It was through her move to Italy that we first got in touch. What began as a few Instagram messages and a phone chat (about none other than Italian bureaucracy), turned into an impromptu meet-up during her Milan retreat. I was then invited to host my first in-person colour workshop as part of Kate’s Turin retreat this Autumn (eek!), which feels like a rather lovely full-circle moment.

In this conversation, I wanted to step inside Kate’s world and explore the thinking behind her interiors. We talk about trusting your instincts, developing your own design style, the inspiration behind her colour schemes and how Italy has shifted her approach to colour.

If you’ve ever admired Kate’s homes and wondered how she makes them feel so unmistakably hers, you’re in for a treat.

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On Style & Instinct

How would you describe your style and what has most shaped it over time?

I think it’s perhaps traditional with a twist - I like vintage furniture and antiques but I don’t want them to be too fussy and I don’t want only that in a room. I will always mix them up with something modern and unexpected. I like rich colours - as long as they are a bit muddy - but I don’t go overboard with pattern. My ideal room would be filled with antiques and have a giant piece of modern sculpture in the corner. I like a bit of design tension where things aren’t entirely as they seem.

I’m not sure it has changed particularly over time but I think I have become more confident in understanding and expressing what I like (and don’t).

Designers talk a lot about ‘that gut feeling.’ What’s the most impulsive or instinctive design decision you’ve made that completely paid off, and one you perhaps overthought?

Buying a 24 room villa in Turin that needed completely redoing and opening it to guests for interior design weekends? That was pretty gut! I tend not to overthink decorating decisions but, to coin a phrase, I’m comfortable going with said gut. Overthinking literally everything else in my life is standard!

How central is colour to the way you think about interiors? Is it the starting point, or something that comes in later?

Colour governs the mood of a room. You can put in loungey sofas and fill them with lots of cushions but if the walls are decorated in a colour that makes you feel tense or busy you’re never going to want to use that space for relaxing.

That said, I also decide on a colour based on the aspect of the room and the views from the window as well as what I want to use it for and then I look for the shade that will achieve both those things.

One of the bedrooms in Italy is painted in yellow and pink. It has windows on two sides that look out over the hills and while I knew it was going to be a bedroom I never stopped to question my colour choice in there because I felt strongly that that was the colour scheme that was right for the room. In fact the walls are a soft pink, which is restful, and only the window frames are highlighted in yellow which draws attention to the view and brings the sunshine in.

What’s the bravest colour decision you’ve made in your own home and did you love it immediately?

Some might say yellow and pink but that was easy. In fact it’s the green of the sitting room on the top floor. We found a Liberty wallpaper (Berry Tree in Jade) and it’s not a green that I have ever used before - it’s a little bit minty, a little bit Farrow & Ball Arsenic - and not one I would normally be drawn to (give me olive any time), but I love it in that room where we papered all four walls and painted the ceiling in a matching green.

I did love it immediately but, as I say, it’s not a colour that normally turns up in my palette and it felt brave to use so much of it in one space. Although, actually, I think that’s why it works. If you feel tentative and only do one wall, or one cushion, that’s when it starts to look like you weren’t sure and that is the mood that the room will reflect back at you.

I often draw parallels between getting dressed and “dressing” your house and we all know that when you wear something you feel good in, people will compliment you and say you look great. It’s the same with colour. If you like it, use it and use it strong. That way you create a confident room that you will confident in.

Life between London & Italy

How did your approach to decorating your home in Italy differ from your home in the UK?

I have always used colour but it has tended to be in a tonal way - so I use a lot of plaster pink, raspberry and all shades of chocolate in London but I knew immediately that the house in Italy didn’t want any brown! I was immediately much bolder- we have that pink and yellow bedroom room and a lavender and green bedroom and there is lots of wallpaper.

Your London home and your Italian home feel different, yet both still feel distinctly “you”. How do you maintain that sense of identity across different spaces?

I’m not sure I can answer that myself but it has been said before! I think any colours I use tend to be slightly dusty versions with a vintage feel and I use a lot of vintage furniture so I guess it’s a combination of those colours and that style of furniture that makes it look like my style, there’s always a soft plaster pink and some burgundy as well so perhaps it’s the use of those colours that turn up again and again.

Has living in Italy changed your relationship with colour? And if so how?

I’m definitely a little bolder. My London house now has olive green and I would definitely use a pale buttery yellow if I was redecorating and that has happened since we had the Italian house.

Hosting design retreats means opening up your world to design lovers. Has seeing your spaces through the eyes of your guests changed how you view your own home?

The house in Italy is a pinch me moment every day I wake up there, but I’m often surprised by the different details that people pick up on - a light fitting or a way of painting an arch that I didn’t pay much attention to at the time and they might notice, whereas the things I think they will look at often pass unremarked!

Over the years I dreamt of owning a house in Italy. I was always drawn to rooms with double aspect - we now have that in all the bedrooms (except, ironically, mine!) but that’s not the thing people tend to remark on. For me it’s best thing!

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Your Colour Confidence Tips:

What advice do you have for people who love the idea of colour, but end up painting their own walls neutral out of fear? How can they build a bridge between the inspiration they love and the walls they actually live with?

Always start by asking yourself how you want to feel in a room and then work out what colours make you feel that way. I am enervated by really bright greens and I find pale sage completely draining but in the middle of that - olive green is a colour I adore that makes me feel happy and relaxed.

You can look at Pinterest and social media for rooms you like and try to ignore the styling but instead focus on the colours and work out how they make you feel. Would you use that room for a party and that one to watch tv - what’s the activity that comes to mind when you see a colour.

You should also apply the same rules to neutral colours. Some people chose neutrals for easier resale or because they are afraid of going off a strong colour. But you have to live in that space - you can’t decorate it for the future - who knows what that looks like?

I know someone on instagram who loves bright colours but she painted her kitchen a pale “sensible” grey because she thought it was the right thing to do and later she admitted that she never wanted to cook in there. If you’re really nervous, have neutral units but pick a colour you adore for the walls - they’re easily changed.

Ultimately paint is the easiest (and most affordable) thing to redo either by yourself or for someone who buys your house.

What’s your approach to making bold colour choices feel timeless rather than trend-led?

It’s inevitable that some choices will be trend-led. Who thought of butter yellow until it was all over social media. I interviewed Beata Heuman a few months ago and even she said she was falling for it and probably using it too much. The key, however, is stopping to ask yourself if you love a colour or if you are using it because everyone else is.

Will it go with your existing upholstery? Is there any of it in your wardrobe? Will it fit with what you already have?

If you can answer those questions and still love it then you should go for it.

