Shown very seldomly, neutrals show up primarily within A Closing Day, or when to provide the sense of safety and calm normalcy.
Providing a safe and literally neutral message, Wendy and Jack are shown wearing neutral colors as they tour The Overlook but moving to blues and red respectively as the film goes on (link key examples).
Kubrick uses a repetition of pattern with neutral to fluorescent patterns to show an escalation of emotions: in The Colorado Lounge, the scene opens showing a brown and tan rug and as the camera pans from right to left, ends on the exact same pattern rug in a vibrant orange and red (neutral rug: No.11, orange rug: No.11
The same effect is applied within The West Wing Living Quarters (No.13) has the same pattern as Room 237’s carpet, but done in a pale neutral tan and beige in contrast to Room 237’s vibrant green and purple (No.48).
Within furnishings, chairs are shown in both neutrals and pattered in both vibrant orange and brown.
Interview:
The two women employees we see are wearing neutral pieces as their uniform that reflects Wendy’s outfit during Closing Day, No.3
Closing Day:
In this image · No.3