How to Choose the Right Colour for Every Room in Your Home

Choosing paint colours can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. The key to creating a space that looks beautiful and feels just right is to start with one simple question: How do you want the space to feel?

This emotional starting point is more telling than you think. Whether you're craving calm, creativity, energy, or warmth, colour plays a powerful role in shaping the atmosphere of a room. For example:

• Soft neutrals and cool tones create a calming, restful vibe—ideal for bedrooms or quiet reading nooks.

• Warm tones like terracotta or buttery beige evoke comfort and coziness—perfect for living rooms or dining areas.

• Bold hues like navy, forest green, or charcoal can add drama, focus, or intimacy—great for home offices or powder rooms.

Source: SheerLuxe

Lighting Changes Everything
Once you've defined how you want the space to feel, the next step is understanding how lighting will affect your colour choice. Natural light shifts throughout the day, while artificial lighting (especially the difference between white/blue vs. warm/yellow bulbs) can dramatically change how a paint colour reads.

A crisp white might feel clean and airy in daylight, but turn stark and cold under cool-toned artificial light. Meanwhile, a soft grey might pick up purple or blue undertones you didn’t expect, depending on the time of day.

Source: DIYBUNKER

The Power of Undertones and Hues
Undertones are subtle, but they make or break a room. Beige with a pink undertone will feel completely different than a beige with a golden undertone. The same goes for greys, whites, or even bold hues—each colour family has variations that can steer the mood of the room in a different direction.

Don’t skip this part: always test 3-4 sample colours that you’re drawn to, and paint small patches on the wall. Live with them for a few days and observe how they shift with the light from morning to evening. What feels bright and clean at noon might feel shadowy and cool by dinnertime.

Swatch Cards vs. Reality
Swatch cards are a great starting point, but the way a colour appears on a 2-inch sample is completely different from how it will feel when it's taking up an entire wall. Once painted on the wall, you'll get a much better sense of scale, depth, and undertone.

Source: Better Home & Garden

Bonus Tips for Choosing the Right Colour:

• Use large-format peel-and-stick samples if available—they’re more accurate and easier to move around.

• Hold your colour samples next to key elements like flooring, cabinetry, and countertops.

• Don’t forget the ceiling and trim—choosing complementary tones here can elevate your entire scheme.

• When in doubt, go a shade lighter than you think you need. Colour intensifies once it covers a full room.

Choosing the right paint colour is about more than just picking what looks good in the store. It’s about understanding how colour interacts with light, mood, and materials. By taking the time to sample and observe, you'll end up with a home that not only looks stunning, but feels just right.

Designing with Intention: 2025 Interior Design Trends That Inspire

Because your home should feel like you—not just look good.

Design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about how your home makes you feel. And in 2025, we’re seeing a beautiful shift away from trend-chasing toward more personal, intuitive, and soulful interiors.

Whether you’re considering a major renovation or simply refreshing a corner of your home, this year’s trends are all about slowing down, curating with intention, and creating spaces that nourish your life.

Earthy Tones + Layered Neutrals: Colour That Grounds You

In 2025, colour is being used more intentionally. We’re seeing warm clay, muddy olive, dusty lavender, and sun-washed ochres take over in favour of cool greys and stark whites.

Why it matters: These tones echo the natural world—helping you feel rooted, relaxed, and more connected to your space.

Unexpected ways to incorporate it:

• Paint your ceiling in a muted, complementary neutral—it creates a cocooning effect, especially in bedrooms.

• Layer tones instead of choosing a single ‘accent’—for example, sand-coloured walls, a camel-coloured sofa, terracotta floor pots, and caramel-toned drapes.

• Introduce colour through textured materials: suede, velvet, ceramic, and matte limewash—rather than shiny painted surfaces.

Design Tip: When working with earthy tones, depth matters more than brightness. Stick to muddy or chalky finishes for a more sophisticated, calming vibe.

