While all-neutral schemes were once the epitome of chic, we're now in a design world where color and character are reigning. From rich jewel tones to earthy hues, 2026 color trends might be filled with warmer, more vibrant hues, but interior design master Leanne Ford is sticking with the classics this year.
Known for her curated design style that embraces organic textures, warm neutral tones, and vintage accents, in an exclusive interview with Homes & Gardens, Leanne explains that there will always be room for fresh white paint (stay tuned for her favorite) paired with plenty of layered, lived-in details.
Yes, the 'one-note neutral room' is taking a back seat, says Leanne, but whether you want some respite from bolder color trends or you're looking to create a truly timeless scheme that won't date, her designer tips and tricks on decorating with neutrals will help you know exactly how to use them in 2026.
'I find myself pulled toward neutral and monochromatic spaces because they simplify a room and calm whatever is going on in this busy brain of mine. So that’s something I’ll always return to in my own homes and projects,' explains Leanne.
'Neutral paints feel warm when what you layer around them has depth and personality. I always think of white paint as the tool that gives me a blank canvas to start layering on top of. I actually share my toolkit for doing this in my new book FEEL FREE Home. I talk about the five elements I return to again and again when building a monochromatic space: texture, nature, vintage, art, and personality.'
Leanne's golden color rule for neutral schemes is layering. 'Texture might be a jute or high-pile rug, linen upholstery, or worn wood. These layers keep a neutral space from feeling flat and help it feel soft and lived in,' she explains. Next up is nature. 'Nature grounds everything through materials like a stone fireplace (see picture above as proof) or marble counters. I also love bringing in branches from outside and using them sculpturally in a space.'
The secret to any neutral scheme is decorating with vintage, using preloved trinkets or furniture to bring depth and story to an uncomplicated color palette. 'Vintage is essential,' says Leanne. 'There’s just something that time does to things. An art to it. Vintage pieces have this wise, knowing perspective that new things simply haven’t earned yet. They tell a story. They add dimension, depth, and soul.'
'Art makes a space feel personal. It brings energy into a neutral room and keeps it from feeling too quiet or controlled,' Leanne continues. 'Personality is the layer that keeps everything from feeling too serious or too styled. I always like a touch of something unexpected – a slightly funky lighting choice in a more traditional space, for example.'
While a neutral living room has a reputation for feeling cold, using Leanne's layering approach will ensure it feels just as inviting as any vibrant paint color. 'When those five elements are present, a neutral room never feels flat,' says Leanne. 'It feels calm, layered, and lived in. That’s what makes it warm.'
'I don’t think neutrals are going anywhere,' Leanne tells Homes & Gardens. 'Especially not if that’s what you love. Yes, the pendulum is always swinging in design, and right now there’s a lot of conversation around maximalism. But that doesn’t mean you should have a maximal, colorful house if that’s not what feels right to you.'
It's not just about choosing the best neutral paint color, it's about styling it to feel lived-in and characterful rather than flat or sterile. 'What is changing is how people are using neutrals,' she explains, 'We’re moving away from perfectly matched, one-note neutral rooms and toward spaces that feel more layered and personal. I’m seeing more texture, more vintage, more natural materials, and more contrast within neutral palettes themselves.'
A color that always works in a neutral scheme, white is the perfect base for richer details. Leanne's favorite white paint is Sherwin-Williams Shoji White, ideal for breathing light into a room without edging into the stark or severe. 'It’s a warmer, more natural-feeling white that still reads clean and bright, which I love. It has a soft ceramic quality to it,' she adds. 'Almost like plaster or clay – so it adds depth instead of feeling flat on the wall.'
'It also has a gentle pink undertone that I find very flattering in a space and to the people in it,' she adds. 'It warms everything up just enough and makes rooms feel calm, lived-in, and welcoming without ever feeling heavy. It’s one of those whites that shifts beautifully with the light throughout the day.'
Leanne Ford-Inspired Neutral Shopping Picks
Available for pre-order now, Leanne's latest book, 'Feel Free Home: The Art of Freethinking Design', is filled with translatable knowledge for everyday homes – including how to decorate with neutral tones.
For a truly Leanne-inspired space, try this European linen duvet cover set. Nothing beats linen bedding, and this timeless sand-colored style couldn't be easier to style.
For a scheme in need of some (all-important) texture, rattan is perfect. This scalloped vase will bring contrast and charm to any surface, be it a coffee table or bookshelf.
Organic materials like marble will bring a curated yet lived-in feel to any scheme. This quaint catchall will instantly elevate an entryway console or a nightstand.
A lover of vintage furniture, no Leanne-inspired scheme would be complete without a mid-century piece, like this angular folding chair made from rich brown leather.
Create a warm pocket of light in any room with the Asano paper moon table lamp. Prop it on a stack of books for a pared-back look inspired by Leanne's effortless designs.
Neutrals aren't leaving us this year, but Leanne says they're being reimagined in a more 2026-appropriate way. Layers of lived-in details, textures, and plenty of personality will ensure neutral schemes live beyond the present – and who better to trust that the neutral connoisseur herself?
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