EMBRACING NEW NEUTRALS: CREAMS, BEIGES, AND TAUPES FOR A WELCOMING HOME

ORIGINALLY POSTED BY REDFIN ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2023 BY HOLLY HOOPER

CREAMS, BEIGES, AND TAUPES, OFTEN OVERLOOKED IN FAVOR OF MORE VIBRANT COLORS, ARE AGAIN MAKING A RESURGENCE IN THE WORLD OF HOME DECOR. THESE NEUTRAL SHADES BRING A SENSE OF CALMNESS, WARMTH, AND VERSATILITY TO LIVING SPACES. WHETHER YOU’RE DESIGNING YOUR NEW HOUSE IN SAN MARCOS, CA, OR OKLAHOMA CITY, THIS IS A GOOD STYLE BECAUSE IT EFFORTLESSLY COMPLEMENTS THE SERENE AND DIVERSE LANDSCAPES OF BOTH REGIONS, PROVIDING A TIMELESS BACKDROP FOR YOUR HOME THAT HARMONIZES WITH THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF COASTAL CALIFORNIA OR THE HEARTLAND OF OKLAHOMA.

THIS REDFIN ARTICLE EXPLORES THE RENEWED POPULARITY OF THESE UNDERSTATED HUES, OFFERING INSIGHTS FROM INTERIOR DESIGN EXPERTS ON HOW TO USE THEM EFFECTIVELY IN YOUR HOME. FROM CREATING TEXTURE TO INCORPORATING POPS OF COLOR AND ADDING PERSONAL TOUCHES, DISCOVER THE SECRETS TO MAKING THESE NEUTRAL TONES THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR STYLISH AND INVITING LIVING SPACES.

1. BEIGE DECOR ISN’T BORING

“BEIGE DOES NOT HAVE TO MEAN BORING,” SAYS STEG STUDIOS. “USING NEUTRAL TONES LIKE TAUPE, CREAM AND BEIGE CAN CREATE AN IMMEDIATE SENSE OF CALMNESS AND TRANQUILITY. THE KEY TO GETTING IT RIGHT AND MAKING IT INTERESTING IS INCORPORATING DIFFERENT TEXTURES AND PATTERNS INTO THIS COLOR PALETTE. 

THE CREAMY COLORED ROOM BELOW WAS IN NEED OF A BOOST, SO WE ADDED A 3-DIMENSIONAL PORCELAIN TILE TO THE FIREPLACE. WE KEPT IT IN THE SAME CREAMY, TAUPE COLOR PALETTE BUT THE TEXTURAL CHANGE OF THE TILE AND THE SUBTLE PATTERN ADDED IMMEDIATE WARMTH AND CHARACTER AND COMPLETELY CHANGED THE FEELING IN THE SPACE.”  

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2. THE PALETTE IS HIGHLY VERSATILE, INVITING PERSONALIZATION 

“IN TODAY’S FAST-PACED WORLD, PEOPLE ARE SEEKING SPACES THAT PROMOTE RELAXATION AND WELL-BEING. THESE COLORS CREATE A SERENE AND CALMING ATMOSPHERE, WHICH IS HIGHLY DESIRABLE IN MODERN LIVING,” SUGGESTS ACACIA + SPRUCE. 

“CREAMS, BEIGES, AND TAUPES SERVE AS A VERSATILE BACKDROP, ALLOWING HOMEOWNERS TO EASILY INCORPORATE VARIOUS DECOR STYLES AND COLOR ACCENTS, MAKING IT ADAPTABLE TO CHANGING PREFERENCES. DESPITE THEIR NEUTRALITY, THESE HUES CAN BE PERSONALIZED WITH TEXTURES, PATTERNS, AND POPS OF COLOR, GIVING HOMEOWNERS THE FREEDOM TO EXPRESS THEIR INDIVIDUALITY WHILE MAINTAINING A COHESIVE LOOK.”

3. INCORPORATE TEXTURE INTO THE MIX

“MY BEST DESIGN TIP IS TO INCORPORATE LAYERED TEXTURES INTO A NEUTRAL HOME DESIGN,” RECOMMENDS BEACH NEST INTERIORS. “THIS PREVENTS THE SPACE FROM FEELING FLAT AND CREATES INTEREST. VARYING TONES OF BEIGES, TANS, AND CREAMS GIVES A WARM, RELAXING ENERGY AND CREATES A PERFECT BACKDROP FOR THOUGHTFUL POPS OF COLOR IN WALL ART, LAMPS, AND PILLOWS. ADDING IN NATURAL ORGANIC ELEMENTS LIKE WOOD, PLANTS, AND STONE WILL REALLY TAKE THIS DESIGN TO THE NEXT LEVEL. 

