted to repaint all of the rooms in my house. While I was looking online to get ideas, I found this site that has a gallery of painted houses that rooms that gave me some inspiration: http://www.gandlpainting.ca/photo_gallery.html. There are a few rooms that were painted using different shades of browns and greys that look pretty good, so I might decide to paint some of the rooms that get more light in a light shade of grey.
Kate says
I am definitely into neutral color trends! It makes your house look, clean, modern, and classy! It also makes it easier for you to change the decor as much as you;d like without having to paint the walls or get new furniture each time! I love the picture inspirations you picked!
Bob Lowe says
Thank you for the post. These are some really great ideas. I think adding a new paint color can really transform a room into something you could only dream about. I really like the look of more neutral colors, I think it is more chic and goes with anything.
James Bergman says
I’m trying to find the best color for my office. I do like bold colors, but I think that having something neutral will be better for helping me concentrate. I like the grant beige and the revere pewter, but actually think I want something with more color. Really about like these two colors but with more of a green hint to them. Any suggestions?
Kai Hancock says
I love spray paint!! I do wish there were a wider range of colors. I’ve learned to do several very light coats to avoid drips.
Robert Lamingdon says
The whiter shades of the white cabinets really pop against the darker shade of the tile right behind it. It’s a nice way to use the white walls. We will have to paint it. I should use this same color coordinating guide for my own home now that I’m getting around to painting it.
Charles says
My home is decorated with a lot of neutral colors. We actually have made the apartment look a lot better than it was. I like to say that it is really warm and cozy unlike before.
Drew says
I love the gray paint in the kitchen. I wouldn’t have ever thought to do that myself but now I may have to consider it.
Shamain says
I love the paint color of the paino! Any suggestions of a color like that?
Phyllis Casper says
I was going to try and paint my pine bedroom furniture. I don’t want it to be White and I don’t want it to be Cream. Is there a nice color that is in between that would look nice as a bedroom furniture color in your opinion.
Soumyajyoti Chakraborty says
Very intuitive. and a very good read.
Michael says
Thanks for sharing this post. It”s really informative
Joan Good says
Would love to have the LRV numbers and the brand name of the colors. Thanks for a good article.
Betty Dunn says
Hi, They all looked wonderfull, But Im thinking of some other Neutrals for my Living Room and Dining Room Elegant Ivory Cream By Benjamin Moore . Kitchen and Family Room Wickham Gray By Benjamin Moore. and all my floors will be close too A medium to dark wood and Cabints a Cream or White. And In the Floyer Im thinking maybe Edecomb Gray and it going up the stairs and Hall, By Benjamin Moore, What do you think? The Bathroom downstairs it has Brown Tile looks like wood and Shower Tile is Cream with a little Gold /Tan swirls looks almost like marblethinking, Light Revere Pewter By Benjamin Moore, what do you think? Master Bedroom Healing Aloe By Benjamin Moore and Master Bath Sea Breath I want like light teal but very light both of them to compliment each other. 2nd Bathroom upstairs Gray Owl By Benjamin Moore it will have Dark Gray Shower Tile and it has Light Gray Floor Tile looks like wood or something with a very light Blue very light Blue, Blue Bonnet or something lighter?The Vanity is Black.Ok the other 2 Bedrooms are already Painted one is Blue I may change everyone likes it, Second bedroom is a Mist Gray a very Pretty color Both By Benjamin Moore . The carpet is a Gray ,Cream ,Brown not to light not to dark. Laundry Room thing Balaloa Mist By Benjamin Moore. Let me know what you think of my Ideas, and if you have any that you thing my be better please let me know my design is Traditional French.Thank For Your. Well I look farward to hearing from you Soon. Have A Wonderful Day
Sincerely,
Betty Dunn