The New Rules of Neutrals

From vibrant hues to softer tones, shades of blue and green are replacing the basics

- by CAMERON BEALL

A Stylish Note

Familiar as a base color in fashion, navy is often integrated into homes.

RULE 1

DRENCH IN COLOR

“Our usual formula is to take the wall color and then dial it up or down on the other items in the room,” says Anna Still of Still Johnson. “We usually do a darker shade on larger pieces like upholstery and a lighter version on accessories.” They applied the concept to the living room at left, starting with Sherwin-Williams’ Dark Night (SW 6237) on the walls and trim and extending the hue to a majority of the furnishings throughout: a rich blue velvet sofa with lighter-toned fringe trim, a pair of muted blue chairs, and hints of the shade in the art and throw pillows. “In the design world, people use the term ‘neutral’ for a color that works with every other color,” says Still. “For us, that’s blue and green. We use them to anchor a room, and then everything else will work with that, no matter what direction we go in.”

DuVäl Reynolds ATLANTA, GEORGIA @duvaldesignllc

RULE 2

TRIM IT OUT