Kate’s answer touches on something I’m endlessly fascinated by: the difference between decorating from genuine instinct and decorating from exposure to trends. If that’s something you’re navigating too, I recently wrote about it here: Finding Your Style: The Difference Between Trends and What You Truly Love.

You recently attended Milan Design Week, which is the epicenter for where design is heading. What was your biggest colour takeaway or what was the overarching colour story or mood that really stayed with you this year?

The fact that there was a lot of colour! It’s hard to pull one strand from it because it was so enormous that you could make an entire case for a particular colour from seeing only three things but I would say that gloss, red and chrome were three things I saw again and again.

But someone else could go and see a lot of blue, wood and gold…

That’s why you have to be careful of trends and social media telling you what to do and ultimately it comes down to one thing - do you love it?

For those still trying to define their interior design style, where should they begin…or what should they ignore?

It’s the mood thing - ask yourself how something makes you feel. Then ask yourself if you recognise a friend or if you are meeting a complete stranger by which I mean does it immediately feel like something (one) you want to talk to or someone you need introducing to and you’re not sure you really want to talk to them. I felt like that about the scallop shape trend - I recognise it as a reworking of a 1920s trend, I’m happy to see it, make small talk at a party, not bringing it home.

A Quick ‘Lightning Round’ Q&A

• A colour you’ll always come back to: Plaster pink

• A colour you used to dislike but now love: Yellow - a dirty hay version

• A colour you’d never wear, but you’d decorate with (or vice versa): Plaster pink - I used to own several tops and I realised that I never wore any of them but I love to use that colour on my walls.

• A colour rule you think is made to be broken: Painting ceilings and woodwork in white. I have no white paint anywhere and will always advocate for a coloured ceiling.

• A colour that instantly changes your mood (and why): A whole palette of colours in different tones will work to change the mood for me. Anything “muddy” relaxes me whereas any of the so-called clean, bright pastels - daffodil yellow, emerald green, wimbledon purple - put me instantly on edge. And it is instant.

A few years ago I was recording the podcast with Sophie Robinson in her flat in Brighton which she had just redecorated in lots of strong, clean colours - teal, turquoise and gold floral wallpaper with stripes and leopard print. I was furious throughout the entire recording and we couldn’t understand why. When we went out to get coffee afterwards I instantly relaxed and we realised the effect decor can have. I totally admire the skill in clashing lots of different colours and patterns but it’s not good for my mood. Sophie, on the other hand, comes to my house with its muddy shades of pink and brown and can barely summon up the energy to speak!

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Thank you SO much to Kate for such a generous interview. It was a meaty one, but it felt like such a lovely opportunity to turn the tables and get to know Kate in her own home and through her own design journey. I hope this conversation has encouraged you to trust your own instincts a little more, whether that’s finally painting the ceiling, banishing the white woodwork or embracing the colour you’ve secretly loved for years.

If you’d like to see more of Kate’s work, or even experience her Italian villa for yourself (and join me for a colour masterclass at her Autumn retreat!), you can find her at Mad About the House on Substack or Instagram.

P.S We’re off to the UK soon to have some time off over the Summer holidays with my family, so I might be a little quiet on here. But I’ll see you in September for some brand new pieces. Happy holidays everyone xx

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The word trend feels impossible to escape in the interiors world right now (hello Milan Design Week, Copenhagen Design Week, London’s Clerkenwell and WOW!house). So too is the conversation around inspiration…where we find it, how it shapes our style, and how we create homes that feel personal and not pulled straight from Instagram or whatever’s currently in fashion.

There’s one conversation in particular that brought this question to the forefront of my mind. Last winter (which tells you just how long this article has been brewing), I hosted a Colour & Cocktails evening for my mum’s friends. We started with a colour psychology quiz and then quickly got onto the topic of ‘style’ and one lady in particular really stayed with me. She described her home as very 70s (think warm woods, oranges, rich greens, organic shapes and bold patterns), but then said:

“Oh I LOVE Scandi style. I love their calm, cool interiors and their elegant Scandinavian fashion sense. I wish I could dress and live like that.”

This really struck me, as this is the same lady who wears fluorescent lime furry trousers after swimming. The same lady who owns a sunflower co-ord set, wears colourful dungarees and has a colour-drenched forest green bedroom.

And I couldn’t help but wonder if she did dress in Scandi style clothes or if she did decorate in laid-back colours and minimal decor, would she be genuinely happy? Because her bold clothes, her love of colour and her joyful, expressive home feel far more aligned with who she naturally is than any pared-back, minimalist scheme ever could. And it made me realise that perhaps one of the trickiest parts of developing our own style is learning to distinguish between what we genuinely love and what we simply admire from afar….

It’s happened to me before, too. When I first studied Applied Psychology of Colour, I became fascinated by the different tonal groups and personality traits connected to them, and naturally, I wanted to figure out which one I belonged to.

But looking back, I think I became a little too eager to fit neatly into a category. I convinced myself I was an Autumn/Spring because I wanted to be. I bought clothes and accessories that reflected that identity, only to realise later that although I admired them and liked the idea of them, some of the colours didn’t actually feel like me at all.

It’s a bit like when we’re shopping for homeware or paint colours. We get swept up in trends, colours and pieces we’ve seen online and think we love, only to bring them home and realise they don’t actually feel like us after all. I can’t be the only person who has fallen in love with the idea of something more than the reality of living with it everyday?!

So, how do you know whether something you pinned on Pinterest is something you genuinely love and would feel good living with, or whether you simply love it in the context of that photo?

And what if you really love a trend but don’t want to get carried away buying too much of it? How do you make sure what you buy is timeless and still ‘you’?

This is something I come back to a lot, and over time, I’ve found a few simple ways to work through this, both in my own home and with clients.

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Notice What You’re Naturally Drawn To & Find Patterns

One of the easiest ways to start figuring this out is to get everything out of your head and into one place. Pin images to Pinterest, save things into a folder on your phone, or pull something together on Canva if that’s more your thing. Try not to overthink it, just save anything you’re drawn to and what gives you that gut ‘god I LOVE that’ feeling. Then, after a while, go back and look at it all together.

You’ll start to notice patterns. Maybe it’s a certain colour combination that keeps appearing, or the way colour shows up in artwork rather than on walls. Maybe it’s the same tone of wood, or similar proportions of colour in a room. These are really important observations as they are details that define your tastes.

For me, I noticed I kept saving interiors with pops of strong pink. If you know me, you’ll know pink is one of my favourite colours, and while I always gravitate towards the more natural, plaster pinks when it comes to paint colour, I love a bolder, brighter pink when it’s in a very small accent. Flicking through my Pinterest boards, I realised what I love is the unexpected contrast of these brighter pinks; the way they lift earthy backdrops and softer, more muted palettes.

