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[Oznell]

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?)

[RetRN]

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

[Sooner]

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.

[jubilant]

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.   

[cheriere]

@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.

[millieshops]

@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.  

[shoptilyadropagain]

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.

[781Florist]

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.

[ECBG]

I  

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.

[hopi]

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.