Beauti-Tone Uncovers the Undertones to Reveal 14 Great Neutrals
Choosing beautiful neutrals that will always take your side

When it comes to paint colour, a great neutral is like amovie'smusical score- you don't necessarily realize it's there, but it heightens the experience of whatever it is you are seeing. Home Hardware Stores Limited, through its Beauti-Tone Paint Division, is paying tribute to the power of neutrals with 14 beautiful shades that will make your décor sing.

"A great neutral is your BFF for home décor," says Bev Bell, Creative Director, Beauti-Tone Paint and Home Products Division, Home Hardware Stores Limited. "Neutrals can inspire looks that are luxe and sophisticated or casual and cozy, yet always look great."

A neutral colour scheme can paint a harmonious atmosphere in your home and perhaps, even, make it appear more spacious."The challenge in choosing that perfect neutral, though, is that they have complex personalities," notes Bell. Selecting the correct neutral colour family is important. But, understanding undertones is what makes a colour choice perfect. If the undertones are in conflict, the colours in the room will appear to clash, even if they are in the same colour group.

Undercover Undertones
Almost all colours, other than those that are pure, have an undertone. Olive green, for instance, is green with a yellow undertone. What makes turquoise a beautiful shade of blue is its green undertone. But those are easy. Neutrals, on the other hand, like to disguise their undertones.A taupe can go pink or purple, but you may not notice it until it's on your walls. A grey can be warm, cool, blue, green, or red influenced. Browns that look similar on the surface can have yellow, red or green undertones.Beige can tend towards yellow, green, pink and occasionally orange undertones.

So, how can you make sure you end choosing the right shade?Once you have selected the colour family you want, the secret to choosing the perfect neutral shade is to compare it, side-by-side to another neutral in the same colour family. This helps you to see the subtle undertones which you may not have noticed in a single colour swatch.For whites, the best way to bring out a near invisible undertone is to compare the paint chip to the whitest white. Rooms that are ‘white on white' really work if the whites have similar undertones. You will likely be disappointed if you combine warm whites that have a hint of a yellow undertone, with cool whites that have a hint of blue in the same space.

"One last note on undertones is that they allow you to have it all," comments Bell. When decorating a room that feels cold and uninviting, you would normally balance it by using colours from the warm side of the spectrum. "But what if you love cool colours because they make you feel relaxed?" she says. The easy solution is to choose a green with yellow undertones or a blue with red undertones and your cool hues have warming characteristics. On the flip side, cool down hot colours by adding cool undertones. "Just don't try this with orange. That's the one colour that will always fight back with its warm and outgoing personality," Bell notes.

Of course, the very best way to know a neutral's undertone is to have someone figure it out for you! Here are 14 beautiful Beauti-Tone neutrals for your home, including their undertones- music to your ears:

Whites

	Here Comes the Bride WB001-1 As a bride on her wedding day, this beautiful white is breathtaking in any room you choose. Perfect for trim or a whole room; this white will be a perfect marriage with any colour.Undertone: This colour does have a touch of warm comfort value thanks to a whisper of yellow.
	Best In Snow SC062 A warm white, perfect where sunshine washes the space. This is an excellent choice for trim and ceiling when using colours from the warm side of the spectrum. Undertone: yellow
	Softly Spoken WB008-8 White has never been so cool. Excellent with hues from the cool side of the spectrum. Undertone: grey

Black

Nickel Black SC075 An updated classic, softened to temper the harsh reality of pure, intense black. Undertone: This is a pure black softened by grey.

Greys

	Thunder Grey SC072 Stately. A saturated true grey that commands respect. A great shade for people who love grey but don't like the cool feeling often associated. Undertone: Warm, leaning toward red
	Either Oar SS87-0 A very cool shade this is a mid-tone grey. Undertone: blue
	Fireplace Mantel D29-3-0569 A beautiful warm stone grey reminiscent of grand mantel on a stately fireplace. Undertone: green

Taupes

	Natural Beauti SC081: The perfect tried and true taupe, perfectly balanced between grey and brown. This is a Beauti-Tone all-star - in the top ten colours most chosen. Undertone: this is a pure colour
	Set the Mood SC076: A classy colour that looks so great you might be tempted to paint your whole home with it. Undertone: yellow

Browns

	Noguhi Walnut VF109-3 A deep, rich, and chocked full of espresso flavour. This designer hue is perfect for stylish accents and upcycled furniture.
	Cantera D-14-5-0343-0 A mid-tone beige with warm undertones, this is a great shade to warm up rooms that face north or tend to be a bit on the chilly side. Undertone: green
	Oak Tone D24-5-0217-0 The antidote for builder's beige. A light, well balanced beige that you could live with forever. Undertone: green

None of the Above
Neutrals are not necessarily tints, tones or shades of black, white or brown. Nature-inspired hues can also offer the most beautiful and peaceful design benefits.

	Field of Dreams SC080: A delicate shade of sunlight that basks the walls in optimism. We don't want to promise beautiful dreams but just maybe...Undertone: green
	Mohalla D15-4-0351-4 A subtle moss green. Now and Zen, this is on trend stylish. Undertone: grey