Neutral Color Bedding Ideas

Grays

• Deep charcoal grays can seem very sophisticated, especially in a room with a lot of natural daylight. In darker rooms, where the daylight is less available, charcoal grays can become too dark and drab, and may even be mistaken for black. Lighter grays have a sanitary quality that can seem somewhat drab, but when lighter grays and darker grays are combined, the less interesting lighter grays take on a complexity that makes them visually pleasing. For a smaller room that sees less light, use a light gray comforter and darker gray sheets. Turn down the comforter to reveal the stripe of dark gray at the top. Top the bed with a variety of pillows in different tones of gray.

Creams and Whites

• Creams usually seem bland on their own -- just like vanilla ice cream -- and whites can make a room seem bright and sterile. However, when placed together, the subtle differences between these two colors can create an attractive drama, understated and sophisticated. Combine a white comforter with cream colored sheets, cream and white colored pillows and a cream colored afghan, folded neatly at the foot of the bed.

Browns

• Browns are best used in rooms that have been decorated with a lot of earthy tones, even if the decorating scheme adheres to no specific color plan. On the bed, combine light browns and dark browns, or light browns with lighter browns. Consider placing a few green pillows on the bed or near the foot of the bed to reinforce the earthy color scheme.

Warm and Cool Tones

• Neutrals can be infused with different tones so they hint at -- but don't commit to -- specific colors. For example, a gray can have a cool tone, making it a gray-blue, or it can have a warm tone, making it a gray-red. You can choose any gray or brown that's been infused with warm or cool tones to give the neutral theme more visual appeal without committing to a specific color.