Want to know what the most popular color is for 2022 and beyond? This surprising choice will have us all re-painting our homes this month.
Understanding color lies at the root of all interior design decisions. If in doubt, consulting the color wheel – and basic color theory – will ensure your decorating scheme flows effectively from room to room.
Color of the Month – how to use this neutral color in your home
This popular color trend is easy on the eye – and a very good choice for those who prefer a subtle hue, rather than dramatic shades.
Here decorating experts have taken interior design trends and paint trends into consideration to help you achieve the perfect neutral color scheme in every room.
What makes taupe our Color of the Month?
Reminiscent of velvety cocoa, this mid-brown taupe is a striking color for any room. Depending on the furniture and accent colors introduced alongside, it has the flexibility to range from looking neat and tailored to soft and welcoming.
How should we bring taupe-brown into our homes?
Some of our favorite insiders reveal how to use it to best effect.
1. Use taupe as your starting point
‘Taupe is a beautiful color and a wonderful starting point, but it can err on the side of boring so I always recommend introducing a contrast,' says Paolo Moschino, Paolo Moschino for Nicholas Haslam. 'I’ve covered walls in a taupe linen for a bedroom, which I then trimmed in electric blue to give a splash of color.’
2. Paint taupe with bold hits of color
Wall in Clove, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint; furniture, Lorfords
This versatile neutral is one of the most popular shades for interiors, and it is easy to see why. Decorating with neutrals offers a blank canvas that illuminates dark spaces and makes even the smallest rooms feel spacious, light and bright.
Paint specialist Edward Bulmer says this elegant color has become ‘a go-to choice as we embrace more color and nuance in our lives’ as it complements more vibrant shades.
3. Decorate with taupe for a timeless look
‘Timeless neutrals lend themselves to historic properties, creating warm backgrounds for original features,' says Louise Wicksteed, design director, Sims Hilditch. 'When opting for a neutral shade on the walls and ceiling, be playful with your soft furnishings and consider threading splashes of color and pattern through the fabric used for your scatter cushions.’
Here, this wall color looks beautiful when bathed in natural light and it maintains its warmth into the evening, creating a cozy atmosphere, say the team at Sims Hilditch.
4. Use this color to highlight features of interest
‘For me, neutrals such as taupe are grounding wall colors,' says Henriette Von Stockhausen, creative director, VSP Interiors. 'It’s important to remember that sometimes a classic interior is just the ticket: calm colors, gentle schemes, traditional furniture and antiques – no pattern clashes, no huge color pops, just comfort and a quiet space to relax in.'
Dutch interior designer Hedda Pier used this color as a ‘perfect rich but modest choice to highlight a marble fire surround and period features’ in her client’s home in Haarlem.
5. Evoke calm with a taupe color palette
‘Taupe is an effective color to provide warmth to any space. It creates a reassuring atmosphere without being too strong and also pairs easily with pastel or bright colors, adding either cool or warm tones,' says Jean-Frederic Nothomb, founder, Argile.
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