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As contradictory as it may seem, a neutral bedroom doesn’t have to mean basic or boring. Get it right and a muted bedroom scheme can be anything from luxurious to bohemian. It can even embrace chateau chic or cry out coastal cool. Either way , it’s a colour palette that can create a calm and reflective sleeping sanctuary. But, when neutral means you’re faced with a sea of creams, beige, greige and whites, just how do you create a bedroom interior that doesn’t blend into one homogenous space?
We’ve rounded up 10 of our favourite neutral bedroom schemes and spoken to the experts to find out just how to take neutral to a new and elevated position.
Escape to the chateau with crisp linen upholstery and limewashed woods
Love how French style seems to always shout sophistication but appears to involve minimal effort? We do too and that’s why think it’s perfect for creating a breathtakingly beautiful neutral bedroom scheme.
Resting your head at the end of the day on crisp French linen while lying atop a Louis XIV inspired bed, with upholstered headboard and intricately carved legs, would make anyone feel like French royalty. Add matching bedside tables, panelled white walls and hang delicate glass pendant lights for a sophisticated neutral bedroom that shouts quiet luxury and is timeless in design.
Combine materials and layers for a cosy and relaxed feel
Effortlessly cool, boho chic doesn’t have to mean casual. Instead, it’s more about combining texture, layers and natural materials to create a neutral scheme that feels both sumptuous but welcoming at the same time. Bring the outside in with green plants, soft faux grasses and use furniture made from rattan, bamboo and cane to add textures and subtle pattern. Stick to shades of beige, cream and brown for your soft furnishings and make sure you have plenty of layers to create that cosy and relaxed feel that’s synonymous with boho chic.
Choosing paint for your neutral bedroom If you’re an interior design fan, you’ll know that the queen of neutral décor is none other than Kelly Hoppen. Renowned for her signature style of blending neutral shades to create luxurious interior designs, she’s teamed up with paint company, Lick, to create a range of paints and wallpapers that are just perfect for a neutral bedroom scheme. “The thing about neutrals is that people think they’re nothing, but they’re everything,” says Kelly Hoppen when talking about her collaboration with Lick. “You can have as little or as much of them in your home as you want,” she adds.
“But also remember that colours enhance neutrals and neutrals enhance colours. So if you love colour, choosing neutrals throughout your home can actually enhance other colours and bring them to life.”
Pick one colour and use it as an accent
As Hoppen says, neutrals can enhance colours, so you don’t need to shy away from adding colour to your neutral bedroom design. Although you may be tempted to add a dose of dopamine décor and use a bright pop of colour, we love this neutral scheme which has been elegantly brightened using a delicate shade of sky blue.
Confining use of the accent colour to a few items such as curtains and bedframe, while keeping walls, floor, ceiling and bedding to cream and beige, helps to anchor the scheme in neutral territory and prevents it from being considered a blue bedroom idea. Alex Heslop, trend expert, at Flooring Superstore shares her top tips on how to create a serene and tranquil look by using the right flooring in your neutral bedroom scheme.
Add a touch of definition for extra impact
Although black isn’t classed as a neutral, when combined with darker wood, creams, whites and beige it helps to provide a focal point in the bedroom and break up the other shades of neutral. Victoria Cedeno, brand specialist at Zinus, shares her thoughts on how to make a neutral bedroom scheme come to life. “Soft furnishings, tactile fabrics and colourful accents are the perfect way to inject personality and character into the bedroom,” she says.
“If you prefer neutrals, stick to earthy neutrals, and natural materials such as wood, jute and linen. When it comes to accessorising, she suggests adding open shelving for decorative items.
“Show off your favourite pieces,” says Cedeno. “Whether that’s artwork, flowers or photo frames – things that make you happy should never be hidden away.”
Take advantage of a neutral scheme to showcase bolder decor
A neutral colour palette can provide the perfect backdrop for statement accessories such as dramatic pendant lighting. To stay on scheme, opt for a light that doesn’t add colour but adds a wow factor either through shape or size.
We love this pendant light from John Lewis which is bang on trend for our neutral colour ideas. White, bold and organic in shape it’s the perfect partner for this brown and beige neutral bedroom idea.
Wooden slatted panels are perfect for a neutral bedroom
One of this year’s hottest trends in interiors has been the use of slatted wood panels. With colours ranging from white through to black, they are perfect for adding character to a neutral bedroom. Adding instant warmth, texture and detail they work well either as a full height feature wall, or even as a half-height mock headboard.
We love how this look combines chunky wools with Aztec style prints for soft furnishings then ties the scheme together with glass pendant lights that match a cushion and bedside table accessories. Who wouldn’t feel warm and cosy cocooned in these soothing shades at night.
Embrace sandy shades rather than ocean blue
If you love the idea of a coastal bedroom but find blue less appealing - even if it does always comes top in the best bedroom colours for a good night’s sleep - opt for sandy shades of biscuit, light caramel and cream and bring the beach to your bedroom by adding coastal inspired prints and driftwood style furniture.
Neutral in colour but lavish in design
If you prefer luxury boutique hotel bedroom vibes to a laidback coastal retreat, neutral shades are a great way of combining opulent details and metallics to create a bedroom design that is both calming yet glamourous at the same time. Gold works particularly well with neutrals, adding warmth rather than the cooling effect you would get with silver.Use it to best effect in lighting and furniture detailing such as wardrobe or drawer handles.
Neutrals can be boosted with rugs featuring abstract designs If you feel a cream carpet or wooden floor is just too plain and don’t like the texture of a jute – a neutral scheme favourite - a rug can be a good way of adding a layer of softness and visual interest.
It can quickly turn a neutral scheme into grown-up glamour
If you prefer monochrome to magnolia, you can still create a neutral bedroom scheme by using shades of grey to soften black and white. Pick perfectly white bedlinen with a dark trim, softly upholstered headboards with button detailing and use a chalky white paint for walls and floorboards.
For an extra touch of grown-up glamour, add panelling to your walls and dress with abstract black and white artwork. It’s a grey bedroom scheme that has boutique hotel at its core, but by keeping the colour palette simple, falls into neutral territory.
Go grey like an interior designer to the stars If grey is your neutral of choice, you’re in good company. According to Lick: “In Kelly Hoppen’s book, neutrals are the classic tones of cream, brand, beige, white, black, and her personal favourite: grey. Grey is what she calls a ‘neutraliser’, which helps to bring a room back down to earth.”
Pick patterned bedlinen for your neutral bedroom scheme
Who said neutrals can’t be fun? Not us, which is why we’ve picked this cheery bedlinen as our final neutral bedroom idea. In a laid-back scheme of creams and greige (a combination of grey and beige) it’s the perfect antidote to a bedroom that could otherwise err on the side of minimalism.
This design is also reversible, giving you two looks for the price of one. And let’s face it, you’re never too old to appreciate the simple joy of dotty fabric.
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