The Wide World of Neutrals

See how black, brown and white don't have to be boring

By Dewey Sadka, special to HGTV.com

Designer Shane Reilly used a dramatic dark table and a splash of color in the artwork to balance a dining room full of low-key neutrals.

Create Drama With Gray and Black

We know black is a dramatic hue, but who would have thought that the many shades of gray (some with more white, others with more black) can pack such a punch in your home? Punch doesn’t always mean hiking the energy level. These grayish shades create an inward, quieting effect—making you more comfortable with your emotions and better able to focus on what’s most important to you. Use black and the grays to give depth and feeling to your rooms. These colors might be best in rooms where you want to be reflective and thoughtful.

PEWTER: mostly white with black

CLASSIC GRAY: black balanced with white

CHARCOAL: mostly black with white

BLACK: black only

Think, too, of using black and gray with other colors that contain shades of black. You may be surprised to know that the black-shaded palette contains such colors as navy blue and cranberry. The addition of black is what created the depth of these amazing hues. Any of the black and gray shades above will work well in a color scheme with the black-shaded palette below.

Think of the mysterious or romantic aura you can create by mixing dark purple with gray or ruby and pewter.