The New Neutrals

By Ana Zuravliova

Trend Specialist at Blinds Direct

Wed 15 Mar 2023

For a long time, neutral colours have been a staple in countless homes around the world. In recent years the preeminent colour has been grey, but is its reign coming to an end? While grey remains an extraordinarily stylish colour, there has been a movement in recent months toward new neutrals, particularly shades of almond and beige. Curious to learn how to use neutral colours in interior design? Read on…

Neutral colours in interior design

To use almost any vibrant colour, you need to establish a strong foundation from which you can add these shades without overpowering your overall aesthetic. Neutral colours are a fantastic way to do this!

While white and shades of grey have been great options for curating a chic, modern space, warmer shades such as almond, cream and off-white offer a more cosy feel. With plenty of light illuminating a mostly neutral space in the day, and then soft electric light in the evening, the look of your home will change and flow through any given day.

Moreover, while adding a cosy foundation to your decor, these colours will also emphasise the strength and character of myriad bolder colours from greens to blues, reds to oranges! Let’s take a closer look at some easy ways to use new neutrals in your home.

image to show example of using neutral colours with bold colours in interior design

Neutral and bold colours

When we talk about bold colours here, we mean those found on the colour spectrum from cyan to red and everything in between. These exciting colours can bring different energies and overall positivity to a space but if used without the right foundation colours, can over power it.

Luckily, the new neutrals taking the interior design scene by storm are the perfect cornerstones for introducing bold colours into a room.

The trick to finding the perfect neutral for your chosen vibrant hue is to match the brightness of each colour. For instance, if you have chosen a bright red, yellow or green colour, the corresponding neutral colour should be pale and fresh. Conversely, if you’ve picked a tone that’s a little darker or greyer, the best neutral colours would be warmer, richer shades themselves. Consider light, almond coloured walls with sky blue curtains or deep maroon with a cosy oatmeal Roman blind.

That said, you should always pick colour combinations that you most like and to help you find the ideal colour for your home, you can order up to eight free samples!

For further inspiration, you can find plenty of great articles on our blog which explore specific colour combinations in greater detail.

Natural x neutral

You don’t have to pair neutral colours with vibrant shades, you can easily double down on these colours to create an equally charming and stylish space.

The array of neutral colours available is broad and contains a lot of potential for transforming the feel of almost any home. Mixing different neutral shades within one room can make a room inviting and appealing and it’s not as difficult as it may initially sound. There aren’t strict rules to follow either!

You can opt for either light or dark neutrals to be the lead colour in any given room with the opposite used as a secondary colour to add depth and warmth to the overall effect. A room featuring dark neutral sofas, recess fit Roman blinds and rugs alongside lighter curtains, cushions and lamp shades will look deep, warm, and modern. It’ll be superb!

That said, it’s not the case that you have to pick one style, or the other. You can easily enjoy a space that’s mostly neutral with small pops of colour such as pink lamp shades, or orange cushions, or even a maximalist colourful space with the occasional use of new neutrals.

photo to show example of a neutral coloured inspired living room

photo of a neutral and pink coloured room set

There is nothing neutral about neutral colours. They are chic, exciting and when used well can transform a room into a breath-taking oasis of peace and tranquillity. Do you use neutral colours in your home? If you do, tag us on Instagram at blindsdirectgb, we’d love to see how you’ve used them!