The Return Test

Another useful idea to adopt is what I like to call the return test.

If you keep coming back to a colour, a material, or a piece of furniture over time (weeks, months, sometimes even years!) it’s a clear sign that it’s something deeper than a passing trend. I am one of those people who gets completely carried away with online browsing and favouriting things on Etsy, so to help filter through the noise, I’ll often leave pieces sitting in my favourites for weeks (yes, I am a very slow buyer) and keep returning to them to see how I feel.

After a while, I usually have a much clearer gut feeling about whether I genuinely love something or whether I just got swept up in the moment. It happened recently with some vintage kilim cushions. Turns out handcrafted cushions are expensive (funny that), so I kept revisiting my favourites list and slowly narrowing it down. In the end, only two of the ten were pieces I consistently came back to.

As with most things in life, the things you genuinely love tend to keep pulling you back.

If you’ve found yourself pinning or saving lots of on-trend images which you do really love, but still feel unsure, it can help to ask yourself three questions:

• Would I still love this if I hadn’t seen it repeatedly?

• Can I imagine living with this in a calm, everyday way, not just admiring it in an image?

• Does this add to my existing style/tastes, or does it completely override it?

If it adds, it’s worth exploring. If it overrides, perhaps hold off. That said, not everything has to perfectly ‘go’ together, and your home doesn’t need to be rigid or overthought. I’d say these questions and this thinking is best applied when it comes to larger or more expensive pieces, the ones that make or break a space (and your budget).

When Trends Work

Trends become a problem when they completely drown out your natural tastes, but when a trend genuinely overlaps with something you already love, it can actually help evolve your style rather than erase it.

I’m the first to admit that the brown trend completely reeled me in, hook, line and sinker! I’m in love and so happy it came back into the spotlight. That doesn’t mean I’m going to paint every room brown and it doesn’t replace my existing palette or redefine my style. It adds to it instead. It’s actually become my grounding colour, a deeper tone that brings contrast and warmth to a space without having to rely on black. It’s a colour I can layer in through a cushion, a piece of furniture or an undertone even within a palette.

So I suppose what I’m saying is, if you love a trending colour, let it in… you have full permission.

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Your interior design style will naturally change and evolve over time, but underneath all of that there are usually certain colours, moods and details that consistently feel like you.

Maybe the key is to focus less on trends and social media, and more on understanding our own tastes; not always trying to find something new, but learning to recognise what has been there all along. Because when we look at it like that, our homes start to feel far more like a reflection of us than a reaction to everyone (and everything) else.

I hope you enjoyed this one and I’d love to hear what has worked for you when finding your interior design style.

Thank you as always for reading, love Char x

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Some secondary thoughts on Milan Design Week

After my last Milan article, where I shared my honest take on the key themes and threads during MDW, I realised I still had more thoughts bubbling away. It was the first year I didn’t run around like a headless chicken, so afterwards I listened to a few designers and forecasters discuss their reflections too, and a couple of ideas really stayed with me. Think of this as less ‘trend report’ and more ‘MDW takeaways 2.0’.

One idea that kept resurfacing was the importance of rituals, and words that kept cropping up were: food, homemaking, accessibility, gathering. There was less focus on furniture as an object or the latest product drop, and more emphasis on what actually happens inside a space; how we live in it, what we make there, the routines and rituals that shape our everyday lives…

Food came up repeatedly, which I loved because 1. it takes us outside the usual idea of an interiors fair, and 2. well… I just love food. IKEA explored the idea of a food market, designers collaborated with chefs, and cookbooks even appeared in press packages. I didn’t make it to this exhibition, but listening to this insight felt particularly beautiful, as it’s a shift away from simply filling homes with things and toward creating spaces that support daily rituals and connection. Of course, this isn’t anything new (is anything these days?), but it’s a good reminder that homes are spaces of self-care where we can retreat from the outside world.

One designer spoke about bread-making and the slow return to creating things with our hands. This hit home as I’ve been baking my own (gluten-free) bread for the last 6 months, partly as a creative outlet to switch off after work, but also as a way to rekindle small (and delicious) rituals at the table as a coeliac. I actually spotted a beautiful table and chairs made of bread at Alcova, but I stayed very clear as there was gluten flying everywhere.

And finally, one thought I haven’t been able to shake came from Susanna Bjorklund, a designer and trend analyst from Finland, who noted that taste changes much slower than trends. Phoar…I love that. Because perhaps none of this is really about trends at all, but about understanding your own taste deeply enough to trust it. It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately, and I’ll be exploring more about it in my next Substack piece. Watch this space.

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A few homeware finds from Milan, Venice & Rome

I’m hugely passionate about craft and discovering artisans wherever I travel, and fortunately, Italy happens to be one of the richest countries when it comes to craftmanship and tradition. Every city we visit, I make it my mission to uncover the local artisans and pick a piece to take home with me. I’ve been meaning to share some of my homeware treasures for a while now and never quite got around to it, but today is the day!

First stop, Rome. We visited back in January (it was my first time, and I LOVED it), and first on the list was Giuncart, aka master basketweave Umberto Giovagnoli. I’ve been following Umberto’s work for years, so a trip to his shop was a must.

I’ll admit I already own A LOT of baskets so I managed to restrain myself and instead popped into a ceramic shop, Cotto Artistico Vietrese. Technically not local to Rome, they’re from Salerno, just south of Naples, but my god, my eyes nearly popped out of my head when I walked inside. I spent a good 20 minutes umming and ahhing before finally deciding on a pig plate because I’d been saving gluten-free restaurants with a pig emoji on Google Maps, so of course it felt meant to be. Just as we were leaving, I spotted a small cobalt bowl out of the corner of my eye. I’ve been looking for an olive bowl for ages, and this was perfect.

We make yearly trips to Venice (only an hour and half on the train from Milan), and naturally I can never go home without some hand-blown glassware, but for a while now, I’ve been searching for glasses that aren’t the ‘typical’ Venetian design. You’ll see them everywhere, from the glass-blowing factories on Murano to the corner shops lining the canals, and although gorgeous, I wanted something slightly different. After my fourth visit, I finally found them. Dario Frare is officially my favourite glassmaker. His designs feel different from the traditional pieces you find, and I absolutely love them. They make me smile every time I use them.

