Going pale, also known as the “new” neutrals, doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, replicating musician Carrie Underwood’s neutral living room couldn’t be easier.
While some interior designers instinctively lean towards pale yellow and others where green meets grey, many agree that the new neutrals are primarily inspired by the colors emanating from the natural world, which help us feel grounded in our homes.
“Not to be confused with cool, cool colors, the new neutrals are warm in nature,” says Charu Gandhi. “They usually have a matte finish, and have the ability to be flexible, so they can suit any type of home, whether traditional or contemporary – in fact, their flexibility is why they are called ‘new’.”
Gentle and warm beige living room color schemes will give you the freedom to play with different accent colors, luxurious textures and finishes elsewhere in your space.
But how do experts decorate with neutral colors to perfection? We asked the question.
When it comes to choosing more neutral paint shades, it’s important to get the metallic balance right, believes Tom Cox, co-founder of HÁM Interiors.
“We like to look at the hue and depth of color in the paint – often times the shade will have a lot of gray or brown as undertones, which can be a challenge when adding layers of furniture and finishes. We try to keep the background subtle so that the furniture and rugs are We also like to paint the ceiling, walls and baseboards in the same color – it prevents unwanted visual breaks and enhances the architectural details in a simple way.’
Nuances of color are why James Thurstan Waterworth, founder of Thurstan, prefers neutrals in his living room schemes because they create a soft starting point from which antiques, art and other decorations can sing.
“You can then build from here using tactile surfaces, patterned textiles, eclectic furnishings and more contemporary embellishments to create layers of interest, while allowing all the individual elements in the interior to breathe.”
Instilling a grown-up, contemporary aesthetic, similar to Carrie Underwood’s cozy living room, by adopting traditional living room ideas and furniture and a wealth of subtle texture and pattern, all in tonal colors. Beige living room ideas can suit a number of decor styles, from rustic to contemporary.
The cream or beige space also fits beautifully with the warm, minimalist interior design trend.
Due to the principle of decluttering your home, minimalist living room ideas are all over social media right now. And with more of us wanting a “clean” space containing only a few meaningful items, it’s easy to understand why.
Beige decor and a minimalist design ethos go hand in hand, so it pays to keep your color choices simple. Choose a white living room with beige and black decor, like the scheme above, and borrow design inspiration from the 1950s, when home decor was simple but beautifully functional.
