Whether you want to create a serene, minimalist environment, or make room for pops of color throughout your space, consider a gray and white color palette in your living room. A gray and white aesthetic may seem simple enough, but to keep things balanced in a neutral space takes some intentionality.

Want to try out a gray and white scheme in your living room? We've got you covered.

01 Stick With the Same Fabrics

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As you create your neutral haven, balance is key. To achieve a look that feels consistent, Cutler recommends choosing similar fabrics throughout your space. "Trying to match a white with a white in the same room is tough, as different fabrics reflect light differently," he says. Avoid mixing warms and cools by incorporating the same types of fabric throughout your space.

02 Vary Shades of Gray and White

Gray and white can feel serene, but if you're not intentional, your room could be snooze-inducing. While choosing a consistent color temperature is important, make sure to vary the shades of gray and white you use to keep things interesting while maintaining balance, suggests Seattle-based interior designer Rebecca Rowland of Rebecca Rowland Interiors.

03 Lean on White or Gray for Larger Pieces

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When you're designing a room, use neutrals like grays and whites for the larger pieces. "They form the perfect canvas for mixing smaller elements that introduce color," says New York and New Orleans-based interior designer Elle Jupiter. "Also, it’s much easier to exchange smaller pieces than larger pieces when making seasonal changes."

04 Add Another Neutral

It may seem counterintuitive, but adding another neutral to the mix can make your gray and white sing. "I’m a fan of adding in a very pale sand or camel color in a very small dose, with an accent chair, throw blanket, or pillow," says Billy Ceglia, an interior designer with Billy Ceglia Design in Connecticut.

05 Choose Either Gray or White as an Accent

One clever way to keep your space balanced is to go off-balance, says Ceglia. If your heart's set on gray and white, lean one way or the other, with one as the star and the other as the accent. "This will help achieve a crisp, tailored look, and avoid the space becoming too monotonous," he says. "The accent color will help lead one’s eye around the space to highlight art and architecture."

06 Incorporate Wood Furniture

Even warmer shades of gray and white can quickly feel sterile, so Ceglia recommends doing your best to incorporate more warmth and coziness into your living room by choosing pieces of wood furniture. Whether you choose an oak coffee table or a walnut chair, shades of brown are sure to enhance your gray and white scheme.

07 Play With Texture

In an otherwise neutral and minimal space, texture is an easy but effective way to add interest without overwhelm. Interior designer Esther Dormer of Dormer Design suggests incorporating wool, leather, wood, and metal whenever you can to elevate the neutral look. Natural-woven materials, like rattan or wicker, are also a great way to add a touch of softness to your gray and white room.

08 Embrace Greenery

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Another way to make a neutral space feel more lively: incorporate greenery. If you don't have a green thumb, a faux plant or a bouquet of fresh flowers on the coffee table can have the same, enlivening effect on your green and white room. "When you layer different physical textures into your space, you create a cozy approachable atmosphere that will complement and balance your freshly painted walls," says interior designer Tara Miller of The Heartland Interior Design.

09 Mix Patterns

Just like mixing textures to ad some oomph to a neutral room, so can mixing up patterns — and McClure says gray and white are the perfect backdrop for integrating stripes, dots, and other fun designs into your room. Throw pillows in varying patterns are a great way to add depth to your space without losing that sense of balance you're looking for.

10 Paint Your Crown Molding

Do you have crown molding in your living room? Depending on the look you're going for, interior designer Sara Mosele of Sara Mosele Interiors in New York says you can integrate it into your gray and white palette. If you paint your walls gray, consider leaving your crown molding white to keep things balanced. If you'd rather the room feel more contemporary, paint the molding and walls either all gray or all white.