How to Work with Neutrals and Undertones

Neutrals are classic, safe and versatile, making them the ideal color choice for the interior and exterior of your home. The wonderful thing about neutrals is how they complement every style. The challenge is they all have a subtle hint of color called an undertone which is not always apparent. In order to prevent pairing colors that clash, get to know the undertone. Learn how to work with neutrals and undertones in this video by Ace Hardware:

Clark+Kensington Classic Neutrals take the guesswork out of selecting the right colors every time. They are organized into warm and cool colors, with the undertone of each neutral called out on the back of every color chip. Warm neutrals have violet, red, orange and yellow undertones, while cool neutrals have yellow-green, blue, blue-green and purple undertones.

Use the undertone on the back of the color chip to help guide you in selecting complementary colors for walls, trim or decor. If you select a neutral with a golden undertone for your trim, use a soft golden yellow wall color to create a warm and welcoming effect.

When your color scheme is already determined, you’re looking for a wall color to tie it all together. Select a neutral with one of the hues in your color scheme called out as the undertone. This fail-safe tip will help you create the perfect backdrop to balance colors in the room.