topic Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST in Home

NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

Oznell — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:56:46 GMT

Always notice how many people on the home forum tend not to care for neutral rooms, in general.

I like both neutrals and color. I do like when a room contains both, the best.

I'm interested in the level of "neutral aversion" among other posters.

Here are a few vignettes that are *mostly*neutral. Could you rate your tolerance for their "neutrality", with zero being "can't stand", up to 10 being "love". Hope this doesn't sound too much like homework amid holiday festivities, ha.

You don't have to rate all of them. Just give us an idea with even a few of them....

A). Love this example from design blogger Andrea--

B). Also love the domination of the raw wood look.

C). To me, the minimal color does not keep the room from being very interesting, but what do you think?

D). Moody.

E). No color in sight, except greens and shine...

F )

G )

H). This one has a little blue, so...

I ). From the North Georgia house:

J). Yes, I could live in this kitchen--

K). LOve this traditional room. It does have subtle color too, in the corner mural or painting, and the glass chandelier...

L). An expanded, black and white studio apartment. New York, of course--

M). Only green Christmas decorations, against taupe and wood. Too minimal-- or refreshing?

Designers love to go on about what keeps a neutral room interesting. Design blogger Andrea has a good list of some. I think the gist of what they all say is:

1). Texture, texture. texture. Have different types of surfaces-- smooth, woven, rough, shiny, matte, etc.

2). Have lots of wood. (For me, that's a given.)

3.) Vary the neutrals. Have different shades of the same color. If it's cream, have off-white, all the way to a light beige.

4). Have green plants for liveliness.

5). Always have a touch of black, to "ground" things. They always insist on this for highly colored rooms too.

6). I forget all the other tips. Oh, I think one is, vary the sizes of objects, for visual interest. And if everything is neutral, have fun with a few patterns in with your solids. Again, keeps things interesting.

7.). And I'm adding-- do have at least minimal color-- in your art, or your flowers, a vase, etc.

So, the essay question, should you want to tackle it after the pop quiz, is-- do you agree or disagree with those points?

Do you have your own tips for mostly neutral rooms? (Or, for you all-color enthusiasts, what are your tips for mostly colored rooms?)

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

RetRN — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:06:30 GMT

I love neutral rooms but I am not a fan of a touch of black. I agree with the other six points.

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

Sooner — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:15:41 GMT

I don't like any of the above. To me, black and white is more jarring as above than neutral. Too much of the neutral is too drab (too gold toned) for my taste. Also too much wood and too much clutter.

I have always gravitated to more oatmeal colored neutrals, neutral whites, soft blues and some peaches. I like a mix of textures in fabrics and leathers for variety.

Neutral to me is a serene and comfortable space, not cluttered, not crowded with furniture, space to relax, think and breathe, surrounded by selected things you love (which includes blue and white porcelain). And walls without a lot of stuff on them, shutters not curtains.

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

jubilant — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:27:32 GMT

I have to have a little color...that's why I, H, K are good for me. I could live with the gold and shiny green which seemed attractive ( at least on the mantel). THat one I might need to see the whole room to be sure.The ones I liked the least were too dark for me or had almost no color.

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

cheriere — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:33:48 GMT

@Oznell I love & have mostly neutral rooms. Too add color, I too use greenery, paintings, rugs, throws and pillows. I usually work around no more than 2-3 additional colors and they're complementary to the "style" of my home...which I guess can be considered traditional.

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

millieshops — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:40:07 GMT

@jubilant @Oznell My reaction is the same as jubilant's. I prefer the neutrals to the grays and silvers, but I need at least a bit of color. Also, I do not like my rooms packed so full that they induce claustrophobia.

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

shoptilyadropagain — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 15:57:15 GMT

Most of them still don't work for me. My favorite is the black & white studio apartment followed by the living room that was from a house in Georgia. I'd still tweak a few things though.

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

781Florist — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 16:09:21 GMT

My shorthand abbreviation for neutral is "10" (or ten!).

I love most of these with minor objections to the gaudy urn in H and th ceiling violation in K and anything remotely suggesting French provincial anywhere!

Can that tree be shipped in time for Christmas?

On the sixth day God created black, brown, almond, cream, taupe and terra cotta. And he saw that it was good, and rested the next day.

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

ECBG — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 16:09:17 GMT

Here is my 1 and 2. The others are too bland for me.

The color of my # 2 will be only present through Christmas, though.

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

hopi — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 16:25:48 GMT

Love neutral in a home because it is relaxing. Life is super busy and full of color.

That being said not a fan of any these rooms. The feel cluttered. Do not like the way they have been designed.

Too many different patterns that are distracting, The do not appear neutral to my eye at all ....just brown.

