How to choose the right neutral paint colours for any space

I love seeing how other people use colour in their homes, but neutrals will always be my go-to choice. They’re calming, versatile and tranquil, and they lend themselves particularly well to minimalist decor. I also have a personal reason for preferring neutrals – a neurological condition called synaesthesia, which you can read about here.

The term ‘neutral’ refers to colours that are mainly formed from white and black, but they normally incorporate other pigments too – and they can hold just as much depth and interest as any vibrant hue. But finding the right neutral for your home is tricky. The way we perceive colour is heavily influenced by the light a room receives, and that’s especially true when it comes to neutrals. Without bold colour to distract the eye, any subtle undertones are instantly accentuated and the wrong choice can look horribly jarring.

So, here’s my guide to picking the perfect neutral for the space you have, whatever its size and orientation. I’ve also delved a little deeper into the four main groups of neutrals, explaining how to choose whites, beiges, greys and taupes, and rounding up a few favourite paint shades for each. Plus, read to the bottom of the post for my top tip on using sample pots and test patches effectively.

Neutrals for south-facing rooms

South-facing rooms receive strong, clear light throughout the day and are generally the easiest spaces to decorate. That said, the intensity of the light will amplify any warm undertones, and neutrals with a heavy red or yellow tinge may end up looking sickly. Choosing something with a cooling hint of blue, green or violet will balance this out and maintain a sense of relaxed serenity.

Our south-facing guest bedroom gets very strong, golden light, which I’ve offset by using a pale beige with mauve undertones.

Neutrals for north-facing rooms

North-facing rooms get cooler light and generally less of it, so they can feel dingy. Anything with a green, grey or blue base risks looking cold and drab, so choose a neutral with warming undertones of red, yellow or pink instead. Alternatively, embrace rather than fight the gloom and use a deep, dark grey or taupe (there are plenty of options at the warmer end of the spectrum) to create the feel of a cosy hideaway.

In our north-facing main bedroom, an off-white with soft yellow undertones balances out the cooler light.

Neutrals for east- & west-facing rooms

East-facing rooms get warmer light in the morning, becoming cooler and darker in the afternoon and evening. In west-facing rooms the opposite is true, and the light will get progressively warmer and stronger as they day progresses. So, think about when you use the room in question the most and decorate accordingly. You could balance out the qualities of the light at any given time by choosing a neutral with warmer or cooler undertones, or opt for something that highlights its changing nature by subtly shifting in hue as the day goes on.

‘Tom’s Bakery’ by Earthborn Paints is one of my favourite options for rooms where the light changes throughout the day, appearing grey at certain times and more brown at others.

Neutrals for small & large rooms

Paler neutrals can make small spaces appear larger, as they give the impression that the walls are further away than they actually are. Darker neutrals, on the other hand, can add cosiness and intimacy to more sizeable rooms. But again you might want to celebrate what you have, perhaps by using a moody colour to turn a compact space into a snug cocoon. 

If you really want to make a room feel bigger, try using the same neutral across everything from the walls to the ceiling to the woodwork. This will reduce visual noise and trick the eye into thinking there’s more space than there is by blurring the boundaries between different elements.

This scheme uses dark, earthy beiges and taupes from Crown Paints’ Elle Decoration range to create a cosy, cocooning feel, without losing warmth.

Decorating with white

White is calm, airy and never outdated. But while it may sound like one of the simplest decorating choices, it’s actually very unforgiving and finding the right white is key. Unless you have a south-facing room with very strong light, it’s probably best to avoid true whites, which will only seem stark and sterile. Instead, opt for an off-white with a gentle undertone to bring depth to the space. If you’re struggling to ‘read’ various options, try holding them against a pure white with no other pigment (Farrow & Ball’s ‘All White’ is perfect) so you can see the underlying tint – the differences between them may be subtle, but they’ll have a big impact on the overall look and feel of an interior.

1. ‘Heart Felt’ by Crown Paints x Elle Decoration (also shown in image above) – a faded, washed white that can be classic or contemporary
2. ‘Fuji’ by Paint & Paper Library – a clean white with the slightest hint of warmth
3. ‘Flint’ by Little Greene – a sophisticated warm white
4. ‘Wood Smoke’ by Earthborn Paints – a sharp white with a touch of violet
5. ‘Slaked Lime’ by Little Greene – an incredibly versatile off-white with gentle warm undertones
6. ‘Hopscotch’ by Earthborn Paints – a warm, chalky off-white
7. ‘Wevet’ by Farrow & Ball – a pared-back, almost translucent white with a hint of grey
8. ‘Just Barely’ by COAT Paints – a warm grey-white that’s subtle and sophisticated
9. ‘School House White’ by Farrow & Ball – a soft, timeless white without any cool undertones

Decorating with beige

Beige is comforting and nurturing – ideal if you want an understated, easygoing neutral that’s a little softer and earthier than white. It’s great for warming up north-facing spaces, but you can use it in south-facing rooms too – just make sure you opt for a beige with cool undertones so that it doesn’t end up looking yellow or pink.

