So, I have to admit – I never knew I would love having a home outside of the city as much as I do. It’s become such a haven and place of peace and relaxation for our whole family to spend time in Greenwich, Connecticut. When we need an escape, it feels like a million miles away – and we can simply relax.
When we started designing this home, we kept our family in mind. We wanted it to feel tranquil and calm – a place for focusing on family and down time. So the home’s neutral-inspired color palette helped achieve just that. And though neutral décor can seem daunting or boring, if it’s infused with personal touches, it can convey our family’s character. Scroll ahead as I break it all down. Here’s a bit of Greenwich inspiration.
Greenwich Inspired: How to Pull off a Neutral Color Palette
Use structural elements to help create a layered look. There’s almost no color in this room but it feels like there is. The combination of light and dark, the structural white elements on the table and the bright white chairs against the dark table build contrast and layers of interest – even without color.
Let the outdoors shine in. Notice there are no window coverings over the large kitchen window – instead it’s bringing the bright sun and the colors of the outdoors into the home without being overwhelming or distracting.
Create areas of interest by using a variety of textures and structures. If you look carefully, there are a number of different elements in the room: a piece of coral on the mantel, a geological stone and a metal sculpture on the coffee table. All neutral tones, but all intended to create visual interest. While the sofa isn’t a neutral, it’s deep color grounds the whole room and is layered and incorporated with textural neutral throws and pillows.
The living room uses layers and pops of deep tones to create visual interest. All of the big pieces in this room are neutral, however we used a mix of metals and mirrored pieces to create depth. By using pillows and accessories in deep maroon and navy, the room has depth rather than feeling flat.
Have you tried to decorate with neutrals? Any tricks you’d like to share?
