Billy Joel keeps his neutral entryway warm and inviting with this expert-approved color pairing

As the Piano Man, Billy Joel is often associated with the instrument as his most common accessory. It's no surprise, then, that his home entryway is flanked by a grand, black piano fit for entertaining – however, it serves in contrast to the rest of the space's serene palette.

Though he spends the majority of his evenings performing at Madison Square Garden (in fact, a TV special celebrating his 100th stint at the iconic arena just aired), he posted a video to his Instagram page at home, which shows off his monochromatic, neutral entryway color scheme, complemented by touches of black decals. It's a calming yet sophisticated area and ageless enough to transcend ever-changing color trends.

Decorating with neutrals remains a go-to color choice for rooms all over the house, from the kitchen to the bedroom, and entryways are no different. One of the main reasons subtle neutrals are so popular is due to their calming properties and evocation of the natural world, as our editor explains. 

'Implementing a neutral color scheme into the home is a simple but effective way to bring a bit of outdoor ambiance inside,' Homes & Gardens' Editor Jennifer Ebert states. 'While neutrals can often be thought of as sterile or cool, the warmth of shades like cream and clay can impart a cleansing dose of nature, which in turn creates a sense of peace in the home.'

Since the entryway is the first space anyone sees when walking into a house, neutrals make a fantastic palette for this area.

Jennifer Ebert

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.

A caveat of neutrals is that similar shades, particularly monochrome ones like the selection in Joel's space, can blend into each. A major part of the solution? Texture.

'To further tap into the natural aesthetic, lean into modern organic materials like linen and wood,' Ebert suggests. 'Though these raw materials often come in hues of beige and brown, the unique textural details of each item will draw visual interest,' she explains.

Joel has executed this tactic well with his tiled floors, brick walls, wood door and railing, and stone staircase.

Finally, introducing bold accents within the neutral scheme can ensure that the space retains some sharpness.

'Black accents are not only elegant but fit in seamlessly with practically any warm-neutral color scheme,' Ebert says.

The bespoke, black staircase detailing in Joel's space is the perfect tie-in to his dark piano – and the color contrasts the light gray stairs and credenza perfectly.

Shop H&G's neutral entryway picks