Source: Pinterest

Texture Is the New Pattern: Designing for the Senses

Texture tells a story where pattern once did. Instead of busy prints, we're seeing spaces come alive through touch: fluted wood, limewashed walls, boucle upholstery, cane panels, handmade tile, and aged metals.

Why it matters: Texture invites you to slow down. It makes a room feel tactile, soulful, and intentionally layered—even when the palette is neutral.

Unexpected ways to incorporate it:

• Use ribbed or grooved wall panels in a powder room or hallway—they elevate with minimal effort.

• Consider a handmade, imperfect tile for a kitchen backsplash—it adds movement without relying on colour.

• Layer three types of textiles in one room: think wool, linen, and leather. It adds warmth without visual clutter.

Design Tip: Treat ceilings and lighting as texture opportunities too. A plaster-finished ceiling or a woven pendant can dramatically shift the mood of a space.

Source: Happy Wall

Design with Depth: Blending Past and Present

We’re embracing a more collected, meaningful aesthetic this year. Homes are moving away from matchy sets and toward curated layers that tell your story. Think vintage lighting with modern cabinetry. An heirloom dresser with a fresh coat of paint. A weathered stone table with clean-lined seating.

Why it matters: Mixing eras and materials brings soul into a space. It helps your home feel lived-in and loved—not staged or showroom-perfect.

Unexpected ways to incorporate it:

• Repurpose old items in new ways: a vintage sewing table as a vanity, or an antique frame turned into a bulletin board.

• Blend finishes: warm brass with matte black, polished nickel with aged copper. Don’t over-coordinate.

• Create a gallery wall with a mix of thrifted frames, personal photos, and original art—it doesn’t need to be symmetrical, just intentional.

Design Tip: Choose one piece in each room with patina or a story—it adds quiet drama and character that trends can’t replicate.

Source: Places in the Home

Curves That Comfort: The Rise of Gentle Geometry

Soft, sculptural forms are showing up in everything from furniture to architecture: arched doorways, waterfall edges, scalloped details, and even organically shaped rugs.

Why it matters: Curves subconsciously tell our nervous system we’re safe. They're reminiscent of nature—stones smoothed by water, winding forest paths, the arc of a branch.

Unexpected ways to incorporate it:

• Swap traditional bookshelves for ones with rounded corners or asymmetrical shelving.

• Reframe an opening with an arch or soft curve (painted or drywalled).

• Opt for a wavy headboard or a mirror with a rippled edge—it softens the entire space, especially in rooms with sharp angles or boxy architecture.

Design Tip: Pair curves with structured materials (like steel or natural stone) for balance. Think: a boucle chair next to a raw travertine side table.

Source: Pinterest

Your Home = Your Retreat: Wellness-Centred Interiors

This year, design isn’t just about the ‘look’—it’s about how a room supports you. From micro-moments of peace to larger lifestyle shifts, wellness is at the forefront of 2025 interiors.

Why it matters: Your home should regulate your nervous system. It should offer pause, presence, and restoration. Not just more to maintain.

Unexpected ways to incorporate it:

• Add dimmable task lighting and warm bulbs to create mood flexibility (and help with melatonin production at night).

• Incorporate scent layering: use essential oils, incense, or candles in different zones. Lavender and cedarwood in bedrooms; citrus and rosemary in kitchens.

• Use sound intentionally: small indoor fountains or ambient playlists can shift how a room feels emotionally.

Design Tip: Don’t underestimate the power of micro-zones—a single chair with a throw in a quiet corner, a grounding mat near a window, a basket of tactile objects or journals. Wellness isn’t a spa—it’s a lifestyle, integrated.

Source: Pinterest

So… What’s Fading in 2025?

Trends come and go—but here’s what’s being left behind this year:

• All-white kitchens & stark minimalism: Warmth and lived-in luxury are in.

• Mass-produced fast furniture: Clients want quality, story, and longevity.

• Overly maximalist, chaotic prints: Texture and tone are leading the charge instead.

• The “Pinterest copy + paste” look: Individuality is the new luxury.

