It's not always easy to choose the perfect neutral color. Beige is
the most popular neutral, and yet it's one of the hardest to get right
in decorating. Because of those pesky color undertones, your beige can
become a color you don't even recognize anymore, once it's up on your
walls. Armed with these tips, you can choose beige like a pro. If you're
still not sure, check out The 5 Ways Pros Choose Color.
DO
understand first, and foremost, that beige is a difficult color to
choose. With the incredible amount of beige colors out there, it can be
overwhelming. It's not your fault if you are having trouble finding that
beige needle in a haystack.
DO consider similar
colors like taupe or greige. Perhaps you're not really looking for
beige after all, but you just weren't sure what to call what you wanted.
If you add a touch of gray to beige, you'll get greige for a warm and
rich look. If you like your beige a little more on the pink or cool
side, try taupe.
Even neutral green can be a great substitute if you can't find the beige you're looking for.
DON’T be
afraid to pair your new-found beige with unexpected colors. There is no
rule that you have to pair beige with other neutrals. Beige can look
elegant with pale blue, rust, or even gold. Choose the colors you really love first, then find the right beige to complement them.
And...
DO watch your undertones. You really need to learn about undertones before you choose a neutral like beige, confidently. Undertones
are the number one reason why neutral color schemes go awry.
Recognizing the pink or yellow undertone of your favorite beige, means
that you can choose the rest of the palette confidently.
DON’T forget that beige works very well in beach-inspired color schemes,
and any scheme that is inspired by natural beauty. Beige can be the
sand of the beach, or mountain peaks, let nature be your beige
inspiration.
DON’T forget that your beige will be
competing with similar colors in the room that you see every day and
yet, don't see. Your carpets may be beige, or the wood of your cabinets,
or your window treatments. Be sure to take them into consideration when
choosing beige. This is where sampling colors becomes essential. Don't skip that step when combining similar colors.
DO be
careful with the white colors you pair that beige with. Yes, white can
have undertones, just as beige does. Pairing a warm beige with a white
color with gray or blue undertones, will look "off." You may not be able
to recognize the problem at first, but your beige and white don't work
together, it's most likely the problem
DON'T get
caught up in thinking that beige is boring or tired. If you keep your
color scheme neutral, then have fun with accents or with artwork. The
right beige can create the perfect backdrop for any style of decorating
you might love.
DON'T forget that choosing colors
isn't about hard and fast rules. The most important aspect of choosing
any color, is how you feel about that color. Learn the undertones,
sample your paint and order fabric swatches, to make sure your favorite
color works your space.
By Diana Hathaway Timmons
Color Expert