A colour workshop with Mad About the House

I am VERY excited to announce that I’ll be hosting my first colour workshop this year with Kate Watson Smythe at her Turin retreat (I’m dancing around the kitchen just typing this!) I have been wanting to do an in-person workshop for a while, but the timing never felt right. Finally, the pieces have fallen into place with one of my favourite women in the interiors industry, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Kate is hosting two retreats this year, so if you fancy joining, head over here to find out more.

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I was asked this question recently, and it got me thinking....

What do I want people to feel when they’re part of my world?

As a one-woman band building a business slowly, creating a community feels both imperative and oh so precious in a world consumed by social media and content. So when I heard this question, it felt quite profound, and when I put pen to paper (without overthinking it), I wrote:

• I want people to feel confident creating a home that genuinely supports the way they live

• Feel empowered to use colour and design in a way that reflects who they are

• Build trust in their own taste and design decisions

• Discover the emotional power colour can have within a space

• Feel inspired to bring pieces of their travels, memories and experiences into their interiors

I feel like I’m very slowly creating a small community, and Substack has certainly been a huge part of that. So here’s to creating homes with meaning, embracing colour with confidence, and building spaces that feel good for the soul.

If you’d love to learn more about my approach to colour and get hands-on with moodboarding, join me later this year at Kate Watson Smythe’s design retreat in Turin!

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Then I stopped (took a little breath), and thought that, actually, what we see during MDW is through our own lens. What might have caught my eye won’t have caught someone else’s, and if I see something different, then that’s ok.

Pantone will be looking at everything through a trend lens, thinking about the next big thing not just in interiors but in fashion, tech, and beyond. I’m here to recognise the colours and threads that feel relevant to real homes. Colours that hopefully inspire us. So while Pantone saw the bright colours, bold blues, yellows and pinks, I saw something slightly different, and I think you’re going to love it.

Something that got me smiling this year was hearing over and over again throughout the week people saying ‘ooooo I love that colour’, ‘those colours are gorgeous’, and it made me think that every year the topic of colour becomes more and more important. We are understanding our sensitivity to it; we’re more in tune with what feels good, what we love and what we don’t.

Alina Schartner, colour consultant and trend forecaster, spoke recently on The Color Authority podcast about the idea of midimalism post Milan. Not minimalism, not maximalism, but midimalism: the idea that it’s the mid tones taking centre stage. This feels so relevant because it’s the top tonal range that I look at in colour consultations with clients. Of course, we use a mix of light, mid and dark paint colours, but the mid-range, or midimalism is the most popular, just like the colours in this piece suggest.

So, without further ado, here are (what I believe) the colours that defined Milan Design Week 2026.

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Olive & Chartreuse

Green for me was one of the main players this year. A rich olive was prominent across the board, coming through in larger furniture, wallpaper and textiles, but it was peppered with acidic lime and chartreuse accents in armchairs, coffee tables and even the styling props.

I like to think of these greens as a tonal spectrum, from fresh, highly saturated lime through to the slightly dirtier, more complex edge of chartreuse, and down into deep, comforting olive tones. Imagine one colour, lifted with white or deepened with black.

If you’re a subscriber, you’ll have heard me talking about olive recently in ‘5 colours I can’t stop thinking about.’ A rich, muddy version is a popular request during consultations at the moment, and I think this is only going to grow. Lime green is a bit much for me personally (in any capacity), but don’t be surprised if you see it popping up in accent colours and accessories on the high street.

Wine Red

Deep wine red is still holding strong as a key colour in interiors (hello red thread theory). Last year it was bold, confident and colour-drenched, but this year it was pared back to accents in small side tables, lamps, rugs, lampshades, fringing on armchairs and beds, and even piping on cushions.

Dusty Cornflower Blue

It’s hard to pin down the exact tone of blue this year because there were a few I noticed, but one blue in particular that caught my eye was Studio Ashby’s sofa at Alcova. I’m calling it ‘Dusty Cornflower’ because it’s a beautiful mid-tone blue muted with grey. Very handily, this sofa was paired with an olive throw and a deep terracotta rug, showing just how well these colours work together.

I was also really drawn to the naturally dyed threads in one of my favourite exhibitions, Variations, showcasing a calming palette of dusty blues and natural beiges. A lady behind me said, ‘Ohh, I love those colours. It’s like the perfect summer palette,’ and she wasn’t wrong.

Chocolate Brown

I was very happy to see brown still going strong. I’m a complete convert and think this is the most gorgeous colour to introduce in a scheme when you’re looking for depth and a touch of darkness to anchor a space, without having to go black.

Again, there were a few different shades of brown, but one of my top picks was rich chocolate brown. It came through in sofas, tiles, lamps and even carpets! Then of course, there are the natural brown tones (which I particularly love) in exposed wood, such as walnut, rosewood and mahogany.

Deep Terracotta

Terracotta is totally timeless. I think I see this colour everywhere, regardless of whether it’s in trend, because I love it so much and am constantly drawn to it. I’ve noticed that it has a touch more black in it as the years pass, getting muddier and richer, which I love. This year I noticed terracotta sofas, rugs, floor tiles and even the backdrop of many exhibitions, which, although it isn't necessarily done on purpose, I have no doubt will influence the colours we see in the shops.

The Accent Colours

You might know the 60-30-10 rule in interior design. In my article last year, I used this concept for breaking down the colours at MDW.

If olive green, brown, terracotta and wine red are the 60 (the grounding tones that shape a space and give it depth), chartreuse and dusty cornflower blue are our 30 (adding contrast and lift without overwhelming), and 10 are the accents: splashes of lime green, moments of rich ochre yellow and the occasional hit of fuchsia pink.

Ochre yellow wasn’t something I noticed much in person, but it’s been hard to ignore online, threading its way through different collections. Saturated fuchsia pink, on the other hand, was impossible to miss as it framed the entrance to Variations at Palazzo Litta. Lina Ghotmeh, the architect behind the design, said ‘At a time when the world is bombarded from several standpoints, I wanted a place that cherishes joy and human connection’. I’ll be honest, this colour felt more ‘spectacle’, but I have a feeling it will be popping up in trend forecasts very soon.

Materiality also plays a big role when it comes to colour. Last year, we saw a lot of silver, and that was definitely still a theme this year (chrome, stainless steel and nickel), but warmer metals made a comeback. Think bronze (one of my favourites!), textured brass and complex gold-brass blends.

What I keep coming back to, though, is colour in its rawest form…pieces that celebrate the natural tone of a material, just as it is. It echoes what I mentioned in last week’s breakdown of the trends at MDW, but it feels even more relevant here. It made me think that sometimes it’s not about applying colour, but revealing it too…

So what does this all mean?