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

Ronettes — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 16:34:30 GMT

I don't care for any of those looks, for me rich dark wood tones and cast iron, dark burgundy and dark rose -

My DH thinks I lived in an old castle in another lifetime, and I'm sure he's right. Now I'm looking for one of those old knights that stand in the corner:

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

ciao_bella — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 16:38:21 GMT

@Oznell While I do gravitate toward neutrals, I, like some others here like a bit or pop of color added in to lend an interesting contrast.

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

geezerette — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 16:51:25 GMT

@hopi wrote:
Love neutral in a home because it is relaxing. Life is super busy and full of color.

That being said not a fan of any these rooms. The feel cluttered. Do not like the way they have been designed.
Too many different patterns that are distracting, The do not appear neutral to my eye at all ....just brown.

@hopi

I agree.

I love light neutrals. And all these rooms have way too much going on for me. Too much stuff.

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

Ronettes — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 16:54:30 GMT

I always have these fringed scalloped blackout vinyl roller shades in my windows, anyone else use them?

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

DREAMON — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 17:00:54 GMT

I really like most of what is shown in these pictures. I love a touch of black in a room because it shows contrast and interest.

My top picks are the Christmas Tree, Kitchen, and Wreath.

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

Desert Lily — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 17:01:55 GMT

Most of the tips seem to be givens when decorating with neutrals.

I don't think that having a lot of wood or green plants are necessary in creating a neutral room.

I find Room A heavy, dark, & crowded - in contrast to Rooms C & J.

I decorated my bedroom in neutrals. No wood, no plants.

Texture & shades of the neutrals I chose were always my goal:

-I chose ivory bedroom furniture.

-Walls are cream

-The bedspread is 1 shade of ivory with gathered floral-like tufts, & matches the same tufted sheers.

-Darker ivory velvet drapes cover the sheers.

-A round med. ivory velvet pillow w/a large blush rhinestone button in the center is on the bed.

-A pale blush TV pillow is on a chair.

-Lamps are dark ivory w/off-white shades that have silver flecks in them.

The wall art brings the neutral & touch of color together:

1 pic of a couple in a city street has a bit of blush

1 abstract pic has dark ivory bkgrnd with silver "rain"

1 pic has an ivory bkgrnd w/a row of trees w/silver leaves & a tad of blush on some tree trunks

There is a natural color macrame on a wall

There is a large very ornate & etched mirror

The pic w/the couple has some black in it, & the "rain" pic has some dark gray.

So I chose a matte black nightstand & put a blush rose ceramic drawer pull on it. I put the same rose drawer pulls on the vanity/sm. desk.

The bathroom continues the ivories:

-large ivory/black/gray patterned tiles on 1 shower wall

-other tiles are ivory.

-Color is added w/towels (gray, blush, black, ivory)

I can easily change out the blush to another color if I choose in the future.

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

Coastalcarolina — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 17:14:31 GMT

I love example A. I prefer earth tones in decor and clothing. That room looks cozy to me. A good book and start a fire in the fireplace, I am set.

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

SaveTheTurtles — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 17:32:31 GMT

I pretty much like them all except the first one as it looks too cluttered. I like rooms that are not brimming to the ends with furniture and "stuff".

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

Love my grandkids — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 17:34:40 GMT

I like bits and pieces of many of the rooms but hate the black and white one. I can't stand black in any room.

Re: NEUTRAL LOOKS THAT STILL HAVE INTEREST

GingerHead — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 21:14:19 GMT

@Oznell

I give all the rooms a 10 on my tolerance of neutrality because I have a very high tolerance for neutrals.

I love neutrals, my favorites in this style are shabby chic, french country with faded, chippy and worn looking more faded colors and neutrals. Different shades of whites, creams,beiges, old worn, chippy, faded painted or aged wood furniture....nothing bright and jarring.

B) I love the aged raw wood

C) I love the pops of green.

I love having a single pop color in my neutrals and most times it is green because it speaks to the nature outside. I like when everything "speaks" / flows and I like taking a certain favorite color throughout the whole house.

D) I love the moody/soulful/cozy look here.

E) I love this Christmas mantel look and you know I love the wood nutcracker!

G) Beautiful tree

I) I want to paint a wall black, beautiful/bold

K) Love the mural, I've painted a couple...

L) Love the bold black door and trim.

M)Love these colors with the wreath.

My tips on neutral rooms are, as I said above, I like taking a favorite pop color (green) and putting at least touches of it in every room, so that all the rooms "speak to each other" and I do think a bold color like black or dark bronze adds a lot to more neutral or light colored rooms. Like you said that contrast is needed to ground and adds dimension, I think.

An example of a pop color (green) in a neutral room, that I'm talking about. In this picture I love this look with the green tufted couch but I would add touches of green in other places throughout the room as well...

Thanks, this was fun!