Put it in neutral

Far from middle of the road, neutral tones can really add interest and sophistication to your home. Here's how to nail it.

- TIFFANY DUNK

When it came time to renovate a townhouse for recent retiree Robin, interior designer Jacque Yates of Three Little Pigs Colour & Design wanted to create a luxe and modern look which would stand the test of time - and playing with warm neutral palettes was a wonderful way to achieve that.

“When someone says to you they want neutral, it doesn’t have to be white and beige,” Jacque tells The Weekly. “I do really like working with colour, but neutral is a great place to start – especially with big ticket items like floors and sofas because that’s where your budget really goes. For a neutral palette, it’s about layering and introducing texture and shapes to add interest.”

With a client who enjoyed autumnal colours, Jacque leaned into tan, taupe and beige, playing with depth of tone and even bringing in some green and grey. “Although you have to be careful with grey because it can be quite cold,” she warns.