Read between the lines: Why blended colours are the new neutral

Home Editor Eve Kelliher looks at how colour pros are mixing up new neutrals 

Leighton wallpaper, Bobbi Beck, in a broken-plan living space.

SAY the words The Inbetweeners, and some of us will forever think of four lads from the E4 TV series, cruising along, navigating their awkward adolescence — we’ll maybe try to avoid stalling at any bus stops as we reverse down memory lane.

But swerve back into the living room from the small screen — and today in-betweeners, in interior design terms, are the “almost colours”. And far from languishing on the sidelines, they’re the cool kids on the block, according to design pros.

As interior design continues to favour tone, texture, and atmosphere over statement brights, in-between colours offer a more refined way to express character in the home. “In-between colours offer the best of both worlds. They’re soft enough to feel subtle, but still bring a unique twist to a space. These shades have depth, adaptability, and a natural harmony that flat, primary colours often can’t achieve,” says interior designer James Mellan-Matulewicz.

Bobbi Beck’s Marseille wallpaper in a bedroom.

OK, so some of us may be familiar with greige, but what about blurple and yorange? “Interior colour choices are getting nuanced as blends like blurple (blue and purple), yorange (yellow and orange), and greige (grey and beige) are fast becoming the go-to choices for creating sophisticated, layered interiors with personality,” adds James.

So why do they work so effortlessly when we add them to nooks at home? “Unlike traditional bold shades, colours like blurple and yorange are beautifully ambiguous,” says James, who is the creative director at Bobbi Beck. Not only that, but to borrow from haircolourists’ lexicon, here’s the moneypiece — in-between colours shift subtly with natural light, adding mood and movement to your walls throughout the day.

You’ll know that delightful sense of fluidity if you’ve ever enjoyed staring through a kaleidoscope toy or even a window at evolving skies or a tree’s seasonal garb,

Greige, long loved for its versatility, continues to dominate in minimalist and layered interiors alike, pairing easily with stone, wood, and textured finishes, according to James, who likes to use the tone at Bobbi Beck, his design studio specialising in sustainably-made luxury wallpapers, designed and produced in-house using FSC-certified paper and toxic-free inks in a studio run on 100% renewable energy.

These colours also offer bang for your buck in a therapeutic sense — or, emotional depth, if you like. “Blurple feels rich and cocooning, perfect for reading nooks or bedrooms, while yorange can bring warmth and playful vibrancy to kitchens and hallways,” says James.

“Greige, meanwhile, is a grounding neutral that works in virtually any room or open-plan space.”

How to use the key shades

Where and how to use these portals of the palette? Here’s James’s guide:

• Blurple: Ideal for feature walls or soft furnishings, blurple adds an unexpected richness that feels both moody and modern. Pair it with off-whites, blush pinks or velvet.
• Yorange: A joyful pop in otherwise muted spaces. Use it in soft doses through wallpaper, art, or ceramics to bring life into neutral schemes.
• Greige: The ultimate balancing act, equally at home in minimalist, rustic, or coastal interiors. Use as a base wall colour or across textured wall coverings to create warmth.

See Bobbibeck.com