Perusing the book Color at Home: Creating Style with Paint has helped me understand why neutral colors present a natural, Zen-like calm. They seem to reflect back the colors around them. They seem to enhance bold contrasts, the yin and yang of the environment. Here is more inspiration from this lovely book:

What conjures up neutral colors?
Toes snuggling in hot sand.
The clean lines of an artist’s sketch.
The crackling of birch bark.
The taste of bittersweet chocolate.

A true artist sees color where others see neutrals. Put a variety of neutrals together and suddenly pinks, greens, oranges, and golds emerge as anything but bland and uninspired. In fact, there is a subtle richness and texture to a well-designed neutral palette.

Colors from ivory and beige, through khaki and mushroom, to sepia and espresso can be used to wonderful effect.

Don’t confuse ivory, bone, or vanilla for simple white, as these colors–while basic–bring warmth and softness to any room or exterior. Middle shades of cocoa, suede, and taupe are a far cry from a “sea of beige.” And deep shades of coffee bean and fudge transform any den or living room into a stylishly dramatic space.

For those who find bright, jarring colors difficult to live with, neutrals offer a comfortable alternative. Try using bright orange accessories and flowers to add the perfect kick to a rich brown living room or a delightful red door on a grey and black house. In short, think fashion; think cashmere, mink or pearl. All neutral. All rich. All timeless.

Adapted from Color at Home: Creating Style With Paint, by Meg and Steven Roberts (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2008).