1. About.com
  2. Computing & Technology
  3. Desktop Publishing

Discuss in my forum

Neutral Colors

The Colors of Unity

By , About.com Guide

Neutral Colors

Neutral colors are warm and cool shades of black, gray, brown, beige, and white. © J. Bear

| Cool, Calming Colors | Warm, Exciting Colors | Mixed Cool/Warm Colors
The neutral colors of black, white, silver, gray, and brown make good backgrounds, serve to unify diverse color palettes, and also often stand alone as the only or primary focus of a design. Neutral colors can be cool or warm but are more subtle than blues and reds.

Neutral colors help to put the focus on other colors or serve to tone down colors that might otherwise be overpowering on their own. To some extent blacks, browns, tans, golds, and beige colors are considered warm. While white, ivory, silver, and gray are somewhat cooler colors. Yet these warm and cool attributes are flexible and more subtle than that of reds or blues.

The profiles for each of these neutral colors include descriptions of their nature, cultural color meanings, and how to use each color in design work.

What's Your Favorite Color?

See how many others share your color preference.
Red | Green | Gold | Turquoise | Blue | Purple | Pink | Black | Orange | Yellow
View Results for Your Favorite Color Poll

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved. 

A part of The New York Times Company.