Photographer: Mark Roper for Dulux Australia | Stylists: Bree Leech & Heather Nette King
Choosing a neutral palette to define your interior scheme doesn’t mean the look should be boring or bland; in fact, the latest neutrals are about delivering layers and complexity.
“When using colour throughout the home you can create beautiful colour combinations that complement each other, using the natural landscape around you to inspire the palette for interiors,” says Haymes Paint Colour and Concept Manager Wendy Rennie. “We have come to expect more out of homes than ever before as we have navigated uncertain times and our homes need to be everything from an escape to our own sanctuary. Using colours that reflect the environment provides the ultimate in home interiors – it gives the ultimate staycation vibe.”
Are neutral colours on trend?
While palettes of warm neutrals and green-infused hues feature prominently in interior trends forecasts for 2024, texture is the real newcomer with beautiful wall finishes referencing the tactile delights of pearl and crushed stone. “Our desire to connect with nature, within our homes, blurs the line even further between indoors/outdoors as we start to bring traditionally exterior finishes, such as textured walls, inside,” says Wattyl Colour Ambassador Marylou Cafaro.
With neutrals as your base, it’s up to you to inject as much or as little colour into your home as you desire – keeping with the natural tones or contrasting with bolder strokes of colour in furnishings, artwork and decor – even changing with the seasons. “Once you have a few favourite neutral colours for your project in mind, the most important thing is to test your paint so you can see how it will look in your own home,” advises Product Manager at British Paints Carmen Jordan. “Pick up some sample pots, then test them out by painting a large piece of paper and sticking it up on your wall to view at different times of the day and night.”
Take a leaf out of the colour book of our experts and get started.
A complex neutral colour scheme
“The Australian landscape gives such a wealth of colours and combinations to choose from,” says Wendy Rennie. “From earthy neutrals to rusty reds and soft greens, to the rich blues and deeper forest greens, combined with sandier warmer tones found at the oceanside and in our bushlands.”
“Try using Woodsmoke on walls, Snow White on the ceiling and Lambswool on trims,” suggests Melanie Stevenson of Porter’s Paints. “Woodsmoke is a complex grey, not a cool grey, that has undertones of yellow, violet and magenta. Lambswool is lighter, a white with a grey tone that teams and balances beautifully with Woodsmoke. Snow White is really an artist’s white. Very crisp and clean.”
For a slightly warmer grey/neutral combination, Dulux Colour Expert Andrea Lucena-Orr suggests, “A palette to provide an elegant natural scheme with a slight warmth, however, still creating an adaptable palette that schemes well with many other colours and accessories.” Her choices: Tranquil Retreat, Terrace White and Lexicon® Quarter, all Dulux.
A calm bedroom environment was created with Haymes Paint Quartz on bedroom walls and Bushland in the adjacent open walk in-robe. (Credit: Haymes Paints)
A soft neutral colour scheme
Serene pale blue hues are perfectly balanced with whites, off-whites and soft beige tones to create a sense of simplicity and peace, as seen in Wattyl’s “Return To Simplicity” palette for 2022. When paired with subtle, tactile surfaces and textures the ambience is one of calm and relaxation, where we are invited to slow down, pare back and live in the moment.
Light, airy colours take on new meaning and significance when applied in a textured finish such as GranoImpact from Wattyl. The creamy paste-like finish can be applied by roller or spray to achieve a very subtle texture.
A contrasting neutral colour scheme
“Working with similar undertones, these greys (greiges) vary in shade, therefore creating a subtle and soft colour scheme,” advises Andrea Lucena-Orr of Dulux. “If you want to add a contrasting colour Western Myall will work with any of these softer greys.”
Wendy Rennie points to Sense, Marble Mist and Intrigue from the Haymes palette. “The perfect neutrals combination is grey, white and black,” she says. “This combination gives the ideal contrast between light and mid-tone colours to accentuate the features of the space. The black acts as the focal point of the combination, adding statement and punch to the overall scheme.”
“By combining neutrals in a manner that enhances and complements undertones, a well-considered and layered palette is created, which can be further enhanced by fabrics and materials.” Sharon Grech, Colour Marketing & Development, Benjamin Moore
Design tip
The power of a neutral colour scheme
“Never underestimate the power of neutrals when creating a colour scheme for the home,” says Sharon Grech, from Benjamin Moore Colour Marketing & Development. “There is incredible variety within neutrals from warm to cool, and pale to deep. Looking to the Benjamin Moore Color Trends 2022 palette, neutral hues deliver a grounded sensibility that creates a perfect backdrop – for both natural materials and textures, as well as collected treasures that stand out against a deep hue.”
“Neutral palettes are the most versatile of all colours and make a great canvas for any style,” says Carmen Jordan the Product Manager at British Paints. “They’re the ideal option if you’re looking for a shade that will stand the test of time, match in well with your existing home or are looking to sell in the future. You can blend multiple layers of neutral colour to create a soft, welcoming environment and finish with a pop of colour to complete the look.”
