I don’t celebrate the new year. I like watching the fireworks, but I can see those on the telly the next day. That may not be very festive of me, but I don’t celebrate the striking of Big Ben at midnight because there’s nothing new to celebrate. Christmas decorations are still up. It’s still winter. We make resolutions and a few weeks later we’ve given up or forgotten because who can be motivated to make changes when everything is still the same?

The time for New Year resolutions is Springtime since that’s when the new year actually begins. See yourself change as the world around you blossoms into colour and growth. But in the meantime, it’s January. So what can cheer us during these dark days and colder nights? For the purposes of this blog, it’s neutral interior design. No, really, shut up. After all, we’re surrounded by neutrals right now, with slush and sleet … Was that my soul shrivelling up?

No, wait, enough of this bashing of neutral interior design! Without neutrals, we’d just have an exhausting clash of headache-inducing vibrancy 24/7 and no one really wants that. And yet, neutrals just aren’t hue whisperers. They’re colour statements in their own right. And they have cool names, like Wolf and, er, Pebble, to show you how exciting – and calming – they are.

Where on earth do I start with neutral interior design?

How about earthy colours? Sand, clay, terracotta – terracotta?! Is something so rusty red a neutral? Damn straight that earthy tone is neutral. Neutral colours just aren’t black, white and grey, no matter how many shades there are. Even if you left your design to the basics, you still have cream, ivory cornsilk, and midnight, raven and onyx to play with. From warm white to ice, or from calming to dramatic black, there’s a surprising array of colours to choose from when it comes to neutrals for your interior design.

So where to start? First, you want to decide on your undertone – cool and relaxing or warm and cosy? For calmness, you’ll be looking at neutrals with hints of blues, violets and pinks in them. For warm and cosy, you want yellow or red undertones. Again, this is going to give you a surprising variety to choose from. To make things easy, neutrals can’t help but match each other. But while there’s no danger of your colours clashing, you can create a sense of imbalance. You can mix cool and warm, just be sure one is the primary so you get the full effect and beauty of using neutrals in your interior design.

Can I have bolder colour with my neutral interior design?

One way to have colour with your neutral interior design is to have accents of bold colour here and there – cushions, lampshades, blinds and curtains, or maybe an entire feature wall. If you stick with smaller accents of colour, watch them pop amongst the neutrals. The pros say to keep it to two or three brighter colours only, all the more to highlight them amongst those subtle neutrals.

What role does texture play in neutral interior design?

A very important one. Different textures and patterns will add depth to your neutral interior design. Layering is the name of the game here, from rough to smooth – of course your cream couch looks amazing beside a bare brick wall, and that pristine porcelain vase belongs on your rustic wood table. Do you have a huge space? Say hello to big patterns. Small space? Tiny patterns won’t overwhelm it. Wallpaper, fabrics, floor coverings and of course, window dressings can all play their part in adding depth and warmth to your neutral interior design. The layering of your window dressings brings opulence and style while also being practical by adding insulation or helping to create a blackout effect.

Are there benefits to a neutral interior design?

A neutral interior design will help you keep the room clutter-free. You won’t be leaving something out of place in this haven of serenity. And with less clutter, you’ll be able to enjoy the architectural features your home naturally has. Those bare floorboards fit perfectly! The natural beauty of your home can shine through with a neutral interior design, and be all the more luxurious for it.