1. ‘Powder I’ by Paint & Paper Library – a pale beige at the cooler end of the spectrum
2. ‘Clay Pale‘ by Little Greene – a light, mid beige
3. ‘Travertine Light’ by Little Greene – a warm, cocooning beige with a touch of yellow
4. ‘Flawless’ by Crown Paints x Elle Decoration – a calm, gentle beige with the slightest hint of cooling mauve (and the colour I used in my own south-facing guest bedroom)
5. ‘Safari Jacket’ by Claybrook Studio – a wonderful mid-beige that’s warm but not too yellow
6. ‘Humble’ by COAT Paints (also shown in image above) – a warm beige with orange undertones
7. ‘Cadogan Stone’ by Mylands – an understated stone colour that’s elegant and crisp
8. ‘Duvet Day’ by COAT Paints – a modern beige with the addition of a black pigment
9. ‘Mushroom’ by Little Greene – a classic beige with a hint of red oxide for warmth

Decorating with grey

Grey has timeless, enduring appeal. Depending on the grey you choose, it can look delicate and airy or dark and cosy – and it always has a certain sophistication. There are also greys to suit all room orientations, from cooler options that work in south-facing spaces to red-, brown- and yellow-based greys that warm up northern and late eastern light.

1. ‘Shallows’ by Little Greene – a cool, modern grey with just a dash of pigment for depth
2. ‘Tom’s Bakery’ by Earthborn Paints – a comforting, homely grey with a tinge of brown
3. ‘Portland Stone Light’ by Little Greene – a pale grey with a hint of warmth
4. ‘Ammonite’ by Farrow & Ball – a hushed, understated grey that’s cooler than some without looking blue
5. ‘Matted Off’ by Crown Paints x Elle Decoration – a versatile stone-like grey that works in an array of spaces (I’ve used it in my north-facing living room, shown above, and my south-facing home office)
6. ‘Elephant’s Breath’ by Farrow & Ball – a warm and contemporary grey with a hint of magenta
7. ‘Stirrup’ by Mylands – a cool, muted grey reminiscent of dark silver
8. ‘Dove Tale’ by Farrow & Ball – a dark, warm-ish grey with gentle lilac undertones
9. ‘Charleston Grey’ by Farrow & Ball – a deep, enveloping grey with warm brown undertones

Decorating with taupe

Taupe is hard to define, but broadly speaking it falls somewhere between grey and brown. That makes it a particularly versatile neutral – elegant and grounding, with a certain quietness and intimacy to it. Some taupes veer more towards grey, others more towards brown, and they range from pale to moody, so there really are options for all spaces. And, as taupe paints tend to have red or umber bases, they’re particularly useful in west-facing rooms, adding gentle warmth in cooler morning light without looking yellow as the day wears on.

1. ‘Modest’ by COAT Paints – a very pale taupe, almost off-white
2. ‘Stirabout’ by Farrow & Ball – a light, earthy taupe, named after and inspired by the nurturing Irish porridge
3. ‘Joanna’ by Little Greene – a warm, easy taupe
4. ‘Good Intentions’ by COAT Paints – a pale, versatile taupe with warm grey undertones
5. ‘Grouse’ by Mylands – a deep, brownish taupe with hints of red and umber
6. ‘Cass’ by Atelier Ellis – a restful, use-everywhere neutral
7. ‘Taupe 05’ by Lick (also shown in image above) – a comforting and balanced taupe with red and black undertones
8. ‘Terrazza’ by Claybrook Studio – a stoney taupe which takes its cue from the buildings of Ancient Rome
9. ‘Potted History’ by Crown Paints – a muted, restful and cocooning taupe

The importance of testing

Whatever paint you have in mind and whatever direction your room faces, always try a sample in situ before committing – colours look very different on screens than they do in real life (and indeed from screen to screen), and they will also vary massively according to setting. I find it helps to paint test patches on large pieces of white card and stick them to the walls with tack or masking tape, as it gives you a truer idea of how colours will look without the existing paint interfering. What’s more, you’ll be able to move the cards around the room to see how they react to the light in different corners and at different times of day. If you plan to use the space in question after dark, make sure you check potential colours under artificial light, too.

I hope you find the above useful! And if you like neutrals but want to add a bit of subtle colour to your interiors, see my round-up of alternatives to white, grey, beige and taupe – from restful greens and blues to earthy ochres and terracottas.

Images one, six and seven courtesy of Crown Paints; image five via Earthborn Paints; image eight by Luke Arthur Wells, courtesy of COAT Paints. All other photography by Abi Dare.