NEUTRAL COLORS YOU WILL LOVE

NEUTRAL COLORS

CALMING AND A BREATH

OF FRESH AIR

A HAPPY MIDDLE GROUND

By Ken Rader

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

Professional Painters in Fayetteville, Ar.

Because we live in such a color-filled, busy world, coming home to a calm, neutral space feels like a breath of fresh air.

Enter the Neutral Zone--  Saturated neutrals are a happy middle ground between quiet palettes and full-on color.  How can you enter the neutral zone?

1. If you are looking at neutrals on a paint chip, go one step more colorful from what you are thinking to ease you out of the ‘safe’ neutrals and get you into a bolder or perhaps more colorful neutral.
2. Anything you find in a wineglass works well with neutrals, from champagne to burgundy to merlot.
3. Rethink beige.  Far from being one-note, it runs the gamut from grayish mushroom to greenish khaki to rich Café au lait.  If you are most comfortable in the beige area, use variations like these to change things up.
4. Changing the sheen—such as using high-gloss paint on the walls or the ceiling—is a clever way to punch up a neutral palette.  But be careful.  High Gloss paint is not for everyone.

Such terms as “Farm-Fresh Neutrals”, “Rustic”, “Pastoral hues”, “Earthy”, all describe the neutral colors that are popular.  Here are a few for you to consider.

Doeskin (C21-4) made by Olympic Paint is a chocolate alternative.  It is pale brown but still looks rich and yummy.

Homestead Resort Tea Room Yellow (3004-4B) made by Valspar is a warm and livable yellow that is easygoing enough for walls.  Paired with blues or dark woods, the look is classic; with gray, it is fresh and contemporary.

Artesian White (C19-1) made by Ace Hardware is great on trim or furniture, this off-white pops—especially in a high-gloss sheen. Though for most trim a semi-gloss will be a better choice.

Cracked Wheat (320E-2) made by Behr can be paired with a rich brown or deep red, this cream will look even warmer.

Trumpet Gold (14C4) made by True Value is a brownish gold that works very well with all of the colors that we have listed.  Everyone thinks of gold when you mention neutral.  This is a great choice.

From buttery yellow to rustic brown you will find many choices in the neutral palette. One direction that we will talk about in another article is “Green”.  Greens are very, very popular and many of them are in the neutral choices. 

One of the keys to making neutrals work is to use several different colors in any given room.  If you use just one neutral then the room will not pop or have any punch.  The collection of neutrals that you use can be in the paint, furniture, floors, rugs, window treatments, pillows, wall art and accessories.  Each item should be a different neutral color.  Also, vary the texture, this will liven up the room and complete the look.

Enjoy the selection process and plan out as many details as you can before you begin the project.

As Always, “Happy Painting and Decorating”

Ken Rader

Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C.

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