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Inspiration

The Nature of Neutrals

Timeless, elegant and loved by all; neutrals have remained a staple of interior design schemes for years.

From a hint of calm amongst bold hues and maximalist prints, to laid-back monochromes and organic textures – a neutral palette is endlessly versatile and can easily be introduced to any scheme. 

Yes, Roger Oates Design loves colour, but it may not be surprising that some of our most popular designs fall under a neutral palette. With over 200 yarn colours to choose from, our wide selection of understated hues stretch far beyond beige, grey and white.

Neutral shades are a great way to create links between paint, fabrics and soft furnishings. As with any colour, neutrals come in many shades and tones, from bright warm whites through to cool greys and soft beige, all the way to comforting browns and bold blacks. Neutral tones offer a perfect subtle back drop for the home – a great starting point from which you can build on.

We like to experiment with multiple shades, creating complex and subtle layers of colour to make truly unique designs. Whether it’s a smart, minimalist look, using quiet pinstripes with subtle undertones or a more dramatic statement with monochromatic borders and bold multi-tonal stripes, there is a design for you. We discover the neutral designs in our collection that will help elevate your home. 

Neutrals are timeless, classic, and no matter how bold the pattern, they will never overwhelm a space.

Timeless elegance – Dart Otter
Sudbury Birch Stair Runner

Nuanced colour – Sudbury Birch

Light neutrals

Calming and uplifting light neutrals are a designers go-to for creating a sense of openness within a scheme. Use pale shades of beige, cream, and white for sophisticated elegance, or add energy by contrasting both light and dark shades for a more patterned, energetic feel. The undertones of light neutral colours are particularly important as they will effect how the light is reflected in a space. Opt for pink undertones for elegance, blue to brighten or green to create atmosphere.

Inspiration : Flaxman Stone, Footed Bowl by Lucie Rie via encyclopedia.design, Kettles Yard via kettlesyard.co.uk

Dark neutrals

If you are thinking about adding some darker elements to your room but you’re not sure where to start, use dark neutral tones like gunmetal grey, warm brown or soft black to make a subtle impact. Easy to use and adaptable, neutral shades tend to go with everything. You can build up layers of dark neutral tones to create contrast and interest in the space. Dark neutral shades are brilliant at creating an ambiance; use soft lighting to add warmth and create a cocooning, atmospheric space.

Inspiration: Knill’s Monument by Alfred Wallis via Kettles Yard, Art and Image by Nikki Heaton Studio, Vernon Slate.

The first steps

When planning where to place neutrals in a scheme, the hallway is always great place to begin. Opening the door, the staircase and entrance halls are where we set the narrative of our home. For understated schemes, choosing a classic neutral runner for your stairs is a timeless and elegant option. Designs like Dart Otter, Sudbury Birch and Trent Silver are perfect for adding an injection of subtle pattern and quiet colour. If you are looking to continue this onto the landing for an easy and continuous flow of colour, our flatweave can also be fitted on landing areas, or transformed into beautifully fitted wall-to-wall floorcoverings or stylish rugs. 

Making a statement on the other hand is surprisingly easy with a neutral palette. Be bold with high contrast stripes like Fitzroy Black and Switch French Grey, or opt for Pelham Chalk or Flaxman Stone for a strong, smart border with a classic look. Whatever neutral design you choose, will add a glow of colour with nuanced undertones, to make a subtle impact on the space. Neutrals are often praised by designers for being easy to live with, and timeless in appeal – key components to assure longevity in a successful design scheme. 

Summit

Introducing texture

Using a neutral palette is a wonderful way to celebrate the hand-tufted medium – with complex textures, playful pattern and nuanced colour, clever design details are particularly prevalent in a paired back colour scheme. 

Using a variety of hand tufting techniques, sculptural and 3D forms can be created using contrasting long and short pile heights and hand sheared finishing. Tonal shifts of colour add movement and interest to the designs allowing for multiple neutral shades to combine to create swathes of subtle colour. When using understated hues, you can create the perfect backdrop for the room and use texture and pattern to add interest. Rugs can be a dominant feature in any room, using a neutral scheme allows for comfort and atmosphere without the fear of overwhelming the space.

Our Hand Tufted rugs and runners introduce a new look to the Roger Oates offering. Contemporary hand tufted designs have been created to sit perfectly alongside our flatweave collections. With an extensive and specially developed palette, our yarn offers a new dimension of colour when hand tufted, creating experimental textures and unique options for bespoke designs.

Individually made, our team of designers can tailor the perfect bespoke rug to the needs of your space. With shape, pattern, colour and texture all open to experimentation. 

Look to the sculptural pile of the Descend  and Summit rugs and the tonal shifts of Dune for inspiration.

Descend

A hint of calm

Easy to integrate into any home, our flatweave accessories come in a range of hues and designs. Introducing natural textures to a paired back scheme creates interest and soft contrast against wood, paintwork and soft furnishings. Our ‘Larkfield’ accessories collection, made in collaboration with Heather Shields, offers cushions, benches and cosy throws in gently contrasting chevrons, lines and dots of warm monochromes.

Using accessories and home furnishings in neutral shades helps to ground the space and creates subtle links throughout the room to bring the scheme together as a whole.

Larkfield Cushions on bench and chair

Larkfield Cushions

Cranborne Honey Bench
Explore

A Neutral Palette

Easy to live with and timeless in appeal, find your perfect understated shades.

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