Accents or NEUTRALS?

We’ve all heard that it’s best to start with a neutral base palette and add colors through accents. But what is a neutral and what is an

accent? Here’s a breakdown for you.

NEUTRALS: These colors are muted and often in the cool part of the color wheel. Think about shades that will go with any other color—the obvious neutrals are white, cream, beige and gray. But there are other colors that you can consider a neutral as well—navy blue and forest green are good examples. While these two colors aren’t subtle or muted shades, they have neutral hues you can use in large amounts and that will work with any other color scheme.

ACCENTS: Look at brighter colors, often in warm hues. Bolder shades of red, pink and yellow are often accents, as are brighter shades of cool colors like turquoise, robin’s-egg blue and purple. Metallics can also fit into the accent category. While they go with any color like the neutrals above, you probably won’t use them in large amounts, unless you like the authentic midcentury and art-deco vibes (gold metallic wallpaper, anyone?). Farmhouse style uses metallics as an accent, such as in hardware, lighting and other finishes.