When it comes to indulging in a bit of home decor, many of us do truly go all-out. Colorful rugs, eye-popping pieces of artwork and patterned fabrics all mixed together create a funky, bohemian look. But what if all that color is—well—a bit too much for you? You’re not alone. For every person whose love of color well and truly takes over their home, there are two other people who shun brights in the favor of neutrals. Neutral colors are a big hit with so many people for a lot of different reasons. Firstly, you don’t need to be an interior design expert to be able to deal with them. Unlike bright colors, neutrals tend not to clash with each other. Therefore when deciding on a color scheme, or buying accessories, you don’t need to worry about colors not matching. It’s pretty hard to go wrong when pairing up neutrals! Another reason why they are so popular is that they act as a kind of ‘blank canvas’ for other people to accessorize. So, if you are planning on selling your home, neutral rooms are much easier to sell to a prospective buyer. If you’re completely sold on the idea of neutrals, here’s how you can get the look in your own home.
Wood
Neutral toned homes tend to feature a lot of white, cream, black, brown and beige tones. With this in mind, a stunning wooden floor is often the final touch that can bring the whole look together. There’s nothing worse than having a beautifully styled home, but still being stuck with an ugly patterned carpet. You might want to install a plain cream or white carpet as a replacement, and that’s fine. Some people prefer them to hardwood floors. But, it’s important to be aware that if they get dirty, or suffer a spillage, you’re in serious trouble! If you have small children or pets, it’s honestly best to steer away from cream carpets altogether. Plus, there is just something about a wooden floor that looks much more modern. Go for a darker wood to contrast against your pale decor and then add a fluffy cream rug over the top. This is a good compromise for people who love the cozy feel of carpets but who want to have a more practical type of flooring. Either strip, sand and polish your own floorboards (if they are in good condition), or have some laminate installed. If you’re not prepared to take on a big job, hire a company to carry out your floor replacement instead. The only thing you will be responsible for is the upkeep of your flooring, so make sure you invest in a good polish to keep it looking as good as new.
Soft Furnishings
Just because the neutral decor is simple and basic, it doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun with your soft furnishings. Take a look at some Scandinavian home design for inspiration. This style can teach you how you can add a multitude of fabrics to you home and still maintain a classy, neutral look. Pick a sofa in a non-offending shade, even if you do think you want a pop of color in your living room. It might seem like the best idea ever at the time, but if you get sick of that color, it means buying a whole new sofa. We all know they don’t come cheap, so it’s better to add your colors elsewhere if you decide to do want some. Opt for a patterned rug or a little flash of blue or yellow on some of your cushions – much easier to replace if you start to have second thoughts. Whether you’re adding a bit of color or sticking to black and whites, make sure you incorporate some patterns to add some depth to your room. Geometric styles are very popular at the moment and add some interest to your furnishings without being garish or overbearing. This could be on your cushions, or you could pick a stylish design for your grey curtains. The good thing about neutrals is that you can choose multiple shades of essentially the same color; such as different shades of brown or grey. This means you don’t need to buy everything from the same store just to make sure everything matches. When investing in fabrics such as rugs, cushions and throws, also bear in mind that although you’re sticking to one color, you don’t need to stick to one material. Why not give your home a futuristic look with grey metallic in you monochrome living room? You can just layer these fabrics alongside each other and relax with the effortlessly chic look it makes.
Furniture
When it comes to your furniture, neutral design isn’t the style where you indulge in flashy statement pieces. The key to nailing neutral decor is to let what’s on top of your furniture do the talking. This could be anything from your great selection of novels on your bookshelf, or it could be something as simple as your fruit bowl. But this rule applies to all forms of neutral decor: you need to let your personal possessions do the talking. Thinking of your home as a canvas is a good way to bring this analogy to life. You may also be lucky enough to live somewhere that has some eye-catching period features or other types of interesting architecture. Filling up your space with flashy and large furnishings can detract from these features which you could be making the most of. With this in mind, if you can, try and get all your furniture from the same set so you have continuity—at least room by room, anyway. If you feel wooden furniture is going to a look a bit too much alongside your wooden floor, go for plain white or black options. Don’t bother with anything too fancy or decorative—plain and simple furnishings do the job just as well and are often cheaper too. IKEA in particular excel at this kind of furniture due to their Scandinavian roots. Shop around and see what you can find to create your relaxed, neutral space.
Romina Nabhen
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