We’re considering a change from the soft, subtle, beach-inspired color palette that defines our current home to something moodier, bolder, and more sophisticated for the new house. It feels risky in the best way—an opportunity to layer richer tones, deeper contrasts, and more varied textures. Of course, we’re the kind of people who happily repaint if something doesn’t feel right after living with it for a while, and we’ll share the trials and outtakes along the way.
At this stage we haven’t ordered any paint swatches yet, but we’re drawn to a palette that includes 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 don’t plan to use every color on the walls; many of these tones will appear in curtains, rugs, painted and upholstered furniture, artwork, and accessories. The goal is to use the richer hues as anchor colors while adding occasional accent tones so the overall look feels cohesive without becoming repetitive.
Our vision is still rooted in an airy, natural aesthetic—that’s our foundation—but we want to introduce stronger contrast, more saturated color, and extra layers of texture. New furnishings, a few fresh rugs, more colorful art, and abundant fabrics will help build depth and personality. For window treatments, we’re imagining a move from breezy white panels to printed or richly saturated floor-length drapes in many rooms. In the master bedroom we’d love a plush upholstered headboard, and we’re considering wallpaper in a few targeted spots to create focal points.
Another idea is to swap out our light slipcovered sofas for a darker sectional. We’ve always wanted a living room big enough for a sectional where everyone can gather comfortably, so selling our current pieces could fund that upgrade. Changing the upholstery tone would instantly shift the mood of the room and make the layered colors and textures read differently.
We’re also thinking about repainting some of our white pedestal tables and a double desk in deeper, smokier shades to increase visual weight in certain corners of the house. Those smaller furniture updates can have an outsized impact and help tie the new palette together. We’ve created a few mood boards to explore these ideas visually and to help guide future paint and fabric selections. We’ll share actual paint names and swatches once we’ve tested them in the rooms.
Beyond the big-picture changes, we’re excited about the DIY possibilities—building a bed frame and crafting a headboard are on the list. Mixing custom projects with carefully chosen pieces will keep the style personal and layered rather than overly curated.
We’d love to hear what color schemes are inspiring you these days. Are you shifting away from light tans and mochas toward cooler soft grays, slate blues, or deeper gray-greens like artichoke? Or are you moving in the opposite direction, favoring breezy, light hues over smokier, high-contrast looks? Color is one of the most enjoyable aspects of interior design: it defines mood, creates cohesion, and lets each room tell its own story while fitting into a larger whole.
For us, the thrill is in experimenting—trying combinations, stepping back to evaluate, and adjusting until the balance feels right. We know the finished house may take a few iterations to reach its ideal expression, and that’s part of the fun. As always, we’ll share the progress, the successes, and the repainting missteps so you can see how the palette evolves into a warm, layered, and slightly more dramatic home.