My favourite neutrals and how to use them

Category: Features

My Favourite Neutrals and How to Use Them

Abi Hugo

Neutrals Stylist

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People love to say that if you’re into neutrals, you’re in your “sad beige era” and honestly, I get it. From the outside it probably does look like I’ve just committed to painting everything some version of beige and calling it a day. But the truth is, when your brain is as chaotic as mine then walking into a calm, neutral space is one of the quickest ways to quieten it.

And that’s really why I keep coming back to them. I don’t pick neutrals because they’re safe. I pick them because I know what they’re going to do.

These are the ones that I reach for without even thinking about:

Cool Beans

Salt of the Earth

Stone Rosie

These are my “I don’t have the capacity to overthink this” colours. They soften a piece, take the edge off anything that feels heavy, and just make things feel more put together without me having to fight it. And after years of starting projects thinking this is going to look amazing and then immediately questioning my life choices halfway through. Having colours, I trust to make something look instantly elevated makes a massive difference.

But Here’s Where Neutrals Go Wrong

This is the bit no one really talks about. If everything is the same kind of neutral, it just ends up looking a bit flat. Not bad. Just, forgettable.

That’s when I start pulling in the slightly stronger ones:

Fennec

Funky Dora

Drama Llama

These are still neutrals, but they don’t just sit quietly in the background. They actually do something. I’ll usually pull these in when everything starts feeling a bit too samey. Normally on a statement piece or to colour drench a room, anywhere that needs a bit of weight. Just to stop it all blending into one.

And Then There's Blackjack...

I know it’s technically not a neutral, but I don’t care. If something isn’t working, this is usually where I go. It sharpens everything. Instantly. If a piece feels a bit flat or like it’s missing something, adding Blackjack just gives it that edge without making it feel overdone. It’s probably the colour I come back to the most when I want something to feel finished.

Blackjack

What I Actually Do (Because It’s Never Just One Colour)

I very rarely paint a whole piece one colour anymore. Not because it doesn’t work, but because it doesn’t feel as interesting. Most of the time I’m mixing:

•    a softer neutral
•    something a bit stronger
•    and sometimes leaving parts as natural wood

That’s what stops it from feeling flat. That’s what makes it feel intentional

Final thoughts

I don’t use neutrals because they’re timeless, or because they’re the safe option. I use them because they make everything feel a bit calmer. They take the pressure off getting it perfect. They let me change things around without it all clashing. And honestly, with the way my brain works, that’s kind of the whole point.

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