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[Oznell]

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!

2)

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

3)

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

4)

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-- 

6)

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. 

7)  

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.

8)

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. 

9)

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?

[skatting44]

    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

[DSD2]

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 

[cheriere]

@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.😃

[Pezzie]

@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.  

[Sooner]

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.  

[Alsace Gal]

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

[on the bay]

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.

[Iwantcoffee]

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.

[SaveTheTurtles]

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