What Are Neutral Colors? Tips for Using Neutrals in Your Décor

Neutral colors are muted shades that appear to lack color but often have underlying hues that change with different lighting. Examples of neutral colors include beige, taupe, gray, cream, brown, black, and white. While neutral colors are not on the color wheel, they complement primary and secondary colors. You can combine primary colors—like red, white, and blue—to make a range of other colors. Secondary colors are the result of mixing two primary colors, like green (yellow plus blue), orange (yellow plus red), and purple (red plus blue).

Neutral colors can be complex in tone, as mixing different colors creates unique shades. For example, greige is a mix of light gray and beige, with yellow hues in natural light and gray in fluorescent lighting. (Natural light refers to lighting generated from a natural source like the sun.)

The basic neutral color palette comprises black, white, brown, and gray, with varying shades in between. Here is a breakdown of the various types of neutrals:

• Pure neutrals: The pure neutral color palette includes black, white, brown, and gray, all of which fall under the category of pure color, which means they are fully saturated and do not have an undertone (underlying color). By mixing different pure neutrals and primary colors, you can influence the resulting color’s saturation and vibrancy.
• Near-neutrals: Mixing a primary color with a pure neutral color creates a near-neutral. For instance, to make the near-neutral color tan, mix the primary color yellow with the pure neutral brown. Near-neutral colors have lower saturation than pure neutral colors. Similarly, pairing a neutral color with a bright hue increases the vibrancy of the hue, attracting the eye to that particular spot of color.
• Warm and cool neutrals: Mixing different pure neutral colors with primary colors creates either warm neutrals or cool neutrals. Warm neutrals have yellow, orange, or pink undertones, such as beige, tan, and gold, while cool neutrals have blue, purple, or green undertones, such as gray, taupe, and ivory.

Interior designers use neutral color palettes to create different visual effects, playing with focal points, depth, saturation, and highlights to enhance a living space. Here are some of the advantages of decorating with a neutral color palette:

1. 1. You can build off neutral tones. When you paint or decorate a space with a neutral color, you can build off that tone, incorporating accent colors or bold patterns. Overusing bold colors makes the room overwhelming and distracting for the eye. Neutral colors help balance a room so that you can add different accessories and patterns. Learn how to mix patterns in your home décor.
2. 2. Neutrals pair well with a range of colors. Through different seasons, your style and preferences may change. Changing your home décor with a new pattern piece or set of curtains is easy when your room has a neutral color palette because it's versatile and pairs well with different color schemes and design elements. Simply adding new throw pillows to your couch can change the look of your living room and match your new style.
3. 3. Neutrals can have a calming effect. While bright, bold colors are loud and vibrant, neutral paint colors are calming and gentle on the eye. With little saturation, neutral colors seamlessly flow from one color into the next. Most neutral palettes also reflect naturally occurring colors, shaping a living area into a relaxing, nature-based space. Learn how to choose a paint color for any room in your home.
4. 4. You can use any decorating style. Different interior design styles incorporate neutral colors, from modernism to rustic to art deco. As a natural foundation for any background, neutral colors enhance different tones and patterns. For instance, neutral shades balance geometric patterns in an art deco room, whereas darker neutrals create a streamlined, sleek effect in a modern room.

When working with a neutral color scheme, find subtle DIY ways to add texture and color ideas for versatility.

1. 1. Use different tints: Tonal color palettes add highlights and accents to a neutral color palette, making areas of a room pop. Incorporate different tints and neutrals to create a more lively and engaging space. Consider pairing sage green with a predominantly gray and white room to add a tint of color—a pop of pink pairs nicely with warmer neutrals, such as gold or beige.
2. 2. Consider the lighting: A room’s lighting influences how your eyes read a color. Artificial lighting tends to have a yellow hue, so it intensifies warmer neutrals. Consider factors such as the season, time of day, the sun’s position, and the room’s location when choosing your color schemes. For example, natural light from the north creates a blue tint, making neutral colors appear darker and less saturated, while eastern or western light creates a warmer hue. White paint comes in various shades; they also appear differently depending on the natural lighting.
3. 3. Add color with accessories: Pairing neutral walls with neutrally colored large furniture pieces can create a calming effect, but that doesn’t mean you must sacrifice color. Instead, incorporate color in the different accessories in the room, such as throw pillows, artwork, or curtains. Choosing accessories with color makes it easier to change the room’s style and décor to match different seasons.
4. 4. Choose the right color: Different near-neutral and pure neutral colors have varying effects on a room. Dark, cool colors create a cozy feel within a room, while lighter neutrals make a room appear larger. Choose a room color that aligns with the design and feel you want for the space.

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