Discover how the Understanding Undertones neutral colour wheel can simplify your search for the perfect neutral by helping you quickly identify and match undertones in any space. And, learn why limiting and repeating neutral undertones is the key to creating a harmonious, timeless look in your home.
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Using the Colour Wheel to plan your new build
If you don’t have my Understanding Undertones neutral colour wheel yet, let me just say you’re missing out! It’s time to treat yourself to the handiest tool for choosing the right neutral!
What is a neutral colour wheel?
My Understanding Undertones Neutral Colour Wheel displays the range of useful neutral undertones and whites. Its portable design makes it easy to compare and quickly identify the neutral undertone of any item, helping you narrow down your choices with confidence. That means you’ll get it RIGHT!
How NOT to use the Wheel
Remember what we discussed in Part 1: the neutral colour wheel is not intended for COORDINATING a bunch of neutrals. It’s not about which neutrals go with which so you can create a palette for your home with various neutral undertones in the way that the traditional primary colour wheel is used.
Instead it’s a tool for identifying and matching the neutral undertone you’re working with so you can create harmony by choosing all your neutral finishes and furnishings in the same neutral.
A space will start to feel off if there are more than two neutral undertones being used.
What do you when you make a mistake? How do you approach a kitchen or bathroom where the neutral undertones don’t match? That’s what I teach through many exercises in my workshops.
How to use the wheel to choose finishes for your new build
I often hear: But Maria, I need to start choosing finishes for a new build, so I don’t have any existing neutral I’m trying to match now what? How do I choose the right neutral to work with?
Image generated from AI
Well that, my lovelies, is exactly why I prefer timeless white to cream hard finishes for bathrooms and kitchens. Because it means the sky is the limit for choosing COLOUR instead of being limited to neutrals. My last home didn’t have any neutral undertones in the finishes giving me endless flexibility for decorating. Oh wait, it had one, can you spot it?
But most of the time you will have something with a neutral undertone. Whether it’s the runner on the stairs, the countertop in your kitchen (often pretty quartz options are pale green grey or taupe). Sometimes it’s a linen sofa you love.
And yes, this is why it makes sense to choose your furnishings intentionally and early on in the new build process—so you can be deliberate about the undertones of any finishes you select.
However, you do have to start making decisions, or your house will never get built.
There’s a consistent pattern you’ll notice when helping people make color and design choices: everyone wants to delay making a definitive color decision. That’s one reason why so many homes end up with layer upon layer of neutrals.
And that’s also why some people hold onto my neutral colour wheel, hoping it will magically reveal the perfect paint colours, before anything else is chosen. After all, it often feels like everything starts with paint, doesn’t it?
Nope! Because choosing the paint colour first is like choosing the frame before you choose the painting. In the ideal situation, the paint colour is chosen last to perfectly relate to the finishes and decor.
AI image
Which neutral undertone is best?
Because I LOVE yellow, my preference has always been green beige or green grey. The pink and violet undertones don’t play as well with yellows. The neutral undertone I work with in my current home is green beige. And it’s based on my Calacatta Gold marble backsplash (green beige and green grey veining) and my pale green beige cabinets (below).
This is why when I decided I wanted a pale neutral custom corner sofa for my living room, green beige was the easy choice (below).
However, right now, an argument can be made for pale taupe because many of the off the shelf upholstery items, miles of tile and countertop materials have taupe undertones. Because taupe is warmer than grey and cooler than grey, so during the grey trend and into the recent black and white trend, taupe seemed like the Goldilocks choice.
Pro timeless tip: The key is to keep your neutral finishes pale and fresh for the most longevity. Heavy dark neutrals will make you want to escape them much faster. I’d reserve dark and dramatic moments for paint that can easily be changed.
So if you’re starting from scratch, I’d gravitate towards green beige, green grey or taupe. Taupe, for the reasons stated above. Or green grey because pretty natural stone and concrete are green grey and it’s a versatile undertone to accommodate a wide range of colours. Plus some pretty pale stone look countertop options are green grey. Green beige is also versatile for a creamier look. And warmer neutrals are trending.
In my Create your Dream Home course, you will receive a guide with the best countertops and stone if you need a stone fireplace over millwork. Register here for my Fall dates.
The ultimate guideline for choosing finishes for your new build:
Once you commit to that countertop, tile, carpet or stone in a specific undertone, it’s simple:
Choose natural wood toned flooring and solid white or cream for MOST of your hard finishes. But when you do need to choose an item in a neutral, make sure it’s the same undertone you’re already working with in the space. Keep it pale and relatively solid not blotchy with multiple undertones.
As with any guideline, there will always be exceptions. For example, you might have green grey throughout the common areas but want a Carrara marble primary ensuite, so in that room you work with blue greys. Or, one of the best things about Carrara marble is that it works with countless colours (below):
Yes this is the only room in my previous home that had a finish with an undertone and it was this small scale carrara and black tile floor
Yes this is the only room in my previous home that had a finish with an undertone and it was this small scale carrara and black tile floorBut in general, the closer you can stick to this basic guideline, the more likely your new build will turn out harmonious, beautiful and timeless 💛
And doesn’t that sound perfect?
The best way to get a stress free, beautifully coordinated and timeless plan for your new build is with an eDesign consultation!
Get a comprehensive plan for your new build and skip the stress altogether with my New Build eDesign package here.
Here’s what clients are saying about the new build package:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My husband and I are in the process of building our forever home. Realizing that we had to make some very expensive choice (house color, exterior door, roof, windows, countertops, lighting, plumbing fixtures, etc.), and that this was not a dress rehearsal and we would have to live with our choices, I wanted Maria’s expert guidance to make the best choices for the exterior and interior look and feel of our home. Her recommendations and guidance included multiple options/choices and the narrative was very detailed and instructive. The presentation guided us through everything we would need to consider to achieve a beautiful, cohesive timeless design for the new build. I enjoyed the process of working with Maria and her team and would highly recommend Maria’s e-Design services. ~ Donna B.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I could not be happier. I am beyond thrilled about how beautiful the package came together for my new build. Everything I could have ever imagined was in the package- I just could not have done it by myself. I wanted a timeless transitional look for my waterfront beach home. I was worried it could look too beachy and not just a relaxed coastal look if I made the wrong choices for flooring lighting, colors, etc. I could ruin my new house. I am so happy, the best decision for this house was to choose to have Maria’s help. The choices are exactly what I was thinking in my head- but had no idea how to make it a reality. The builder will start in about 5 weeks and I feel extremely confident going in, knowing I can make my dream house beautiful and cohesive. Thank you so much Maria and team! ~ Ashley
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Ask Maria: Which Undertone Should I Choose if I’m Starting from Scratch?
