We’re considering a move away from the soft, beachy whole-house palette we’ve used so far and toward something moodier, more sophisticated, and a little riskier in the new house. Fingers crossed it works—we’re the first to admit we sometimes repaint after living with a color for a while. If it doesn’t feel right, we’ll coat it again until it does, and we’ll share the outtakes with you along the way. For now, this is the direction we’re leaning:
We haven’t pulled paint swatches yet, but when we do we’ll share the exact colors. Right now we’re drawn to richer, jewel-leaning tones: eggplant, soft lavender-pink, slate blue, light gray, avocado green, saturated teal, muddy blue-gray, navy, emerald, artichoke green, chocolate brown, and light khaki. We won’t use all of them on walls—some will appear in curtains, rugs, painted or upholstered furniture, artwork, and accessories. These are the stronger hues we plan to deploy more generously throughout the house, balanced with accent colors across a wider range of tones so the overall look feels cohesive without becoming repetitive.
The overall feel will likely remain semi-airy and natural—after all, that’s what we love—but we want to add more contrast, deeper saturation, and extra layers of texture. New furniture pieces, a few rugs, bolder artwork, and a variety of fabrics will bring more life and personality to the rooms than our current soft, subdued palette. We’re picturing printed, saturated floor-length drapes instead of the breezy white panels we typically use, a plush upholstered headboard in the master, and possibly wallpaper in a few thoughtful spots. A darker sectional sounds appealing as a departure from the light slipcovered sofas you usually see in our home; we can sell the old sofas and put those funds toward the new sectional. It’s been a dream of mine to have a living room big enough for a sectional where our whole family can gather.
We’re also considering repainting some of our white pedestal tables and our double desk in smokier, more dramatic shades. We’ve put together a few mood boards to visualize the new house’s aesthetic and will update them as decisions firm up. We’re also entertaining a different bed design and would love to build a custom frame and DIY headboard at some point—who knows where we’ll end up.
What color schemes are on your radar right now? Are you shifting away from light tans and mochas toward soft grays, artichoke greens, slate blues, and deeper gray-greens? Or are you moving in the opposite direction, embracing breezy, light hues instead of the moodier, high-contrast palette we’re describing? Let’s talk about color—what a fun topic. I’m endlessly fascinated by it. Well, almost endlessly—my baby girl still tops the list. I could ramble about her for hours, but I’ll save those stories for my weekly call with my mom.