Details make the difference. With the right details, neutral becomes remarkable through surprising blends of texture and fabrics.

Putting together a neutral room is not hard. It’s the details that give the room or setting the pop it needs. Designer Barry Dixon shares some of his expert ideas.

When everything is neutral, it’s very important; as a matter of fact it’s absolutely mandatory that there’s an interesting texture play. Because when the play and the contrast is not about color, there has to be something there that lends interest and variation and derogation to the setting that we’re speaking of.

The smooth, buttery, dull matte finish leathers (which we love and we’re using a lot for our private clients as well) contrasts beautifully with nutty Belgian linens, pre-washed linens that have not a crisp, thin linen feel but a thick, sort of slouchy slightly wrinkled possibly since it has a linen finish to them.

The other things are textures that evoke something from the natural world. There’s sort of a bark-like texture to this chenille that we’re seeing over here. There is a woven, sort of basket weave to several of the neutrals that we’re seeing played here. There’s a ‘suedeness’ to those others. I mean the texture has to come from some place and that’s what we do it with.

And still you’re seeing mohairs and velvets and things like this; not shiny, matte versions of those. And not with maybe silk or a poly version of that has a bit of sheen to it, but more cotton and linen. It’s simple and basic, but it’s a bit more loose and understated I think. We’ll play the game with those fibers.

BarryDixon.com