How to Decorate With Khaki

Common Ground

• Using khaki throughout your home for the walls, flooring or both creates a cohesive look. In a home with an open floor plan, it even makes the space look larger because the eye flows from room to room without stopping. While the khaki ensures continuity, give each room its own distinct look by using different accent colors in each. It’s also fine to vary the finishes or coverings on the khaki expanses. With flooring, for example, you can use khaki-colored tile in the kitchen and khaki carpeting or rugs for the living spaces. On the walls, you might mix khaki-colored paint, woven grass cloth, and tone-on-tone damask wallpaper.

Neutral Territory

• Medium-colored khaki makes a good base for a neutral color scheme. Mix it with both lighter and darker neutrals, but not in equal amounts. Instead, follow the 60:30:10 ratio of color proportion, using khaki as either the 60 or 30 percent. Opt for a mix of furniture finishes -- such as stained, painted, lacquered and metal pieces -- instead of using a matching set. Zebrawood and burled pieces, for example, look striking because each features a variety of wood tones. Unusual metal finishes such as rose gold, unlacquered brass and gun metal enliven a neutral space. Add texture for visual interest -- perhaps shag rugs, bamboo matchstick shades and nubby linen-covered lampshades. Textured fabric options include chenille, tweed, velvet and slubbed silk.

Buffer Zone

• No matter how bold your decorating taste, the eye must have a place to rest. Without some sort of visual buffer, bright colors and busy patterns create a circus tent effect. The eye never stops moving and doesn’t note the individual elements. Make your bold interior tasteful instead of tacky by buffering the brights with khaki -- and use it on a large surface. Khaki is strong enough to use with intense color and pattern, but subdued enough that it doesn’t compete. If you have a zebra rug, lime-green walls and trellis-patterned curtains, opt for a solid, khaki-colored sofa. If you have chinoiserie wallpaper, a striped sofa and red chairs, skip the oriental rug in favor of bound seagrass.

Base of Operations

• Museums and galleries frequently display hanging artwork against white or pale gray walls. Though stark, the neutral base keeps the focus on the exhibits. The same technique works for displaying artwork at home. If you’re an art collector who prefers a cozier space, warm up the walls with khaki. Opt for flat or eggshell paint for the walls. Eggshell is dressier, but flat paint helps hide surface flaws. Paint the woodwork with high-gloss paint no more than three shades lighter than the wall color. You’re not limited to khaki upholstery, but do stick with solid colors. Reserve pattern for small accents, such as throw pillows and small, wood-framed chairs. For hard-surface furniture, choose a mix of stained, painted and metal pieces, but avoid mural-like finishes that draw the eye.