In a design week where spaces felt minimal, colour felt more important than ever. There was a lot of talk about multi-sensory homes this year, and yet colour is the most immediate way we experience a space. We see it before texture, shape or form; it’s what instantly defines the feeling and ultimately makes or breaks a space.

I felt that this year, nothing felt overly new. These colours didn’t feel ‘trendy’, they felt familiar, perhaps becoming richer, muddier and more nuanced, which, if I’m being honest, I loved. We’re all craving homes that feel timeless and have a sense of longevity, and colour plays a huge part in that.

As always, while these colours set the tone for the interiors world, you won’t resonate with all of them. There’ll be some you love, some you loathe, some that inspire you with new ideas, and some that you happily let pass by. But as I always say: go with your gut and choose what feels right in your space, for you.

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I’ll admit this is the first year I didn’t pack my schedule with back-to-back exhibitions and instead chose a few of my favourites, and spread them across four days, giving me time to breathe (vital!) and meet and connect with designers and journalists, which I loved.

This year, Milan Design Week was pretty showy (more than ever) and, as always, it can feel a million miles away from our homes and how we actually live. It’s full of boundary-pushing design, conceptual thinking and avant-garde ideas that don’t always filter into everyday life, but that’s exactly why I love it. My job (and challenge) is to take these big, often abstract ideas and translate them into something more accessible and relevant to us and our homes.

And that’s also why I don’t really like using the word ‘trends’. I’m not trying to avoid the fact that MDW is trend-setting (it absolutely is), but I do think that it goes far beyond trends as we know them. Instead, I like to think of them as themes, ideas and reflections of what’s going on in the world.

They are responses to the global climate, and this year, this felt true in more ways than one. This year felt pared back. Many designers said last year was noisy and overwhelming, and yes, it was, but I secretly loved it. This year felt different…more restrained, but there were still plenty of ideas worth taking away. So, let’s begin, shall we?

The rise of living craft

There will always always always be room for craft. The overarching theme for this year’s FuoriSalone was ‘Be the Project’, the idea that it’s not just about the finished object, but about everything that sits behind it: the process, the decisions, the responsibility and the thinking.

You could feel the shift away from “look at this beautiful thing” towards “how was it made, where is it from and what does it mean?” I noticed this most in the use of materials. They felt raw and untreated, often left in their natural form rather than being overworked or covered up. They weren’t just decorative, they told a story about origin, process and sustainability.

One of my favourite examples of this was at Alcova with the Shakti Design Residency, a design programme that brings together global designers with Indian artisans. The cane bench and stool caught my eye straight away. Made in collaboration with Maria Tyakina (a furniture designer from Rotterdam) and the Heirloom Naga Centre, the cane was left in its natural state revealing its knots, colour and charred marks and good lord, it was gorgeous.

Then there was the ‘Prorustai’ table by Czech-based artist, Tadeas Podracky and the Heirloom Naga Centre. The curved shapes were inspired by the traditional communal houses of the morung (a community centre for Naga tribes in India) and the grooves in the table are direct expressions of their tradition. These pieces felt like a celebration of local tradition and materials, with the focus firmly on the process and the story behind them, much more than the final product (even though that was gorgeous too!).

While last year felt very much about preserving craft, celebrating it as something to protect, this year felt more about taking part in it. I’m coining this theme ‘living craft’, where designers, students and makers are engaging with materials in a much more hands-on way. Not just collaborating with artisans, but actually learning the processes themselves and understanding materials from the very beginning.

Another fab example of this was a project at Alcova by the University of Arts Bremen in their exhibit ‘Farm to Form to Fair’, where students worked directly with raw, natural materials, harvesting grasses, bark, and fibres, and then learning techniques like weaving and coiling to create their own pieces. Walking into their exhibition space, you could really feel the connection to the materials. It was natural and humble, and felt like a small reprieve from the more styled displays.

Understanding how something grows, how it behaves, what it wants to become, and letting that guide the design rather than forcing something onto it is perhaps what makes the idea of ‘craft’ feel so different this year. It didn’t feel static or nostalgic, but rather something ever-evolving, carried forward through reinterpretation rather than just preservation.

It actually made me think about my own experience with natural dyeing, which I started last year. It began as a creative outlet, but also as a real need to step away from the screen and do something hands-on and just fun. And maybe that’s part of a wider shift we’re all feeling…

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The sensory home (and slowing everything down)

A return to the senses was a key thread that ran through many of the exhibitions this year. Elle Decor Italia was probably the biggest contributor to this idea, with an apartment setting that explored room by room the idea of reducing and bringing a space back to its essentials.

On the surface, the spaces almost felt, dare I say it, underwhelming, but when you looked closer, they brought the focus back to the senses, the art of slowing things down and removing the excess so you actually feel what’s in front of you. Each room encouraged you to reconnect with your senses in a world where everything feels fast and digital and so often disconnected.

In 5VIE and at one of my faves, Variations at Palazzo Litta, the theme of emotional and sensory connection continued, moving away from design that’s driven purely by data or efficiency, and back towards something more human. More instinctive, imperfect and the idea that not everything needs to be optimised or improved… sometimes it just needs to make you feel something.

You know me, I love the idea of slowing things down and making everyday actions, like eating, feel a bit more intentional and ritualistic. And it really made me think about how we can translate that into our own homes:

• Spaces that slow you down

• Spaces that reduce distraction

• Spaces that support small, daily rituals, such as bathing, eating, reading

• Spaces that engage all your senses, not just the visual

This also reminded me of a recent consultation with a client here in Italy who suffers from anxiety and ADHD. During our consultation, we spoke a lot about the importance of creating rooms that feel intentional, supportive, and free from unnecessary distraction.

We worked together to create a home that felt like a safe space for her to be her truest self, not triggering or overstimulating, and she said something that really stayed with me:

“The most important thing is that everything has a place to go. That’s not about tidiness for its own sake, but it allows the nervous system to relax because nothing feels unresolved. I don’t have to walk around the house looking at items and adding them to my ever-growing to-do list. When everything has a place, I have spaces where I can feel calm and supported.”

In many ways, that’s exactly what the Elle Decor Italia exhibition was exploring. On the surface, it may have felt visually very quiet compared to last year, but everything ‘had a place to go’, just like my client said. When I’m curating colour schemes, I always talk about defining the behaviour of a room, really thinking about how you want to use that space, including your daily rituals, and this is a reminder of that. Good design isn’t always about adding more, but about removing what we don’t need, so there’s space to live, to feel, and to change over time.

Longevity & AI

The keyword for 2026 is longevity, emphasising the need for materials and designs that can withstand the passage of time without losing their aesthetic or functional comfort. There’s also talk about the rise of the ‘social kitchen’, and before you think of lovely big, sociable tables that bring people together, this all fell into more AI and tech-related design, exploring how technology is meant to simplify our lives, give us more time and make things easier.