BONUS TIP: USE THE CEILING TO INFUSE WARMTH AND A BIT OF DRAMA INTO YOUR SPACE. HAVE TALL CEILINGS? PAINT THEM A DARKER TONE THAN THE WALLS OR ADD WOOD BEAMS OR TEXTURED WALLPAPER.”

4. BE PURPOSEFUL WHEN LAYING COLORS, PATTERNS, AND TEXTURE

K.C. CUSTOMS, INC. RECOMMENDS THAT “WHEN WORKING WITH THIS COLOR PALETTE, WE RECOMMEND YOU PAY METICULOUS ATTENTION TO TEXTURE, LAYERING PLUSH FABRICS, RICH WOODS, AND SUBTLE PATTERNS TO ACHIEVE DEPTH AND VISUAL INTEREST. THOUGHTFUL LIGHTING PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN ACCENTUATING THE INVITING AMBIANCE OF THESE HUES. THESE COLORS NOT ONLY STAND THE TEST OF TIME BUT ALSO ADAPT SEAMLESSLY TO DIVERSE DESIGN STYLES, MAKING THEM A VERSATILE CHOICE FOR EVERY HOMEOWNER’S VISION.”

5. USE NATURAL, DARK POPS OF COLOR LIKE WOOD

“THE WARM NATURAL PALETTE HAS BECOME A TREND BECAUSE IT’S REALLY FOOL PROOF,” INSISTS AESTHETIK DESIGN BY VICTORIA TIK. “I LOVE ADDING DARK POPS FOR CONTRAST AND USING WHITE OAKS WHEN IT COMES TO WOODS AND OR FLOORING TO REALLY BRING THE LOOK HOME. THIS LOOK STANDS OUT BECAUSE IT’S TIMELESS AND SO ADAPTABLE, YOU CAN GO FROM ULTRA MODERN TO VICTORIAN OR BOHEMIAN USING THIS SAME PALETTE.

TO KEEP THIS LOOK UNIQUE STYLE, FOLKS SHOULD FEEL FREE TO INCORPORATE THEIR OWN PERSONAL TOUCHES WITH SOUVENIRS FROM THEIR TRAVELS OR LITTLE POPS OF DARK TO BALANCE THINGS OUT. HAVE FUN WITH IT, DON’T TAKE DESIGN TOO SERIOUSLY OR IT WON’T BE FUN. AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ALL JUST WANT TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL SPACE THAT’S TRULY LIVABLE.”

6. ADD POPS OF COLOR WITH PLANTS AND ACCESSORIES

“USE DIFFERENT SHADES OF THE SAME COLOR TO CREATE DEPTH AND INTEREST,” SUGGESTS YOUTH DESIGN PHILLY. “ADD PLANTS AND FLOWERS TO ADD LIFE AND COLOR TO THE SPACE. ADD POPS OF COLOR THROUGH NATURAL MATERIALS LIKE WOOD, STONE, AND LEATHER TO ADD WARMTH AND TEXTURE. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NATURAL LIGHT WHENEVER POSSIBLE. KEEP THE FURNITURE SIMPLE AND UNCLUTTERED. ADD A PERSONAL TOUCH AND FUN TO THE SPACE WITH ACCESSORIES, ARTWORK, OR PLANTS.”

7. NEUTRAL HOME DECOR IS A TIMELESS CLASSIC

“A SUCCESSFUL INTERIOR IS LIKE A WELL-DRESSED PERSON. THEY KNOW WELL THAT CREAMS, BEIGES, AND TAUPES ARE TIMELESS CLASSICS,” SHARES SCHOOL OF SKETCHING BY OLGA SOROKINA. “THEY’RE UNLIKELY TO COMBINE A STRIPED JACKET WITH A CHECKERED SHIRT, AND IF THEY DO, THEY’LL DO IT TASTEFULLY, BECAUSE KNOWING THE RULES ALLOWS YOU TO BREAK THEM.”