One of the easiest and most affordable ways to freshen up your home's interior is with a new coat of paint. If you're considering putting your home on the market, keep in mind that a neutral color palette will appeal to the widest audience and give you the highest return on your investment. As you explore the vast range of paint color and finish options, you may run across some terms that you are unfamiliar with, and if you've ever asked yourself questions like "What color is eggshell?" the team of experts at Five Star Painting can help, with answers to all your neutral color questions.
What is a Neutral Color Palette?
A neutral color palette is one that has no color or is unsaturated with color. Options that fall into this category may include:
- Beige
- Taupe
- Ivory
- Gray
- Black
- Brown
- White
Each of these neutrals comes in a vast array of different hues, with warm or cool properties and undertones which can dramatically change the appearance of the paint. Wall placement, lighting, and the other colors in the room can also affect the look and feel of the wall color, which may change throughout the day as the sunlight shifts directions or artificial light is introduced into your living space.
Why Choose Neutral Colors?
A neutral color palette is a popular choice among homeowners, and it may be used in a variety of applications including:
- As a neutral backdrop
- To invoke a feeling of restfulness
- To create uninterrupted flow in an open-concept design
The benefits of a neutral color palette are clear, and can help to sell your home or make you fall back in love with it:
Wide Appeal
Because neutral colors can work with any type or style of furniture, buyers are more likely to envision their belongings in your space. Bold colors can be distracting and take away from the architectural and structural features of your home, but with a more restful, neutral palette buyers can focus on the selling features rather than the wall color.
Illusion of Space
Light colors can trick the eye into believing a room is more spacious and airy than it is, as the eye continues on rather than stopping and focusing on a dark or vibrant paint finish.
Return on Investment (ROI)
Many realtors will tell you to use neutral colors for ROI, which appeals to a wider spectrum of tastes, styles, and preferences.
What is Eggshell Paint?
The term eggshell may be used to describe the color of the average chicken's egg, but when it comes to paint this term is more aptly used to describe the finish rather than the color. Paint finishes are categorized by the amount of gloss or sheen they project and each one is suitable for a variety of applications. Eggshell paint is at the lower end of the spectrum at 10 to 25 percent gloss (similar to that of an actual eggshell), and should not be confused with satin finish paint which has 25 to 35 percent gloss. The characteristics of eggshell paint include:
- Slightly more reflective than a flat finish
- Less durable than a satin or semi-gloss paint
- Great for moderate-traffic areas
- Effective at hiding imperfections on your walls
- Good choice for ceilings, adult bedrooms, dining rooms, and living rooms
Additional Tips to Help Sell Your Home
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FAQs
Neutral Colors for Shading and Depth
Artists can use neutral colors to create an illusion of shadows and distance. Darker or lighter neutral colors help create a realistic-looking lighting effect. To create an illusion of depth, artists paint the item in the distance with a less saturated neutral color.
Why are neutral colors important in art? ›
Neutral Colors for Shading and Depth
Artists can use neutral colors to create an illusion of shadows and distance. Darker or lighter neutral colors help create a realistic-looking lighting effect. To create an illusion of depth, artists paint the item in the distance with a less saturated neutral color.
What is the purpose of neutral colours? ›
While bright, bold colors are loud and vibrant, neutral paint colors are calming and gentle on the eye. With little saturation, neutral colors seamlessly flow from one color into the next.
Why do people prefer neutral colors? ›
While bright colors may help you express a more energetic vibe, neutral tones can provide you with a calming effect. The smoothness of neutral paint could translate into boring for some people. However, for others, it can but may provide a steady, quiet, and soothing atmosphere.
What are the effects of neutral colors? ›
Neutral colours are forgiving, accommodating and easy to live with. Above and beyond the ease and simplicity of decorating that muted and neutral colours offer, they also have a soothing and calming effect on our moods making them ideal for use in private spaces.
What emotion do neutral colors represent? ›
Brown and neutral tones can represent anything from peace and calm to wholesomeness and reliability or even boredom.
What neutral colors say about you? ›
Neutral Colors
These colors are mostly associated with peace and simplicity. People who like the more muted hues for their spaces likely have a preference for understated elegance, too. If you value peace and quiet, consider a neutral color palette to promote that calming, balanced vibe that you crave.
What is the neutral color theory? ›
A neutral is a color without much intensity or saturation — a color that's lacking in color, if you will, which generally goes with everything. Examples of neutral colors include: Tan. Beige.
What are the 5 basic neutral colors? ›
When it comes to fashion, neutral colors take the stage as those without vibrant hues, offering a subtle and understated charm. Think of classic shades like black, white, gray, beige, brown, and navy. But wait, there's more! These colors aren't just plain and boring; they come in a variety of captivating tones.
What do neutral colours show? ›
Although neutral colors can create a classic European look, they do indicate a lack of enthusiasm, passion, opinion or sentiment. The darker neutrals tend to create a heavier mood while the paler neutrals create a lighter mood.
Neutral colours can take on a leading role, bringing an aura of elegance and sophistication that transcends trends. In neutral colours, simplicity and complexity coexist harmoniously.
What is the strongest neutral color? ›
These include the gray, brown, and white families. Neutral paint colors such as taupe, off-whites, and light grays do not have a definitive color, so they almost never cause discord with furnishings and other color schemes. These "none-colors" are virtually foolproof since they easily support all other colors.
Why are neutrals so trendy? ›
In our world of ever-changing trends and styles, neutrals are timeless, sophisticated and versatile in both fashion and interior design. From the calming palette of whites and creams to the the warmth of earth tones, neutral shades have the power to create chic and refined looks both in the home and in the wardrobe.
What are the benefits of neutral colors? ›
A neutral color palette can help you create a cohesive look that's easy to maintain. It also allows you to add pops of color in other areas like artwork, accessories and even furniture fabrics — making it easier for you to change things up as needed.
Are neutral colors high intensity colors? ›
Intensity (also referred to as saturation or chroma) refers to the degree of purity of a color. A highly intense color is bright and a low-intensity color is more neutral or muted. Colors are at their purist when they are straight out of the tube, not mixed with another color.
What color suits a neutral undertone? ›
Skin: Neutral undertone that might lean slightly warm. Eyes: Light brown, green or hazel. Hair: Blonde, strawberry blonde or brown hair. Colours to wear: Peach, light olive, soft lime, moss, French blue, sage green, oyster white, cream, light coral, aubergine, warm grey and old gold.
Why is color value important in art? ›
Here's why:
Value is used to create a focal point within a painting or drawing. The human eye is immediately drawn to a light element against a dark element. This creates, the focal point of interest. To create the illusion of depth, gradations of value are also used.
Why is color choice important in art? ›
Color can tell you a lot about a work of art. Bright colors can make you feel happy while darker colors can make you feel glum. There are also specific colors that remind us of different emotions. For example, what does the color blue remind you of?