Of course, AI and technology in design are exciting, and when used well, they can genuinely make life easier and more efficient. But I couldn’t help questioning it slightly…

As more tech becomes integrated into our homes, reducing the need for manual effort and everyday tasks, what do we actually do with the time it gives back? Ideally, it creates space for rest, creativity, or connection, but often, that time gets absorbed elsewhere, usually into more screen time and more digital noise.

It made me wonder if there’s a teeny tiny contradiction here, especially when we’re also talking about longevity, wellbeing, and designing for healthier lives. Progress is important, but so is asking whether it’s actually improving the way we live day to day...

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Blurring the line between inside and out

Another thread I kept noticing, and actually really loved, was this shift from ‘bringing the outdoors in’ to almost the opposite, ‘bringing the indoors out’. This wasn’t something I felt was a core theme, more of an observation from me.

Outdoor spaces felt just as considered, comfortable and lived-in as our interiors. I saw this so clearly with Molteni&C, where their outdoor furniture didn’t feel like stereotypical outdoor furniture at all. In fact, as soon as we walked into their garden exhibition, I wanted to sink into the sofas immediately and stay there (naturally, the security guards had other ideas). But that’s the point, the sofas and chairs were soft and inviting, somewhere you’d actually want to sit for hours, not just something that looks good on a terrace or a hard fold-away café chair.

And then there are brands like Schumacher, creating textiles that work both inside and out, blurring that boundary completely, which when you think about it, links back to everything else: wellbeing, slowing down, longevity.

So what does this actually mean for our homes and how does any of this translate into real life?

Well, I don’t think it’s necessarily about recreating what we see in Milan, but instead borrowing the thinking behind it, letting it open up our perspective and encourage us to see our homes a little differently.

Perhaps we could start by asking ourselves:

• Where can we simplify?

• Where can we remove excess?

• How can we make our homes feel calmer and more intentional?

But also:

• Where do we introduce personality?

• Where (and how) do we add warmth and colour?

The beauty of the interior design world and its so called ‘trends’ is that they unfold slowly; they’re here for the long run. Nothing I’ve said here is entirely new, it’s just bringing ideas back into the spotlight, because the goal is never to create a perfectly curated space or a home fit for a global design fair, it’s to create a home that actually supports how you live. One that feels good to be in, not just one that looks good from the outside.

P.S. You’ll have noticed I haven’t mentioned colour here… don’t worry, that’s coming next. I have a whole piece on this year’s colour insights and I can’t wait to share it with you! Love, C x

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I like to think of undertones like the base notes in a perfume; they may not be immediately obvious, but they shape how a colour feels and behaves in a space.

A general rule is that…

Cool undertones range from blue, grey and black, while warm undertones lean towards yellow, pink, red and brown.

Why Undertones Matter

Undertones influence how colours interact with one another, with the light, and with the materials around them. When they clash, it can make a room feel slightly ‘off’ even if you can’t quite put your finger on why.

They are also what give a colour its character. Brown, grey and black undertones give colours a muddy or earthy feel, full of soul and personality. Blue undertones can pull a colour to the cool side, while hints of green can lift a neutral towards a more complex tone. Undertones of yellow, red or pink, on the other hand, inject instant warmth.

So we could say that it’s the undertones that prevent colours from feeling flat and lifeless.

What to Look For & How to Find Them

The easiest way to see a paint’s undertone is to hold the sample vertically against a sheet of pure white paper. This contrast helps the underlying hue really pop.

It’s important to do this vertically, so that you get the most accurate look at the colour. When we place samples flat on a table or the floor, the light hits them differently, which can distort how the colour appears. It’s still a great way to build a mood board and see how materials work together, but always bring your paint samples up onto the wall to make your final call.

If you place a couple of colours next to each other (two or three at the most), you’ll start to notice which ones feel warmer, cooler, softer or sharper. This comparison is the best way to train your eye, but don’t worry if you can’t see the differences straight away. I always advise my clients to live with the samples for a few days and look at them in different lights, to see how they transform throughout the day. For a visual on how to do this, head over to my video here.

My Top Tip: Don’t be afraid to ask paint brands for a detailed description of their colours. They have a team of colour specialists behind the scenes who know the paint colours inside out and can tell you the pigments and undertones in each colour.

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Choosing Undertones in Your Hemisphere

In the Northern Hemisphere:

• North-facing rooms – use warm undertones to counterbalance the diffused, blue-toned light.

• South-facing rooms – cool undertones are your friend here. They help offset the golden light, keeping things fresh and balanced rather than too yellow or intense.

East and West-facing rooms deserve special attention.

• East-facing rooms get beautiful, clear morning light that fades into cooler shadows later in the day. Whether you use the space in the mornings or evenings, I generally recommend leaning into warm undertones that will catch that early light beautifully but balance the cooler evening light.

• West-facing rooms, on the other hand, come alive in the afternoon and evening. They can feel a little shadowy in the morning but bathe in rich, golden light later on. If you spend afternoons and evenings here, you might prefer cooler undertones to keep things balanced once the sun floods in. If it’s a space you use earlier in the day, warmer undertones will help lift the natural dimness and create a more welcoming feel.

In the Southern Hemisphere: Simply swap these ideas around.

I can’t stress enough that these are guidelines, not strict rules. You might decide to embrace the natural warmth of your light rather than counter it, or choose tones that suit the mood you want to create at the time of day you use the space most. Let how you live in the space guide your decisions.

Can you Mix Warm & Cool Undertones?

When I studied Colour Psychology, we were taught that every colour fits into one of four tonal groups. Colours within the same group (whether light or dark) naturally harmonise, while mixing undertones usually creates dissonance.

But… I’m going to (very gently) challenge that.

After years of working with homeowners, I’ve found that undertones, like most things in design, are open to interpretation. And what we might learn in theory doesn’t always translate clearly to real-life products and paints. What reads as ‘warm’ to one person may feel ‘cool’ to another, depending on how they perceive colour.

So yes, I do think combining colours with the same or similar undertones works best, but you can mix warm and cool undertones; it simply requires balance and intention.

We never see colour in isolation, so every colour and material you bring together shapes how the others are perceived. The key is to consider your colour scheme (not just your paint, but the fabrics, tiles, flooring, etc.) holistically and not as separate, individual elements.

