Not-So-Neutral | Swapping Out Your Trusted Whites
| image courtesy of sunday shop |
It's no secret that here at Elsie Green that we're big fans of classic white and cream shades in our homes. They're neutral, go with everything, and make any space brighter.
| image courtesy of the new york times |
However, as we head out of summer and into fall, we are really loving moodier, not-so-neutral tones to add some character to our homes. While some of these still seem light and bright, we are swooning over the depth and warmth that they bring to our favorite spaces.
| image courtesy of @historiskahem |
We've sorted our favorite shades into three categories: deep and moody shades, non-white neutrals, and pretty pink. Take a scroll through for some inspiration photos and our founder Laurie's advice for incorporating them in your home.
Deep & Moody Shades
| image courtesy of tumblr |
| image courtesy of tumblr |
| image courtesy of @maison_flaneur |
Notes from Laurie | "To make a moody color work, I think you have to commit. I think a well placed accent wall is nice, but I love to choose a small room in the house like a powder room or a petite office and paint the walls and the ceiling a velvety, deep color. Then it's no longer a just small room, it's a jewel box. "
Laurie's go-to moody colors are Benjamin Moore Bittersweet Chocolate, Farrow and Ball Studio Green, and Benjamin Moore Cheating Heart.
Non-White Neutrals
| image courtesy of that scandinavian feeling |
| image courtesy of food 52 |
| image courtesy of @sister_interiors |
Notes from Laurie | "I do love the perfect white. But sometimes a room wants a tint. I think bedrooms, bathrooms, and dining rooms are especially good rooms to add a subtle touch of color. And I love to use a non-white neutral in an unexpected way, such as painting only the interior doors a tint in a white house, or reversing convention and painting the walls white and the trim a subtle tint. "
Laurie's go-to non-white neutrals are Farrow and Ball Cornforth White, Farrow and Ball Purbeck Stone, Farrow and Ball Hay.
Pretty Pinks
| image courtesy of @plainenglishdesign |
| image courtesy of @sister_interiors |
| image courtesy of this is glamorous |
Notes from Laurie | "I think it's time to treat pink as a neutral backdrop for warm woods, terra cotta, copper, and other materials we love. In my next house, I'm going to have the most subtle pink walls in my living room. The trick to choosing the perfect grown-up pink is to choose a color that's not too clean. A good pink wall has to have some grey in it to dull it down and add some sophistication."
Laurie's go-to subtle pinks are Farrow and Ball Peignoir, Farrow and Ball Calamine, Farrow and Ball Setting Plaster.
Want to know what other colors we're loving right now? Read our color crush posts here >