After weeks of staring at paint swatches, comparing eggplant purple to forest leaf green, you finally got up the courage to buy the paint color and put it on the walls.
It was bold.
It was beautiful.
Until it wasn’t.
Suddenly, grey was everywhere. Beautifully designed grey rooms started showing up in your Instagram feed and every magazine you flip through.
Grey looks so fresh, so clean, so simple, but will its popularity last? Is it possible that this clean, soothing color palette could ever become unappealing or even go out of style? Is it worth replacing everything?
In the past decade or so, neutrals have replaced color at the forefront of the interior design industry. Rich red sofas and blue carpet made way for white linen, grey walls, and texture. Neutrals have a relaxing, updated, hotel-like allure to their simplicity.
They’re a breath of fresh air that may be here to stay for a while, but before you whitewash your entire living space, check out these tips from one of our O.P. Jenkins interior designers, Kim Jackson.
Here are Kim’s go-to tips for balancing colors and neutrals.
Neutral Designs Don’t Have to be Boring
In some neutral designs, it feels like something’s missing. Sure, it looks clean, but it’s just not quite right.
Fortunately, a neutral design doesn’t mean “blah,” and working with an experienced interior designer can help make the space more appealing.
“A neutral design can be soothing, clean, and interesting,” Kim says. “But done wrong, it can be stark or boring.”
Ask About Performance Fabrics
Neutral looks fantastic when it’s clean, but if you have accident-prone children or pets, it can be intimidating. One of the most common fears preventing people from transforming their home into a clean, bright space is simply the durability of it all.
But thanks to performance fabrics, you can leave those worries in the past and have a practical and beautiful living room!
“You need not fear upholstered fabrics in light or neutral colors,” Kim says. “There are now wonderful performance fabrics that are stain-resistant, and products professionally applied that can help keep those sticky fingers from leaving permanent stains.”
Neutral Spaces Don’t Have to be Minimalist
Another common misunderstanding about neutral spaces is that they have to be minimalist, but minimalism isn’t always realistic or even desired.
Kim notes that she often creates clean and comfortable neutral spaces. Your interior designer’s creativity and professional expertise is the trick to finding the right balance.
“A clean palette means just the right amount of accessories,” Kim says. “Too many equals clutter. Too few equals not done. The right selection of furniture frames, fabrics, and textures make all the difference in a more neutral palette.”
Mix Warm and Cool Colors
As far as the old “keep color families together” rule? Kim disagrees.
“Warm colors and cool colors can and should cohabitate,” Kim says. “A good interior designer can help you achieve a look that is clean but not cold feeling.”
While neutral color palettes are popular, color seems to be popping up in new designs. Different colors are popular at different times, but the most important thing to remember when you’re choosing a color scheme is to choose colors you love! A good designer can help you achieve the feeling and sentiment you want your home to express.
If you want to love your colorful home for years, get an interior designer’s help. They’re color experts, after all! An interior designer can help you balance your stylish pops of color with a clean, more soothing feel. If you’re nervous, work with your interior designer to experiment with complementary accessories that are easy to switch out.
Want some help balancing neutrals with some of your favorite colors? Visit one of our O.P. Jenkins stores to work with an interior designer and discover a wide variety of quality home furniture and unique accessories that cover the whole spectrum of colors and neutrals.
Contact us today to set up an interior design consultation.