I recently worked on a kitchen colour scheme where my client had chosen brown-bronze cabinets with light, sandy walls, and wanted to incorporate a bright green-blue wall tile. Although beautiful, this saturated colour felt instantly jarring against the otherwise earthy palette, so we softened it and opted for a more muted blue tile instead. The warm, grey undertones in the new blue felt more in keeping with the overall scheme, while still providing the contrast and accent of colour the client was looking for. So, it just goes to show how small shifts in undertone can completely change the overall feel of a space.

But my best advice? Don’t get too caught up in the theory. You’ll know deep down if something feels off, so trust your instincts and your eye. Ultimately, what matters most is that your space feels right to you.

Love C x

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I started writing my first COTM of 2026, and if I’m being completely honest, I struggled to finish it. It didn’t feel quite as fun or exciting as it used to, and after two years, this piece feels like it’s come to a natural pause. Sometimes you just know when it’s time to move on.

So instead, I’m doing something new: sharing the colours that have caught my eye over the past six months or so…the ones I keep coming back to, again and again.

1. Peachy Neutrals

I hear this a lot during consultations: ‘I’m looking for something soft and warm, but I don’t like yellow or cream’. My first instinct is usually pink-based tones, but sometimes that doesn’t quite hit the mark, so my next move is peach. Think earthy, sun-warmed, and absolutely no yellow in sight.

When I first say peach, people often worry I mean apricot or orangey tones, but peachy neutrals are far more grown-up than that.

Here is one of my favourite colours in this colour family: Bronte by Bauwerk. It feels optimistic but earthy, soft but not sugary.

These colours work really well in living rooms or bedrooms that crave warmth, hallways that need glow without going beige and any spaces with natural stone, wood or terracotta flooring.

If you’re trying to capture this look, these are the ones I’d start with:

• Bronte by Bauwerk

• Serene by Bauwerk

• Out of Office by COAT

• Weekender by COAT

2. Reddish Brown

Terracotta has always been a favourite of mine, but red was never my cup of tea, and brown always felt a bit…dated? It wasn’t until brown started reappearing in design shows and on our feeds that I felt brave enough to fully dive into it and of course…fell in love. The red, rusted undertones just lift it into a category of its own.

Now I’m not advocating for trends but sometimes they help you see a colour in a new light, or fall back in love with it. And this reddish brown did exactly that. Can you imagine it wrapped around a small bathroom, paired with zellige tiles, or used on a staircase for a show-stopping hallway?

I’ve noticed how paint brands have reintroduced brown-based tones in a way that feels elevated rather than heavy or tired. Look out for the undertones to get a feel for which way your brown leans. These reddish tones are my favourites, but aubergine and orange-based can look just as good.

Some reddish browns on my radar:

• Deep Reddish Brown by Farrow & Ball

• Scarlet n Rust by Paint & Paper Library

• Masai by Paint & Paper Library

• Old Street by Coat

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3. Dirty Olive Green

It took me a wee while to name this green. I went back and forth, but what defines it is that hit of yellow and black, giving it a slightly “dirty” complex feel.

I’ve always loved green, but lately I’ve been drawn to olives with more depth. Shades that almost read as bronze in certain lights.

I’ve featured this gorgeous dining room scheme by Studio Squire before, and it perfectly captures the kind of green I’ve been coming back to over the last few months. There’s just something so rich and inviting about it.

I particularly love this colour in studies, dining rooms and snugs, colour-drenched all over or in focal points on joinery and cabinetry paired with off-blacks, dark browns and warm woods. I’d never have thought to use this in a pantry setting like Midelt Sage by Paint & Paper Library below, but I’m officially converted.

Here are some of my go-to dirty olive shades:

• Moreton Bay Fig by Bauwerk

• Midelt Sage by Paint & Paper Library

• Messel by Mylands (an even dustier, dirtier version)

• The Tobacconist by COAT

4. Muddy Plaster Pink

This has got to be one of my favourite colours, so it had to have a space on this list. It’s warm, flattering in every light direction and feels both grounding and uplifting. If you’re in the northern hemisphere in a north-facing space, consider looking for warmer brown or yellow undertones, and for south-facing spaces, opt for base notes of grey, burnt umber or black to balance the natural light.

This is one of my most requested and most loved colours during consultations, so here are a few paints that sit beautifully in this palette:

• Mink by Paint & Paper Library

• Powder V by Paint & Paper Library

• Temple by Paint & Paper Library

• Masquerade by Little Greene

• Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball

• Templeton Pink by Farrow & Ball

• Rye by Bauwerk

5. Bronze

I’m fascinated by complex colours at the moment, and by that I mean colours that aren’t immediately readable. This one shifts constantly: sometimes ochre, sometimes brown, but always with a hint of green. Let’s call it Bronze.

I particularly love this colour on joinery or as an accent colour in textiles and absolutely love the way Dan from A Modest Semi has used it in his kitchen below.

Some of the bronze tones I keep reaching for:

• Big Hoops by Coat

• Light Bronze Green by Little Greene

• Bronze by Paint & Paper Library

After two years of spotlighting a single colour, it feels refreshing to step back and look at the bigger picture. I love documenting my favourite colours throughout the year, spending plenty of time with each one before really committing to it.

Sometimes a colour stays with me for years, sometimes I drift away from it, not because it’s wrong, but because it’s not quite for me. So what colours are tickling your fancy at the moment? And how long do you spend sampling or testing colour before committing? X

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If you’d like help choosing colours that celebrate and support the way you live, I’d love to help.

🤎 Book a colour consultation, and together we’ll find the perfect palette that feels right for you and your home.

During a consultation in Denmark, when I asked my client how she’d define her style, she said quickly and confidently, “British, art deco and bohemia… I’m a mix of all three.” I was excited and taken aback, because this certainty doesn’t happen often when the topic of style comes up.

That same day, I had a call with a design showroom in Spain. The owner explained to me, “We love Scandi design and aim to create a fusion of Mediterranean, Nordic and Japanese styles in our offering.” This honestly blew my mind because it sounds like THE most gorgeous blend.

Style is a funny one, isn’t it? It’s often weighed down by trends and surface-level ideas, making us feel like we need to box ourselves into labels that can feel restrictive or meaningless. Of course, for some, those labels are helpful. But when we look at style more inwardly, it becomes something far more personal; an important part of how we experience and shape our spaces.

I remember when I was studying Illustration at uni in London, and everyone wanted to have their own distinctive drawing style. It was what told viewers who the artist was without having to say or write the name, because the style spoke for itself. We believed that when you’d found your style, you’d sort of ‘made it’ in the creative world.

This was a big topic at uni and our lecturer used to tell us over and over that a style can’t be forced or found one day and poof, there you have it. It unfolds. It blossoms, gradually taking shape over time. And when forced, it rarely works. And isn’t that true for our interior design style too? It becomes a language. It’s something that evolves with us, until it feels natural.

