Neutral Colors And Their Influence On Interior Design

The mere thought of neutral colors immediately triggers a virtual playlist in my head of Ken Nordine’s word jazz, “Colors.” Beige and Grey both come to mind from that 1967 beatnik classic, which all interior designers certainly could appreciate. Do you think there’s an absolute grey? Is beige truly just being “careful?” Neutral colors prove to be the passive audience for any room that will gladly give a standing ovation to its fellow bright accent.

More than meets the eye

Our beloved and ever-present palette of neutral colors flirts with various hues and tones every year.  The key is to know which ones take on a life of their own – and which are chameleons. In other words, some neutrals have a tendency to blend in perfect harmony, while others prefer to sound off and improvise. Have you noticed how beige can cast a spectrum of variations when paired next to reds, greens, or yellows? Ocular hue-shifts are a phenomenon and grounds for hiring an interior design group to deal with these very real illusions.

50 shades of grey

Another key point is how our dear friend, grey, can be warm or cool. To complicate matters, like beige, grey can also mimic the personality of a stronger color. By now, you’re probably thinking neutrals might have more personality than the daring colors in your swatch book. Guess what, you’re right. This is why their fearless, au naturale individuality makes them a perfect interior scheme option for multifamily developers.

Oh those plucky neutral colors

It goes without saying; the non-confrontational neutrals will always win every interior design battle under the rainbow. When neutral shades team up with white, a splash of black, and topped with natural light, timeless modernism is born.

Neutral colors are layered within a room’s scheme, creating a sophisticated look and matched with subdued earth tones. Think of neutrals as your interior’s foundation, layering muted tones and textures, with a timely pop of an accent color, especially one of a complimentary hue.

Multifamily development interior goals

If standing the test of time is the goal of your interiors, using neutrals such as white, beige, black, grey, taupe and ivory are safe bets. By all means, these tones should be used as a base color, especially in multifamily, student housing, senior living, and renovation developments.