8 Great Color Palettes: Surprising Bedroom Neutrals
Peaceful plum, relaxing black and many shades of gray show an unpredictably neutral nature in the bedroom
Houzz contributor and designer at the Austin-based architecture and interior design firm, Loop Design (http://www.houzz.com/pro/loopdesign/loop-design).
Loop Design specializes in modern residential new construction and renovations. We are passionate about sustainable building practices and enjoy it when our clients bring those same interests to their project.
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A design instructor of mine once claimed that commercial interiors are so often painted beige because it is the color that best masks grimy smudges from people's hands. Yuck! I think I've been antibeige since that very moment. But I do realize that not everyone likes supercolorful interiors. And in fact, bold hues can sometimes distract from other elements in a room, such as interesting materials, textures, furnishings and fixtures. But going neutral does not automatically have to mean white or beige.
Check out these stylish bedrooms with palettes that are predominantly neutral, along with sample color and material palettes inspired by each bedroom. Some have a few chunks of color thrown in, but the neutral hues can definitely stand on their own.
Check out these stylish bedrooms with palettes that are predominantly neutral, along with sample color and material palettes inspired by each bedroom. Some have a few chunks of color thrown in, but the neutral hues can definitely stand on their own.
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| Going Gray Soft gray is a popular neutral these days, but I say kick it up and go a bit darker, even if you use it only as an accent. Layering various gray shades makes for an elegant, minimalist bedroom. |
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by Jennifer Ott
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| Example palette: Create your own version of Fifty Shades of Gray in the bedroom with (clockwise from top left, all from Pittsburgh Paint): Cracked Slate 540-6, City Lights 549-2 and Silver Charm 541-4, with limed oak. |
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| Not Quite White Paint your walls a nice off-white shade that's not too beige and not too gray, and you have the perfect backdrop for adding whatever additional color you want. Colorful bedding and accessories are easy to change, giving you flexibility. |
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by Jennifer Ott
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| Example palette: Clockwise from top left (all from Dunn-Edwards): Mint Julep DE5556, Antique Paper DE6218 and Neutral Valley DE6119, with reclaimed wood. |
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| Dark Neutral Purple is perfect in a bedroom, as it is thought to be a calming, destressing color. This cool, dark purple almost reads as black, making it work as a neutral. Keep the bedding simple and light, and you have a rich, sophisticated room. |
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by Jennifer Ott
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| Example palette: Clockwise from top left (all from Benjamin Moore): Silent Night 1613, Gray Tint 1611, Purple Rain 1386 and Ashland Slate 1608. |
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| Just-Right Gray I myself am on the hunt for the perfect gray to paint my bedroom walls. I want a shade that's not too light and not too dark, not too warm but not too cool. The gray walls in this bedroom are just right and the perfect backrop for the colorful artwork. |
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by Jennifer Ott
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| Example palette: Find your perfect gray and then warm it up a bit by pairing it with a rich wood floor. Clockwise from top left (all from Olympic Paint): Victorian Pewter D45-4, Distant Thunder D63-4 and Dover Gray D58-4, with reclaimed chestnut. |
Beige Done Right
This pretty room features soft shades of tan and, yes, beige. But the cooler, tonal colors look fresh and up-to-date. Work in some white trim and a dark wood floor for contrast.
This pretty room features soft shades of tan and, yes, beige. But the cooler, tonal colors look fresh and up-to-date. Work in some white trim and a dark wood floor for contrast.
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by Jennifer Ott
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| Example palette: Clockwise from top left (all from Mythic Paint): Kiss of Lilac 196-1, Lilac Valley 196-2 and Sandy Dunes 172-1, with cherrywood. |
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by Greenbelt Homes
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| Soothing Hues Soft shades of blue and gray make this room feel calm, cool and collected — perfect for a bedroom in a hot climate. |
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by Jennifer Ott
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| Example palette: Clockwise from top left (all from Kelly-Moore): Moonah 3794-1, Swirling Water 3154-1, November Rain 3781-2 and Sterling Water 3780-2. |
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| Black in Back Forgo the headboard and paint the wall behind your bed an unexpected color. Black can serve as a neutral backdrop for any other color you desire. Combined with purples here it has a regal vibe to it — very simple yet sophisticated. |
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by Jennifer Ott
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| Example palette: Not for the meek, black is best limited to one small wall in a room that gets plenty of natural light. Clockwise from top left (all from Sherwin-Williams): Sensuous Gray 7081, Enchant 6555, Mature Grape 6286 and Bohemian Black 6988. |
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| Light and Dark An easy way to select a soothing palette for your bedroom is to find a hue you like and then use various light and dark shades of it throughout the space. Keep in mind that when they're painted the same color, ceilings appear darker than walls. So paint the ceiling a lighter shade of the wall hue (or paint it white), to get an open and airy feel. |
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by Jennifer Ott
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| Example palette: For a crisp and pulled-together bedroom, pick a nice mid-range to dark neutral hue, such as brown or taupe, and use it as an accent color. Paint larger areas, such as the walls and the ceiling, with lighter shades of your chosen hue. Clockwise from top left (all from Serena & Lily): Oatmeal, Vanilla, Mushroom and Chocolate. More: Explore more great color palettes |
Ideabook published on July 30, 2012.
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I love all of the gray options and decor ideas in this article.
Thank you.