The New Neutrals!

When decorating a small home a really common bit of design advice includes decorating with neutrals in order to keep the space looking larger visually. While you gotta love what neutrals can do for a small room, they can get a little boring, especially if your idea of neutrals means beige, beige and more beige. In the last few years, designers have opened the way for a more adventurous use of the “new neutrals”. In fact, Benjamin Moore Paints has a whole new line called, The New Neutrals… and it’s far from boring! These colors include toned down versions of greys, plums, greens, golds and blues. They read as neutral as a pair of denim jeans, but creates a look far more interesting. The new Jeff Lewis Color line from Dunn-Edwards is a great choice as well…Here are some examples of the “new neutrals” and how they can be used in a small space. Put away the beige! The featured photo below shows you our picks for some of the best “new neutral colors” for today!

the new neutrals

 

Purple can be a fantastic neutral for a room that is full of life and energy. It still fades into the background, but with some ooomph!

New neutral purple

 

Greens are tranquil colors that blend with most accents. Use a grayed down version for the most neutral effect.

New neutral green

 

Greys are my favorite neutral, and they can be found in both warm and cool hues.

New neutral grey

 

This neutral blue living room gives you a calming feeling without being cold.

Neutral blue

 Use the new neutral to create a more interesting design scheme in your small home, without overwhelming it with bright colors!

Image Credits: Benjamin Moore



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Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates is the founder of The Middle Girls, a platform dedicated to empowering women over 50 to embrace their potential and live fulfilling, purpose-driven lives. With a passion for encouraging self-awareness and self-love, Kathy writes about topics like confidence, personal growth, style, and building thriving businesses later in life. When she’s not writing, Kathy enjoys books, nature, and helping women discover their next chapter. Find freebies just for women over 50 at The Middle Girls.

Kathy Bates’ previous writing credits include:

Former home decorating expert for Lifetime TV, Galtime and Country Woman Magazine.

Her book spent time at #1 on Amazon’s Home & Garden Topseller List in 2002.

Published or featured in numerous national publications, including:

Country Sampler’s Decorating Ideas magazine, Woman’s Day magazine, HGTV, The Wall Street Journal, CBS Marketwatch, Decorating Solutions magazine, Decorating Ideas magazine, The Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune, Kansas City News, The Oklahoman, Akron Beacon Journal, Pensacola News Journal and The Telegraph.

8 Comments

    • Kathy Woodard
      Author
      January 11, 2018 / 3:37 pm

      I wish we could help Kathy… Not only has that site populated their whole post from images on our site against our copyright policy, they haven’t even attributed them to the right pages! Also, that rug you referred to is not actually on our site, so Im afraid I can’t help you with where it came from… Im glad you brought it to our attention though! Thank you, and good luck finding it!

  1. Lana
    October 9, 2017 / 5:52 pm

    I recently did a make over in my kitchen and researching paint colors and getting reviews being in a small place that is some what dark in the kitchen I figured go bright and cheerful I love the wall color sage by glidden and celery root by valsper like both the celery root is just a pinch of green looks to me like stone the big mistake I think I made was trim,ceiling Alabaster by Ben Moore which I thought would be warm but not realizing I picked the wrong one it was suppose to be Sherman Williams Alabaster I’m really would like some advice to pull off the soft sage paint color thanks

  2. Joan C. Sweet
    October 8, 2017 / 9:43 am

    We have a small bathroom that needs updating. I plan on painting the ceiling white and the lower part of the room with white beadboard. In a small bathroom…..small space between indentations or larger area between the indentations. I hope to find a tone of blue for painting the top over the beadboard. I saw a beautiful tone of blue which seemed to have a tiny cast of lavender or purple. Might that describe perriwinkle?

  3. Irene
    September 8, 2017 / 1:46 am

    Suggestions please sons room in grays

  4. Shawna
    August 28, 2016 / 10:02 pm

    What are the gold colours like? I am looking for an ice yellow.

  5. Deborah Guidry
    December 9, 2015 / 6:54 pm

    Can you please tell me what color this first room you referred to as neutral purple?
    I been looking for a color just like this!!
    Thanks

    • Kathy Woodard
      Author
      June 23, 2016 / 9:12 am

      We don’t have that info, but neutral purples tend to have some gray in them, and any paint store should be able to help you color match!

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