What Are the New Neutrals for Interior Design?

If you find a neutral palette peaceful and soothing but are worried that you could wander into the world of bland interiors, have no fear. These new neutrals deliver all the impact you are looking for without causing disharmony in your home. From warm red to comforting pewter, these rich hues can color your space with a fresh splash of style.

White Neutral: The Original Neutral

White is the original neutral and for good reason – it is smack dab between cool and warm. It works beautifully in modern and traditional décor. It is a chameleon that has sublet shades as the light passes through your space over the course of a day.

The blues and whites above are a perfect example of using neutrals for maximum impact. The white Huntington House customizable sofa and matching loveseat feature pastel blue throw pillows and the aqua area rug to anchors the space.

Blue Neutral: Quiet and Calming

Aqua is the new white for country cottages and coastal homes. It perfectly complements an ocean view or the greenery of the countryside. It is a quiet wall color that blends seamlessly with the great outdoors. This blue-green pastel has personality to spare and is best paired with white trim, light floors, and accents of deeper aqua and dark chocolate.

Pewter Neutral: Warm and Comforting

The warm grey of pewter comes from a dash of beige, making this color the perfect version of greige. It feels as cozy as a bowl of homemade soup. Use this color in large open great rooms with scarlet, tangerine, or turquoise accents.

Dark Gray Neutral: Deep and Mysterious

A saturated gray-brown-black can read as black, but not as stark. An easy color to live within any space, this soft, sun-bleached shade adds depth and mystery.

Mauve Neutral: Soft and Peaceful

A light, taupey mauve is as gentle and soft as a cashmere sweater. It can turn a bedroom into a beautiful cocoon of warmth and peace. Use it on the walls and bring in gray, eggplant, ivory, or chocolate for contrast.

Red Neutral: Surprising and Inviting

A bold, earthy red, like the one common in pre-Columbian art or Turkish rugs is surprisingly neutral. It goes with anything and is great for accent walls and entryways. It fosters an incredibly inviting, warm vibe that draws people into the rest of your home.

Brown Neutral: Natural and Inspirational

When beige just won’t do, look to nature for inspiration. You’ll find greens, blues, and browns all coexisting together in riotous harmony. It is brown that brings them together. Use it in foyers, bedrooms, and dining rooms for maximum impact.

This explosion of neutrals adds tons of visual interest, yet they live in harmony within the space. The brown leather Natuzzi Editions Chair, sofa, and ottoman work with the beige area rug bring out the warmth of the white walls and wood floors.

Beige Neutral: Dependable and Warming

This dependable neutral goes well with any white, even a white that has gone wrong. It’s best on walls in a washable matte, as this color changes hues depending on the light. It warms an entryway and creates a calming sanctuary in a bedroom.

Lilac Neutral: Pretty and Unexpected

When paired with intense, deep colors such as black, charcoal gray, or navy blue, a pretty lilac is an unexpected neutral. This shade with the perfect balance of tone and saturation is like a sunset through a soft filter. Use it on the ceiling of a masculine room or as a surprise hint of color in the interior of creamy kitchen cabinetry.

Stone Neutral: Warm and Soothing

Another chameleon color, stone can be seen as taupe, gray, or green, depending on the light. It’s great on walls in a matte finish to warm up whites or on trim work in a high-gloss finish. It brings a warm and soothing vibe to almost any space.

Love them or hate them, neutrals are an important part of any colorway. They give spaces a grounded and cozy feel, while adding elegance that bright colors can’t do on their own. Whether you go bold with a neutral red or create harmony with a calming blue, these new neutrals are anything but boring. Add them to your home with abandon, you can’t go wrong.

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