Neutrals Back In Style But Not In My Book

One Of The Showrooms Which Featured Neutrals.

Each year 75,000 people and 2,000 exhibitors meet in a little village called High Point, NC for the semi-annual furniture market, a trade and wholesale event for interior designers, along with furniture and retail stores. 

This year, there were so many warm and cool neutral colors in upholstery, lighting and accessories that one could draw a conclusion that neutrals are “back in style”. 

But for me, neutrals never left to begin with. They have always been “in vogue” in my book.

The reason is that neutral colors are both classic and timeless. They can visually expand spaces, minimize problem architectural features and serve as background to an art or book collection. They are ideal for those individuals who are unsure about a color choice especially those color choices that typically tend to be more fashionable or time specific. Neutral palettes can be subtle and stylish, creating spaces that are quiet, restful and soothing. But they also can be big, bold, warm and energizing.

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Plus when one main neutral color is used with closely related hues, together in the same space, they can change the shape of a room while creating a sense of depth that didn’t really exist before.  It is a technique that I call “shape shadowing.” 

We have also been advocating neutrals interiors for more than two decades for another very good reason: people look great in such interiors.   

Yet for all the reasons noted, some believe that neutrals are only whiney white, boring beige and stodgy gray. It does not have to be that way.  With tones as varied as luscious latte, cinnamon biscuit and driftwood gray, neutrals are anything but boring.

Tweaking colors is also an easy way to put pizazz in a neutral palette. Walls with just a slight bit of olive, a washed out plum or a wee touch of cocoa can make a very strong and dramatic background especially when combined with bright white for the  trim, moldings and doors.  

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And finally, be aware there is a certain hidden power in a neutral color scheme.  It allows you the freedom to layer in patterns in a room, freshen up a space with colorful accessories, change the art, create different focal points, and make seasonal changes almost on a whim.  

Such is the case with a recent project.  The client had the perfect space to "shape shadow" the walls in  her living room by adding grey charcoal tones to the fireplace and again at the entry.  We hung some amazing art, added a wool rug woven in three neutral tones and placed the white leather nut-shell chairs on top. The result was crisp, clean and certainly not boring. 

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