topic Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS in Home

NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

Oznell — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 17:43:20 GMT

After considering color combos, wanted to think about the *neutrals* I like together. Neutral rooms on the Home forum tend to get a fair amount of disapproval; you frequently see comments like, "it needs more color".

I do believe there are some neutrals that can stand completely on their own, due to artful design and use of textures. On the whole, though, I like the combo of 2 neutrals plus color.

I guess my favorite neutrals in combination would be, A) the myriad shades of brown (including khaki, taupe, chocolate, beige) with B) off-white, PLUS, C) one color, like teal.

1). Here's a mostly neutral room. It's got tobacco, litttle hits of dark brown, plenty of creamy off-white, and the teal-y green color in just couch and a couple of pillows.

This Hamptons cottage look strikes me as cozy, with its combo of charcoal, cream and white, with straw tones and the blue green of the vintage Long Island map!

Three main neutrals-- brown and black, laced with cream:

A serene New York "fancy" living room, achieved with beige, cream, and gilt, brass and leather accents.

5) This one is almost all neutral, except the tiny bits of blue in the paintings, pillows and throw. It still looks visually rich to me, not boring at all, due to the skill of the person who put it together--

This one below was described as chocolate, aqua and orange-- I didn't quite realize that those pillows were orange at first. The neutrals-- the almond walls, white trim and light brown lampshades and rug, and dark brown curtains-- make a calm backdrop for the aqua and orange--

This is almost only, a mixing of just neutrals, by designer Will Brown. He took his cue from the veined black marble fireplace surround, and he combined cream, brown, black, brass, in a very artful mix.

They wisely put this same designer, Will Brown, in charge of the renovation of St. Louis's historic Rand Mansion, and he did a number of neutral rooms in this fabulous landmark.

He said that in the dining room, he had the walls painted "copper". I think that arguably, it acts as a neutral here, and makes a great backdrop for the art. The neutral curtains are silvery gray, the dining chairs and trim, different shades of off-white.

The room is a good example of warm and cool neutrals working together-- copper and silver gray. ( Challenge me if you think the copper here is not a neutral! Some people believe that rust is not a neutral either. Love these debates!)

10)

This room below fascinated me, as being sort of half-neutral, half color. The beige walls, beige and white curtains, beige fireplace surround, and off-white couches and wood trim, are well off-set by the fresh greens of pillows, ottoman and painting. And they even put in some different blues, in the form of ginger jars and painting. A lively room.

11)

Reese Witherspoon's living room in a Spanish Revival house, appropriately clad in white and wood, with brown leather, tan jute rug, beautiful black wrought iron. Almost all neutral, except for zingy yellow pillow, and green lamp and plants!

12)

Even a romantic mural, in the late Suzanne Rheinstein's house, can be done in all neutral sepia tones. Black fireplace, cream trim and upholstery, browny-beige rug.

13)

A cozy, sunlit room, in which mostly the only color supplied is from the wall of books....

14)

I always say-- I love color. I love neutrals. Pretty much equally.

Currently, we've been swinging back the last few years, to the warmer neutrals, away from the cool grays of the 2000's. But the ways that brown, for example, is being used today, is different from the well-remembered "Tuscan brown trend" of the 1990's. And now, cool grays are being left aside, in favor of warmer grays and greiges, etc.

All neutrals can be good, depending on how they are deployed. If they become a "default", that you see always and everywhere, after a while, consumers turn away. But they always cycle back, in one form or another....

My question, for other 'neutral appreciators', if you care to answer, is:

What 2 neutrals do you like to see combined in a room? If you had to add no more than one to two *colors* to that, what would they be?

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

skatting44 — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 18:32:31 GMT

For me

#1 with the tobacco and tealy green sofa would make for a relaxing room to read and entertain.

#13 would be a room to day dream and read romantic novels such as Camille: The Lady of the Camellias

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

DSD2 — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 20:01:24 GMT

I prefer light and bright, differing shades of white and cream would be my neutral palette.

I would add differing shades of blue which I always find to be cheerful and soothing. If I were allowed a second color, it would be touches of silvery gray.

The pictures are lovely and different looks. The only one I do not care for is #1, the tobacco shades are too dark and not appealing. My favorite is Reese Witherspoon's. Shocker!

Thank you @Oznell

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

cheriere — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 20:15:26 GMT

@Oznell You have the best taste. There's not one single room you posted that I wouldn't mind having lol. Neutrals are my favorite. I love 2,3,5,7,11,& 14. Told ya I love most all lol.😃

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

Pezzie — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 20:23:20 GMT

@Oznell Although all the rooms are lovely, I am not a neutral, tan person. I need to have color around me. It's not just in my home decor, I also do not wear neutrals near my face. No beiges, tans, browns etc. completely washes me out.

