Stop decorating like a real estate agent
I just spent 20 minutes scrolling through real estate listings.
Every living room looked exactly the same. White walls, grey sofa, maybe a beige throw pillow if they were feeling adventurous.
The agents call it "timeless" and "move-in ready."
Here's the thing:
Neutral doesn't have to mean boring.
But most people get it completely wrong.
Because when you strip away colour, you can't hide behind it anymore.
Every texture matters more. Every shape shows up stronger. Every detail counts double.
After years of studying why some neutral rooms sing while others fall flat, I've isolated the four mistakes that kill neutral spaces:
1. Your Neutral “Palette” Isn’t Actually A Palette
Most people think neutral means picking one safe colour and sticking to it.
Wrong.
Real neutral palettes work like this:
Start with a base (warm white, soft grey, whatever)
Vary the materials
Play with different strengths of the same hue
Add a darker anchor (black, charcoal, espresso, etc.)
Credit: Brie Geary and Dave Gia (left) & Dimitrios Tsiokaras (right)
Miss this? Your room will feel "off" and you won't know why.
2. You Forgot About Texture (again)
Texture is what makes a neutral room come alive.
Look at any great neutral interior - you’ll see contrast everywhere:
Design: C.Lehman Home | Photography: Jessica Brydson
Here’s the rule to follow: For every smooth surface, add something tactile.
You could try these combinations:
Linen curtains + leather armchair
Jute rug + velvet cushions
Plaster walls + brass accents
Neutrals only look boring when they’re flat. Texture stops that.
3. It's boxes all the way down
Rectangle sofa. Rectangle coffee table. Rectangle rug.
Even your TV is a rectangle.
When everything's a box AND everything's beige?
Death by geometry.
Here’s the fix: Add one “hero shape.”
A curved chair. A round side table. A sculptural lamp.
Just one. That's all it takes to break the grid.
Credit: Sarah Solis (left) & Alex Lesage (right)
4. You stopped before the finish line
You nailed the sofa, the rug, and the layout, but maybe your neutral room still feels unfinished.
That’s because you skipped the final layer. The jewellery.
Art, mirrors, and lighting are what make a room sparkle!
Credit: Lulu & Georgia (left) & Brady Tolbert (right)
Here's the thing about neutral rooms...
They're not actually easier. They're just different.
Colour can cover mistakes. Neutrals expose them.
But master these four elements?
You'll have a space that feels expensive, intentional, and impossibly chic.
Without looking like you're trying too hard.
Cheers,
Reynard