Going Neutral: Layering Comfort and Versatility into Your Design

I want to share a designer’s secret with you. Ready? Here it is: neutral palettes are anything but dull and staid. Neutral color tones are expressive and alive with personality in the right hands. Before you pick up a paint brush or reach for a set of swatches, read this. 

Swath of Many Colors:

What’s the first hue you think of when someone mentions painting a room with a neutral? White? Beige? The truth is that the choices within the neutral color family are vast! You have your pick between subtle differences in the warm cream family like ivory, bone, alabaster and eggshell. Or move into the neighborhood of grey with its soft shades of dove, pewter and the bolder, more saturated tone of charcoal. Start with a base color that best suits your personal taste and the mood you’re looking to strike in the room. 

Layer It Up:

Build interest by layering colors in different shades or complementary hues. If you’ve painted your walls a light shade of gray, introduce depth with a carbon colored sofa or an area rug toned somewhere in between. Introduce texture and patterns with your upholstered pieces that play up the same color family. Look for wood tones that complement your aesthetic tastes and the color palette you’ve selected. Just be aware of what undertones are present in your wall color. If the neutral on your wall is broadcasting undertones of blue, layer in other hues that whisper blue also. 

Play with Pops:

The beauty of a neutral décor is that you can work in pops of color that are easily updated when you’re ready for something new. Perhaps your walls are a pleasing shade of ivory, your sofa is a lush chocolate and the wooden entertainment center is a rich, earthy hue. Greet spring with pillows in a mossy green, an area rug that plays into the soft, dawning shades of spring and a couple of throws light enough in weight and color tone to ward off the last fingers of winter’s chill. When you’re feeling like summer’s ready to sing indoors, swap out the pillows, rug and other accessories for colors that make you feel like you’re beach bound. 

Go Organic or Metallic:

Elements of nature feel as at home in a neutral room as metallics do. You’ve got the option to add accessories that harken back to nature. A sun-filled room may be a welcome space to show off your collection of beach-themed accessories like an antiqued jar filled with shells and sea glass while a hemp-braided rug rests on the floor. On the other hand, you may find brushed nickel and satin-finished silver tones complement your design taste. Either one will feel at home with a neutral color palette.

by Anjie Cho

One Day Refresh: Breathe New Life into Your Space

Accent Wall, Lamp and Chair.jpg

When was the last time your space got a makeover? Perhaps you’re longing for a new look, but lack the time to create and implement a complete overhaul of your room(s). Take a deep breath and listen to this. You can update any room in your home in a single day with these tips. 

Paint an accent wall.

Painting a full room takes time. There’s identifying a color you can live with, taping off the trim, coat one, coat two. You get the idea. Painting an accent wall, however, can be relatively quick and painless. Pick one wall you want to highlight. Look at your existing décor for the right pop of color to complement your primary wall hue. What colors show up often in your accessories? Use your favorite as a guide for your accent wall color. 

Add a rug.

Another easy update lies just beneath your feet: your floor. Whether you’ve got hardwood floors or wall to wall carpet, adding an area rug can update the look and feel of your space. Even changing out a rug that’s already there for something new will refresh the room. Here’s a hint: placing an area rug down and arranging your furniture around it can delineate a seating space. Or you can define a cozy reading nook in a corner of your room. Remember, the rug’s texture, color, and pattern can also help create a mood for the space.

Update your lighting.

How about a simple, often overlooked change that can yield dramatic results? Updating your light fixtures can be impactful! Something as simple as changing the light bulb to one with a soft, warmer glow can influence the ambiance of your room. Swapping out the lampshades on your existing fixtures can change the entire look and feel, too. If you really want to step things up, invest in a can of spray paint to bring a new look to your old lamp base. Or shop for a brand new, fabulous fixture that can be the centerpiece of the room.

Change up your accessories.

Odds are you’ve already thought about trading out your throw pillows and other accent pieces. You may even have considered updating your window treatments (great ideas, by the way!). Don’t overlook the difference that updating smaller accessories can make too. Pick up new drawer pulls to change up your dresser and end tables. Swap out door knobs and light switch/outlet plates for something new. In the bathroom, a new soap tray and toothbrush holder can be a good start. Changing up the towel rack (and the towels that hang on it!) can alter the room.

Pay attention to the details of your space and change what you can. All those little bits add up to dramatic impact!

by Anjie Cho

3 Tips on Color in Your Home, With About.com's Diana Hathaway Timmons

We've proudly been featured more than once in About.com Home's excellent articles on color and interior design tips, and we're huge fans of Diana Hathaway Timmons, About.com's Color Expert. Since Diana's got such a keen eye for color, and feng shui is so intimately linked, we thought we'd ask her a few questions and feature her!

AC: What are three key tips one should consider when painting a color for their home?

DHT: Choosing paint color for your home is such a personal decision, but everyone can benefit from a few tips to make it stress-free. 

1. Don't get overwhelmed by your color choices. Narrow down your color choices as quickly as possible so that you're working with the smallest number of options. Look to your favorite paint brand for special palettes that were curated into smaller collections. These collections can help you narrow down your choices so that you're not trying to choose between 200 shades of blue. 

2. Study the trends, but choose the colors you love. Color inspiration from the latest trends can help you get ideas for your color palette, but they're just a starting point. The paint colors you choose will be with you 24/7, so choose what you love, (even if it's not trendy.) If you love some of the on-trend colors but don't want to commit them to your walls, you can always go neutral or white with your paint and add color accents with decorative accessories.

3. This tip isn't really glamorous, but it's such a necessity when you're choosing paint color. Be sure to sample and test wall colors before committing. Factors like lighting and sunlight can affect how your paint color looks. Even your flooring or cabinets can completely derail a color scheme, so take the time to sample your paint color. 

What colors do you have in your home and workspace, and why?

My walls at home and in my workspace are pretty neutral in Sherwin-Williams Honied White. A neutral color flowing through the house gives me more freedom to play with color in furnishings and decor. My workspace is also neutral because I work so much with color that there is always something colorful on a shelf or hung on the wall, and some of my own artwork and photography.

The master bedroom has a fabulous accent wall that I just added in Farrow & Ball Dix Blue. The room is pretty plain and boxy, so an accent wall was essential. Dix Blue works perfectly with the whole-house color palette of aqua, gold, and brown. I love this color palette because it reminds me of the beaches in Southern California, where I grew up. 

How have you created a holistic space for yourself?

My holistic space is my living room. It's an open space with high ceilings and three large windows looking out at a Japanese maple and flowering plum tree. There are no electronics in the room, just cozy furniture. I use the living room as a quiet space where I plan and daydream. The room's afternoon light streams in from the west. Though I'm from California, I live near Seattle now, so every little bit of sunshine is a relaxing luxury for me.

by Anjie Cho

Diana Hathaway Timmons

Diana Hathaway Timmons is the color expert for Color.About.com, a lifestyle writer, and designer. Color is her passion, reaching millions of people with her color expertise. Diana's has contributed to publications and websites that include Huffington Post, MSN, BHG, and Reader's Digest, and she has authored the book, "Sell Your Home Without Losing Your Zen."