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

Sooner — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 21:32:08 GMT

I have always loved and lived in neutral colored houses with soft colors around light beige, oatmeal and creamy whites, leaning toward the traditional with little clutter. For few accents, soft blues and peaches, oriental rugs in those shades, books and different textures are very important.

I incorporate leather in soft browns, and light beiges; some dark woods mixed whites, and wood floors.

I find the rooms above mostly have too much light and dark contrast and are too busy to be what I would use.

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

Alsace Gal — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 21:39:24 GMT

I love #11, perfect backdrop of neutrals with green and blues with grey mix in sparingly.

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

on the bay — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 22:03:08 GMT

That first room is so interesting!

The one I really would like to "dine" in is this one-

Though it's not my style at all, I would feel so elegant. It's a very luxurious and beautiful room I think.

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

Iwantcoffee — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 23:16:59 GMT

I like black and white with light blue, red, yellow, and pink. I think a monochromatic room with different textures in a light neutral is very chic.

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

SaveTheTurtles — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 01:53:48 GMT

I prefer neutrals vs bold wall colors. Been down both roads. Presently on the neutral road.😊

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

Oznell — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 13:03:08 GMT

Wow, @skatting44 , I love your imaginative reaction to the romantic # 13 room! You're right, it would be the perfect place for that pastime....

So much fun to hear others' favorite neutrals and combos with one or two colors. There's not one that you other posters have mentioned, that I wouldn't also really like in a neutral room....

@DSD2 , I especially lean to your scenario of white, cream, and maybe blue or silvery gray. Beautiful, and so tranquil! I'm sorry I didn't find any rooms this time that filled that particular bill...

P.S. Rats, I can't believe I forgot to include some of the neutral spaces of Jean-Louis Deniot, one of my faves. He seems to specialize in neutrals, practically. House he did in West Hollywood--

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

jubilant — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 13:11:10 GMT

@Oznell My choices for how I like to see neutrals would be pictures 2 and 3. As far as the copper room goes I don't see that color as neutral and think it would "wear on me" after awhile. I have a vaulted pine ceiling in a great room 33 ft. by 21 ft.wide so that might be playing a part in what I think of the copper, too. The colors in picture 2 are very similar to mine except instead of black, I have navy. I also added a picture or 2 with those blue skies and am really loving what they do for that room.

Thanks for this fun post!

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

Sunshine Kate — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 13:30:22 GMT

I love classic neutral in a home.

Abhor grey color! I've read that trend is about over.

Enjoy all your photos. @Oznell

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

shoptilyadropagain — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 15:08:13 GMT

I prefer the use of color over a vanilla neutral room. These that you have posted lean far more to what I like and prefer although I'd probably add just a touch more color to most of them. A lot of the neutral rooms that get posted are the lighter neutrals which I feel are bland and lifeless.

I like the contrasting deeper neutral colors of #1. However, I just don't care for any of the decor pieces and would pick a different color than teal as it's not a favorite of mine. #2 is probably my favorite room overall but I'd paint the walls a soft to medium gray color and probably tweak a few of the accessories. Some of the other rooms are very close to what I would like too but would require a touch more "tweaking".

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

JudyL — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 01:27:52 GMT

All are an easy pass for me.

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

Kitty Galore — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 13:57:10 GMT

I like every one except the first , the arch looks like a cave

i prefer neutral , our whole house is neutral , in different combinations , accents are different in each room , but the same neutral theme so it all flows . The main living area is open concept so I like it to flow . The Rand mansion I particularly like and Im not usually fond of rust or bold colors , but it works there !

thanks @Oznell for posting , I like viewing different decor photos 😸

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

CANDLEQUEEN — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 14:00:48 GMT

I prefer Classic Neutral in a home and then accent with color......

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

QVCisFun — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 23:10:29 GMT

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

Oznell — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 17:09:18 GMT

So nice, thanks for posting, @QVCisFun ! I love the fireplaces in both rooms, and the light is fantastic in the first one.

The second one has remarkable elements, like that rugged, irregular hearth. I do think that like so many neutral rooms, it would benefit from more contrast. Unless there is contrast and texture, a neutral room has to work so much harder to maintain interest, I think. Couldn't that room just explode, with some really great art!

Re: NEUTRAL ROOM OPTIONS

QVCisFun — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 08:56:24 GMT

@Oznell wrote:
So nice, thanks for posting, @QVCisFun ! I love the fireplaces in both rooms, and the light is fantastic in the first one.

The second one has remarkable elements, like that rugged, irregular hearth. I do think that like so many neutral rooms, it would benefit from more contrast. Unless there is contrast and texture, a neutral room has to work so much harder to maintain interest, I think. Couldn't that room just explode, with some really great art!

@Oznell , the second room was done by Axel Vervoordt. I came across it when looking up some info after seeing his name on a stack of seven books in your VIGNETTES, FOR FUN! thread: