Neutral colors are defined as colors NOT on the color wheel: black, white, gray, and tan. According to "The Hidden Power of Neutrals," an article published on the Behr Web site, neutral colors have been around for years. "These timeless hues come from pigments used by the earliest artists -- such as ochre, charcoal, umber, and sienna . . . "
The Behr Web site describes neutrals as "every color's friend." Light neutrals can make a small room look larger. Dark neutrals will make a large room look smaller. Variety is one of the biggest advantages of neutrals. There are hundreds of neutral shades. Yellow neutrals, for example, vary from cream to golden brown.
Flexibility is another plus for neutrals. A neutral wall color like taupe gives you the freedom to add contrasting colors, patterns, and textures. Some customers, however, are confused by television shows that describe yellow as neutral. Yellow goes with many colors, but it is not neutral because it is on the color wheel. What changed?
"Washington Post" writer Terri Sapienza says there are two neutrals today, "true neutrals" and "new neutrals." She discusses this change in her article, 'Living with Lavender." Sapienza thinks lavender is a popular "new neutral" because of the wide spectrum of colors that are available. "It's a grounding background color that does not call attention to itself, but allows everything around it to stand out," she writes.
All colors are based on the primary colors of red, yellow, and blue. The "new neutrals," according to the Behor Web site, are based on the primary colors and are either red-toned, yellow-toned, or blue-toned. Some designers are using pale green, even chartreuse, as a "new neutral." Other designers are using orange. Though the definition of neutral is changing, you can still find a color that works for you.
Tour model homes and check out the paint colors. Look at magazines, cut out photos that have appealing colors, and file them. Keep the file for several months and choose your top three colors. Get paint chips for these colors. Hold the chips next to your furniture and accessories.
Finally, take a tip from interior designers and make a color board. Go to www.dezignare.com Web site for precise instructions on "Color Board Presentations." Buy 36" x 24" poster board or so-called gator board. Glue magazine pictures, paint chips, fabric swatches, and texture samples to the board. Do these elements fit together? You may have to make several boards before you find the right color.
Whether they are true or new, neutral colors go with everything. With the right trim colors and accessories, neutrals make a dramatic statement about who you are, what you like, and how you live.
