Tile-Stones Great ideabook! Just goes to show that a little bit of color can go a long way if done properly.

Dura Supreme Cabinetry Wonderful Ideabook! Adding some bright books, flower arrangements and a few small kitchen accessories really give some life to neutral room, like this neutral kitchen design! This is my new favorite Dura Supreme Kitchen design that was just featured in Alaska’s Best Kitchens Magazine as their grand prize winner for their latest Fall/Winter edition.

bubblyjock Good article!

Interesting that the open fires in a couple of the rooms both draws the eye, and provide the enriched colour in an otherwise light room.

readbetter Thanks for the great article and pictures. I'm interested in adding blue to my all white bedding with a throw and shams. Now I might be brave enough to add a pattern in a slipcovered chair and maybe even drapes. Thanks again.

dortheaseybold Would love some help making my neutral space pop a little. Any suggestions.

Lanie Brown I had that Pooh bear in the first pic. I wonder where he went...

Irene Lidvall A brown and white cow hide or zebra hide and some dramatic side table lamps

midmodfan I noticed that wood is part of all these examples. Wood makes every bright neutral room warm and inviting. Lovely ideabook!

Michael I love the rooms in photos 5 and 6, the horizontal wood on the walls, the whole cottage thing really appeals to me. Maybe neutrals in more formal/traditional things just bore me. They remind me so much of the safe decorating people do in suburban MacMansions.

K.O.H. Construction Corporation The bookcase position in the 2nd pic that leads to another room is unique. I never thought of putting one on a wall surrounding a door.

aniluap2 This is definitely my option for decorating it is soothing and if you tire of one color you can update by changing the accessories. I love the wire sculpture in #4 where is it from? I loved this whole article. Thanks for sharing.

missmeghan702 dortheaseybold - a pillow of some sort in the chair, possibly even the blue pillow off of the sofa and maybe a throw if you can find one. Some more interesting pillows on the sofa that add a pop of color or a pattern to give you several colors to pull from. I dont see any evidence of greenery or floral. Maybe tree and some small/mid height plants and a small arrangement on the coffee table would make a world of difference. I would add a tall vase or floral arrangement onto the dining table. Would need to see the living room from the other angles to come up with more ideas, especially to see how to pull it together with the surrounding spaces.

dortheaseybold missmeghan: here are some additional photos. It's a new house. Combo of old and new furniture. feel it needs something to really make it special... looking for the right table lamps for the sofa. Suggestions for those would be so helpful. I was thinking clear or green glass with a dark grey shade.

patscats2 Love them all.

frenchdecor Very good article and ideas. I suggested to my friend to do bookcases around the door in her narrow and long room (9.5'x20') instead of along the long wall, she said she have never seen such thing, now I have proof, thanks.

missmeghan702 Well, not sure if you have a larger end table between the sofa and the two chairs by the fireplace - but the table at the other end of the sofa and the one between the two chairs - they both seem a little small for a lamp. I think a bigger coffee table would look better with the larger seating you have. The biggest thing I think, is the sofa/chairs/pillows are all very monochromatic... I think if you start there adding some more colorful pillows and accessories on the tables and mantel with some color, greenery and texture...

Olde Wood Ltd. Great ideas!

sjmom All are beautifully done. Love neutrals; my kind of rooms.

CAROLE MEYER Beautiful rooms....I love the subtle hits of color.

lowprofile dorothea- I would ad curtains, even if you don't use them they could ad so much color

nanyarid dortheaseybold,
you definitely have a great canvas. I don't know what your style preference or budget is but if you like contemporary I would add geometric patterned rug and if on the traditional side I think an oriental rug with rich color would be a great starting point. You could also inject some color and pattern by adding seat cushions to your dining chairs along with throw pillows and art to go with the color scheme you decide on. good luck. would love to see how it turns out.

Michael dortheaseybold your room is wonderful. I like the idea of doing a zebra hide and the sisal (I assume) is a great foundation for one. I think your coffee table is too small and something larger and more striking would be nice. Then do some pillows that pop, with some interesting patterns to them and I think you've got a terrific room!

Keating Design Studio When I work with clients who collect art, a neutral palette is absolutely essential. The art and architecture are then supported by the furnishings & accessories rather than upstaged by them. It's a delicate balance. A neutral setting provides greater opportunity for adding layers of light and texture that give a space depth, comfort and interest. I love this work....it's a complex dance of light & shadow, texture & line, color & scale. ;)

jansinteriors Your posting some great articles Lisa, thanks.

Gloria Mills Great Idea book! I gleaned ideas from every photo!

New England Design & Construction Nice ideas for using neutral color