When we think of color, we often think of bright primary colors; your ocean blues, highlight yellows and of course simple reds. But when it comes to coloring and painting your home, it becomes a whole different story.

Oftentimes, bright colors may be too vivid and intense in the context of the home, which is meant to act as your place of rest. Hence, neutral paint colors have grown increasingly popular as a great option for adding a hint of color to the home while also keeping from being ‘too much’. In this blog, we’ll explore the power of neutral colors, why you need them and current trends in the space.

The Basics of Neutral Colors

Neutral paint colors all have undertones which play an important role in decorating an interior of a home. They typically are not found on the standard color wheel as they act more as shades of an existing color – for example beige, brown, ivory, black, white and so forth. It is helpful to notice the undertones in your neutral paints to better match your aesthetic – for example, some whites may have more yellow (warm) or blue (cool) tones and ivory can have pink or golden undertones.

Painting your wall neutral colors with ‘earth tones’ and ‘foundational colors’ often helps in tying a room together, especially when it is well coordinated with the furniture you own. Furniture rarely comes in primary colors and large furniture pieces may only come in varying shades of its material (e.g. wood). Neutral colors come in handy during times like these, as you will always be able to find a palette which matches your furniture.

Why Should You Choose Neutral Colors?

Aside from keeping your aesthetic consistent between your furniture and walls, there are many other reasons why neutral colors are advantageous to you during your interior design process:

1.       They will always be in style

Neutral colors are classic and due to their lack of intense color, will always be a comfortable addition to your home space. You won’t ever get tired of neutral colors and hence, they will always stay in style. Painting your walls a neutral color will also allow for you to change furniture around with no problem and still match things around your home perfectly.

2.       Neutral colors are highly versatile

Not only are neutral colors adaptable to most furniture types and colors, they are also flexible to all interior designing styles. For example, if you like the rustic design of houses, a cool brown statement wall may help complete the feel of your rooms. A cool brown paint can also be used if you prefer to design your home along the minimalist route, as the cool tones may help with creating a more distanced and spacious atmosphere.

3.       They accentuate the design elements of your house

While neutral colors will act as the primary backdrop in your rooms, they will not take away from any personal interior design elements you incorporated. Design elements such as the texture of your furniture will be further highlighted by having a natural colored paint as a background. Neutral colors will only bring your interior design artistry to the forefront and help your furniture stand out by matching well with your overall aesthetic. This complementary interaction is much harder to achieve with primary statement colors which are incredibly vivid by nature.

Popular and Trending Neutral Colors

If you are looking for some energetic neutral colors to complete your house’s walls, here are a few options that have been growing in popularity:

• Soft fern green: As a light and warm shade of green, this color is perfect for those who love a more rustic and natural look to a room. This wall would act as an effective aesthetic backdrop for rooms with plants, wooden furniture, or other warm-colored furniture pieces.
• Smokey blue: A unique neutral color with a cold undertone which blends pastel blues and greys. This color is perfect for those with a more modern interpretation of interior design, coupling well with white furniture pieces as well as darker greys. Easy on the eyes, this color may be a good option to consider for guest rooms or bathrooms for a chicer vibe.
• Misty grey: A misty grey is lighter than your average grey paint and like Smokey blues, is a great neutral color for walls in rooms that are more minimal and fresher in design. As this color is only a few shades off of white, it can give a room an energetic and refreshing atmosphere.

Due to their ability to match with furniture, stay stylish and the large number of options of neutral color variations, neutral colors are incredibly valuable to the interior home designing and wall painting process. Choosing which paint to use can be a difficult decision, but neutral colors are never a bad choice!