How to Spruce Up Your Neutrals for Spring

So many of us couldn’t live without the classic, workable and fresh modern palette of neutrals. The easy-on-the-eye blend of white, cream, beige, stone and pebble colors is a fail-safe bet from the moment you step through the front door. But if the change in season has you itching to update, there are plenty of simple tricks to try out on your neutral palette to give it a lift without a drastic change. From adding color to layering textures, you can easily boost your neutral spaces with these inspiring ideas.

1. Pick out a pastel. Plain, off-white walls and a wood floor are classic features by anyone’s standards, but sometimes the result might feel a little anemic. The solution is simple: Sprinkle a smudgy pastel across a few elements (nothing too pale, but nothing too punchy, either) and it will instantly add an extra layer of interest. These sophisticated baby blue chairs tie in effortlessly with the wall art, and neither blue is too cool, which really helps to bring the neutrals to life.


2. Top off with texture. Just as when we wear all-over neutrals, our homes look their best when layered with different textures and finishes. So if your neutral boudoir is fading into the background and color isn’t your thing, this is a wonderful way to add interest.

The weathered palette of pale biscuit for the walls and floor here unifies the awkward angles of the bedroom with ease, while the vast linen-buttoned headboard, chunky knit throw and crisp cotton bedding create a balance of textures that is elegant yet inviting.

Please Touch: Texture Makes Rooms Spring to Life


3. Pepper with pattern. A palette of putty, oyster and white will immediately instill a sense of laid-back order in the bathroom. It’s a just-right trio of calm shades for enjoying an uninterrupted soak in the tub.

For a touch more sophistication, introduce a subtle print or pattern in the same color. This smart striped blind and print wallpaper don’t detract from the sense of serenity but do add a special finishing touch.


4. Revel in raw materials. Natural materials, such as stone and wood, offer a smorgasbord of feel-good neutrals that are just too irresistible not to use in the kitchen. And what makes a natural, neutral palette so appealing is the array of different finishes at your fingertips. Think rich wood planks, blush-colored bricks and a raw oak tabletop, not to mention the fabulous beaten iron pendants in this kitchen. The result will be warm and timeless in equal measure, with enough personality to rival the most color-packed culinary hub.

Small updates to achieve a similar effect could include a new tabletop made from reclaimed wood or scaffolding boards, a wooden vase or fruit bowl with an interesting texture, new lighting — perhaps chunky recycled glass — or even, super simply, a custom frameless corkboard for family mementos and to-do lists.


5. Get rich quick. All you purists out there might have been tempted to leave this gloriously light-filled living room completely in bleached-out neutrals with no hint of color. However, with a couple of contrasting rich hues, the large space has gained a little more character. The luxe purple accent anchors the neutrals, while splashes of strong yellow inject an invigorating edge. And an effect like this is all achievable with nothing more dramatic than an accessories overhaul.


6. Bag a blue. There is absolutely nothing wrong with four plain white walls in the bedroom, but sometimes we all fancy a little more color in our lives, don’t we?

The rich saturated blue on the single wall, tying in with the headboard, does the trick brilliantly in this room, adding depth and interest to an otherwise muted palette. Get the look by choosing an existing color detail in your room, such as a cushion, vase or headboard — or adding one — and use that to inform the hue for your painted wall. You can easily return to your beloved all-over neutrals by simply painting over the feature wall in the future.


7. Sneak in a stair runner. Pale, neutral hallways are a good bet for so many reasons: They create a calm, uncluttered calling card for your home, visually help to expand a narrow slice of square footage and bring as much airiness as possible into this often dark area.

But do feel free to spice up all this white and cream with a bold striped stair runner. And with such a neutral backdrop, you can confidently choose any color of carpet on the spectrum and in the busiest of prints if you so wish.

How to Get Your Stair Runners Right


8. Contrast with black. If you’ve chosen a pale neutral decorating scheme for the bedroom, chances are you’re not a big fan of color. It’s a good choice, too, and can help create a restful night’s sleep.

But if you fancy a little diversity now and again, never fear; this doesn’t have to equal anything as bold as crimson or cobalt blue. One of the most striking ways to tackle pale-neutral lethargy is with a slash of jet black, like this sumptuous satin bedspread. And if you want your neutrals back for high summer, simply stow your throw and swap in a warm gold or earthy mushroom one.


9. Add structure. It’s difficult to challenge the timeless appeal of a neutral kitchen, but to bring the look up to date, mix and match cream cabinets with natural woods and lots of interesting structure. The slatted globe pendants and wood-clad extended backsplash here, for instance, are totally neutral, but add texture and depth without the need for any decor.


10. Accent with gloss and color. A neutral palette in the bathroom is always a winner: a serene blend of clean, milky hues, white fixtures and barely there tiles will enhance the feeling of space and add to the fresh ambience a bathroom demands.

But without doing a big bathroom makeover — no more than a weekend of retiling –—you can personalize the space with a mix of matte and pearl finishes, modern statement lighting and a juicy-fruit accent color for a touch of pizzazz.

Tell us: How have you breathed new life into your neutrals? Please share your ideas in the Comments.

More:
The Case for In-Between Colors
How to Add Color if You’re Color-Shy

URL: How to Spruce Up Your Neutrals for Spring http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-25814.html