Getting neutrals right

A room in neutrals can be a beautiful, restful thing.  Done wrong and your left with an overly vanilla and drab eyesore.

Here are neutrals that have it right:

The black drapery hardware, iron canopy bed, and thick black frame all add just enough contrast to create some depth in the space.

Leopard or other animal patterns are a way to do neutral but still add a lot of interest.

Mixing textures is another surefire way to add dimension to a space that has a lot of color in the same value.

Another example of mixing texture - the sisal, metal console table, iron lamp, and wood chests.  If all of these pieces were in wood, you can imagine how the space might look more drab.

1-3. Country Living, 4-5. Interiors Porn, 6. Lonny