Design with Intention, Not Imitation

This year, the most beautiful homes are the ones that reflect who you are. Not just who you're trying to impress. So here’s your design invitation for 2025:

• Start with how you want to feel, not just how you want the room to look.

• Don’t be afraid to mix old and new, imperfect and polished.

• Choose fewer, better pieces that speak to you—let them tell a story.

• Prioritize comfort. Joy. Calm. Connection. Then layer in style.

Final Thoughts: The Real Trend Is You

If there’s one design truth this year, it’s this: your home should be a reflection of the life you’re building—not just the mood board you pinned.

So choose what feels good. Honour what matters. Create with care.

Because when your home holds space for you, everything else—from your routines to your relationships—feels a little more supported.

Claim Your Corner: Creating a Space That’s Just for You

….because you deserve it! As moms, we’re wired to put others first. From managing school drop-offs and grocery runs to working full-time jobs and juggling endless responsibilities at home—it’s easy to lose ourselves in the hustle. But here’s a truth we don’t hear often enough: you can’t keep pouring from an empty cup.

This Mother’s Day, I want to gently challenge that narrative. What if you gave yourself permission to carve out a little space—just for you? Not for laundry. Not for the family. Not for functionality. Simply a corner, a nook, or a moment that’s completely yours. Not because it’s selfish—but because it’s necessary.

Why You Deserve a Space That’s Yours

Creating a personal space in your home isn’t about extravagance. It’s about honouring your identity outside of motherhood and responsibilities. It’s about showing up for yourself the way you show up for everyone else.

When you have even a small place that brings you peace, it supports your mental clarity, calms your nervous system, and gives you space to breathe. And from that grounded place, you can actually show up better for the people you love.

Source: Wildflower Home

No Extra Room? No Problem.

Let’s be real—most of us don’t have the luxury of a spare room waiting to be transformed. But that doesn’t mean you can’t claim your corner. It might look like:

• A cozy reading chair in your bedroom with a small side table for your tea and current read

• A quiet nook near a window filled with your favourite plants and soft lighting

• A tucked-away desk for journaling, crafting, or catching your breath between meetings

• A bath tray and candle setup that transforms your bathroom into a spa—even for just 20 minutes

The point isn’t square footage—it’s intention. When you make space for yourself in your own home, you’re declaring that your needs matter too.

Source: Pinterest

Inspiration to Spark Your Own "Just for Me" Space

Everyone’s version of “retreat” looks different—and that’s the beauty of it. Here are a few ideas to help you dream something up:

• The Green Corner: A sunlit area filled with plants, natural textures, and a soft chair. Great for grounding and early morning rituals.

• The Creative Nook: A small cart or cabinet with your craft supplies, art tools, or writing journals. Creativity isn’t just a hobby—it’s healing.

• The Cozy Retreat: A plush chair, warm throw blanket, a diffuser, and a stack of books. Your space to unplug and recharge.

• The Bath Sanctuary: Spa-like scents, mood lighting, and soothing music turn your nightly bath into an act of restoration.

And if you do have the space to create something more removed—a “she shed,” a converted sunroom, or a peaceful home office—go all in. You deserve it.

Source: Quiet Minimal

Design It with Intention

You don’t need to renovate your entire house to make a space feel sacred. A few thoughtful touches go a long way:

• Choose a calming or energizing colour that reflects you

• Layer in soft textures—pillows, rugs, throws—to invite comfort

• Add meaningful elements: a framed photo, a quote that grounds you, your favourite scent

• Use baskets, trays, or cabinets to keep it organized and easy to maintain

The key is to make it feel like your little sanctuary—where you can exhale and just be.

The Real Gift? A Happier, Healthier You

Taking time for yourself doesn’t take away from your family—it gives them a stronger, more grounded version of you. When you create even the smallest retreat within your home, you’re not only tending to your mental health, you're setting an example of what self-respect and balance can look like.

So this Mother’s Day, don’t just wait for someone to hand you flowers. Give yourself the gift of space—physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Because you deserve to feel held, inspired, and at home in your own home too.