A beginners guide to making neutral interiors work

I'm a big fan of neutrals in my home. I love to keep things simple, adding small some pops of colour to add some character. I love how easy this makes when styling a room, and how this means I can change or update my interiors according to tastes and seasonal changes. 

It can be quite hard to get neutral right in some rooms though. Too much of one colour can be overwhelming, but when that shade is beige it can make a space look boring. So in the latest of my Beginners Guide series, I'm sharing some ways you can bring a neutral room to life in your home. 

Nine ways to make neutral interiors work

1. Use your neutral scheme as a base adding pops of colour through accessories, which can be updated according to new seasons. Choose colours which will compliment your colour scheme and tie the room together - if styling the little bits feels overwhelming I've previously shared a Beginners Guide to Accessorising here. 

2. You don't have to stick to the same colour throughout - everything doesn't have to be white! Create a palette of neutrals to compliment each other across the room. For example, you could use a mix of gold, beige, cream, and grey.  

3. Choose items in different materials to add texture to a room. Materials such as wood and rattan can easily be added through accessories, tables and shelves. You could even go for a textured neutral-coloured wallpaper to add some additional character.  

Below is a mood board I put together for my recent post on budget living room updates, and it's a good example of how lots of different textures (through the wood floor, metal lamp and soft rug), and neutral shades (grey sofa, cream curtains and rug) can work really well together. Add pops of block colour through the armchair and side table to anchor your scheme. 

4. Add some life to the space through greenery - plants are always the easiest way to add some life to a space. If, like me, you're not great at keeping real ones alive, then artificial plants are still a great way of adding colour. You can find my guide to the best places to buy fake plants here. 

5. If plants aren't your thing - how about artificial bouquets or dried flowers and grasses? Pampas grass is obviously having a bit of a moment right now, and is the perfect compliment to a neutral scheme. 

6. Add at least one mirror onto your walls to create a sense of depth. Position it opposite a window to bounce light around a room and make it look brighter. Struggling with dark rooms? I've previously shared tips of brightening up a space here.  

7. Sometimes you risk a room appearing cold-looking with an all neutral scheme - layer soft furnishings such as throws, rugs and cushions to add warmth and texture. Candles can help with this too! 

8. When thinking about lighting, add warmth to to what can sometimes be a cold-looking scheme through soft lighting such as table lamps, and floor lamps. 

9. Finally, consider adding metallic touches through lamps, lanterns, table legs or even light switches and sockets to add an additional layer of texture. 

Are you a lover of a neutral colour palette? What are your tips for making it work? 

Thanks for reading, 

Sam Xx