Light colors provide a soothing background.
Choosing a neutral wall color for your room is the last step when determining your decorating color scheme. To determine the right neutrals, find the lightest hues that coordinate with your overriding color theme. Bring a piece of fabric or a prominent item from your room's decor to a paint store and work with a customer service representative to find the right match. Or bring home paint chips. Once you've decided on the hue that coordinates, buy a sample and paint part of the wall with it to be sure the neutral you've selected becomes a seamless statement.
Shades of Beige
Beige might seem to be an easy neutral choice to work with, but without knowing your decorating details, it can conflict. Beige can have magenta, yellow or gray overtones, even in its lightest shades. You will know from your decor which hue will work best. Once the right neutral beige has been chosen, use a slightly lighter shade for the ceiling and crown and base moldings if your ceilings are low. If they are high, paint it one shade darker than the wall color. Your overall look will be neutral to the eye, but will add depth to your decor.
Shades of Pink
Pink might seem like an odd choice for a neutral wall color, but it is ideal if your decor contains even a cast of magenta. Use the faintest pink paint. Benjamin Moore's "light quartz" is an example of a neutral pink wall color. If you are painting in an empty room the color might seem loud, but it will blend once furnishings are installed.
Shades of Gray
Grey is another color that has overtones of a stronger color. Grey can be "greenish", "blueish," or even "reddish" and still be gray.The decision lies in your decor. Select the lightest shade in the color spectrum you have chosen to achieve a neutral look, and contrast the gray with a slightly darker shade in the trim. Your eye will not separate the wall color from your decor, but it will notice how the room blends without interruption.
Shades of White
White is not a simple choice. White has a yellow, magenta, cyan or black overtone in even the lightest tint. If white is a prominent color in your decor, and you choose to have white walls, it is imperative that you match the tone of the wall color with your decor. The wrong tone will upset your decorating balance.
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