Home Tour: Neutral Color Schemes Should Never Be Boring

Neutral color schemes are fantastic. Scandi or Scandinavian design style is also fantastic.

The neutral color schemes give you a great base to work with, whether that’s with additional neutrals, earthy tones or adding pops of color.

Today’s Home Tour by Rooms Solutions brings you a gorgeous place that emphasizes earthy tones.

You’re going to love this.

You’ll find out how to style with neutrals and whites, whether neutral bedrooms are right for beginners and advice on choosing your own style…

Name: Katie 

Style: Neutral & Scandi 

Location: Hertfordshire

Instagram: @home_at_hawthorn

What are your top tips for decorating with white and neutrals?

My top tips when decorating with neutrals are to go with lots of different textures.

I personally love linen, waffled cottons & raw ceramics.

Also, indoor plants against white or beige always looks beautiful and adds warmth and depth to a space.

When using white I tend to stay away from brilliant white as I find it too harsh.

I go for chalky whites and off whites which are warmer.

Keep your accessories natural with lots of wood, plants and natural fibres like linen so your whole scheme ties in.

Don’t be afraid to add in a pop of black when using neutrals!

Do you think a neutral bedroom decor can work well for beginners?

Neutral bedroom decor can work exceptionally well for beginners!

The great thing about experimenting with paint is that if you don’t like it, paint over it!

So give it a go! One of my favourite colours is Parchment by Craig and Rose.

It’s a great intro into the world of beige which traditionally, had a really bad press.

Check out my bedroom to see what it looks like on the walls!

The key when decorating with neutrals is to know where to add interest – cushions, throws, plants.

It’s all about layering & texture.

You also don’t have to go crazy with the scheme which can cost a lot of money!

Try first with simple changes like paint & accessories like bedding and cushions. 

What’s the most vital feature of Scandinavian style houses in your opinion?

Form and function.

What’s the saying?

If it’s not beautiful or useful throw it out. For me, that’s the key to Scandinavian style.

If you don’t love it or you don’t use it, you don’t need it adding clutter to your space. 

Which piece of furniture is your favorite?

That’s a really tough one, but I am a sucker for a chair.

So my favorite piece in my home is probably my wishbone chair in my bedroom or I have a gorgeous green vintage chair that my very clever dad reupholstered.

It is in our guest room which is the only room in the house that has a slight non-neutral aesthetic with greens an terracottas.

However, these earthy tones are still a very workable palette for a Scandinavian aesthetic. 

What advice do you have for those who are still trying to find their style?

It’s really easy to get drawn into a hundred different styles these days with the beautiful images on social media like Instagram and Pinterest.

I have certainly been guilty of seeing an image and running with it in my one home, only to later realise that I actually don’t like it.

Why?

The setting was wrong.

Deep blues, chandeliers and Victorian tiling look superb in a Victorian house.

Using that in a boxy new build… doesn’t seem to have that same success (for me anyway).

However, social media can be really useful in enabling you to really find what works for you.

Keep images, magazine cuttings, have a Pinterest board.

The more you explore, the more you will start to see what your style really is and more importantly, isn’t.

Have a look in your wardrobe.

What is your colorr palette?

It will be no surprise that mine is mainly black, white, beige & gray!

Lastly, don’t be afraid to try things in your own and make mistakes.

God knows, I have made plenty! 

---

Rooms Solutions would like to say a huge thank you to Katie for answering these questions.

They’re very useful if you’re looking to create a home with neutral colors or Scandinavian designs.

If you would like to see more of Katie’s home then be sure to follow her on Instagram: @home_at_hawthorn