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And for this reason, I think our design styles matter so much. Not because we need a label or a perfectly styled home, but because ultimately our design style reflects who we are and what we love.

Whether you define your style through adjectives, labels or simply a feeling, it becomes part of your identity. And like us, it’s always evolving. It’s not just one definition, and that’s that. It’s not one style forever; it’s a forever-evolving aesthetic that goes far beyond the visual. It’s a combination of influences and inspirations, moods and emotions, that reflect you, the way you live and that speak your story over time.

I have always felt that my experiences and where I’ve lived throughout my life have really inspired the way I live now and, therefore, my design style. I grew up on my grandparents’ farm, spending most of my time outdoors, and later lived in Australia, where indoor-outdoor living is the norm; something that has stayed with me. While the dream is to have a small piece of land one day to grow a vegetable garden (can you tell I’m a millennial?!), right now an apartment with an open-plan kitchen and living area that opens out onto a terrace suits us perfectly. We get the outdoors without the maintenance.

I also love British design. The unapologetic clashing of colour and pattern; the homely, comfy, ‘lived-in’ look. And then there’s the Mediterranean. Living in Italy has exposed me to some b e a uuutiful Mediterranean spaces and god I love them. The simplicity yet power of colour through exposed natural materials, from wood (I never would have dreamed of introducing dark brown into my home until I moved to Italy and saw just how gorgeous it is, and how well it can replace black) to marble, clay, terracotta and limestone. The idea that pared back doesn’t have to mean minimal or cold or lifeless.

If I had to sum up my ‘style’ in one phrase, I’d say ‘inspired by my travels’. I’d also say words like comfy, cosy, warm, inspiring, feel-good, not cluttered or too busy, but neither too minimal.

Just like your wardrobe makes you feel a certain way, a home does too. I have a small crisis choosing my outfits sometimes, but when it comes to my home, I feel so comfortable creating a space that feels completely and utterly me (or should I say ‘we’, can’t forget hubby). Our home is a mix of everything we love, and everywhere we’ve been: a little British layering, Mediterranean colours, global textiles, and an outdoor-living influence. I know my style, but I can also see how it’s subtly changed over the years, and the truth is, I love it even more for that. Those changes reflect our experiences, and the ways we’ve grown, and somehow it makes sense because it’s ours.

We put so much pressure on ourselves to define our style and stick to it. To ‘get it right’. But just like we change and evolve, so will our style. So don’t worry if you haven’t ‘found’ yours yet, or don’t have the right words to define it. It will come, it will change, and that’s exactly as it should be.

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There’s nothing better than sitting down for a chat and getting to know how designers and brands work, think and approach colour in interiors, so that’s exactly what this series is about.

For my very first interview, I sat down with the UK paint brand, COAT. If you’re not familiar with them, COAT was founded during COVID in September 2020 by Rob and Rob. Like most people, they were looking to paint their homes during lockdown and struggled to find a sustainable paint brand where they could easily order online. And so COAT was born! I regularly specify them in my consultations, and there are a few reasons why I love them.

Numero uno: they’re a B Corp brand. Paint is a tricky industry when it comes to sustainability, but COAT has some clever solutions up its sleeves. Their paints are 100% solvent-free, their samples are completely adhesive-free, deliveries are carbon neutral, packaging is recyclable, and everything is made to order (to name a few).

Secondly, their colours are genuinely gorgeous, and they’re up there with some of my favourites in the UK paint market. And finally, the quality of their product is really good. Now, before you ask, I’m not getting paid to say this, and have absolutely no affiliation with COAT. I simply love celebrating brands that deserve it.

So grab a cuppa, pop your feet up and join my chat with Tide, COAT’s Trade Account Manager. Part of her role is consulting with clients on colour schemes, which, in Tide’s words, is “absolutely the best part of my job!”

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Colour at COAT

When you’re developing a new COAT colour, where does it usually begin?

It nearly always begins with a feeling, the sense that a room needs to feel calmer, warmer, softer or more grounded. That feeling might come from a place, a material, a shift we are noticing in people’s homes or a subtle gap in the palette.

From there, we build a mood around it and go through countless tiny adjustments, testing in different lights and alongside real materials, until the shade feels inevitable, like it has always existed and simply needed naming. Only when it truly adds a new feeling to the palette does it become a COAT colour.

Which COAT colours consistently come out as bestsellers?

Our bestsellers typically tend to be warm neutrals. We find people often use their walls as a canvas to then layer in different colours and textures through styling and soft furnishings. Leaning away from neutrals, our bestsellers are Factory Fifty, which is a beautiful bare plaster and then our greens are always popular year on year.

Are there colours people often fall in love with online but feel nervous about committing to on their walls? How do you help customers feel confident enough to take that leap?

There’s not a single colour I could pinpoint, but generally it takes clients slightly longer to make a decision when they’re considering our deeper pigmented, darker colours. The best way to build confidence is firstly creating a mood board: getting as many textiles, surface samples, reference images, and then tying them together to create a colour story that they can envision.

Secondly, getting our peel & stick samples on the walls, allowing clients to see how the colour behaves in their space, and seeing how it reacts to both natural and artificial lighting is so valuable and allows them to feel confident in their choice for the space.

Are there any COAT colours that you consider underrated? Eg. shades that don’t always get the hype but look incredible when used well?

For me, it has to be Buon Fresco. It’s a beautifully warm, effortless shade that brings an easy sense of calm to any space. It works just as well as a grounding backdrop as it does taking centre stage, a truly versatile favourite.

Me again, and I’m going to add my two pennies’ worth here. Some of my favourite, underrated COAT colours are Big Hoops (a golden ochre), La Torre (rusty red-terracotta blend) and Old Street (brown with notes of red). Gosh, they’re good.

How We’re Using Colour Right Now

From what you’re seeing, how are people actually using colour in their homes right now?

We’re seeing a real confidence shift when it comes to colour; people are choosing shades that feel personal and considered rather than just picking colours that are trending.

There’s definitely been a rise in colour-drenching, which creates a beautifully cohesive space. It tends to be less about statement walls now and more about committing to a feeling throughout.

Neutrals haven’t disappeared at all; they’re now regarded as the foundation for other colours to be layered into. (Love this!)

As we move through this year, what colours or colour stories do you expect to see growing in popularity, and what do you think is driving that change?

We’re predicting a shift towards Fig and Artichoke-inspired tones… rich purple undertones paired with yellow-based greens. Think a balance of depth and lightness that feels grounding and natural.

What’s driving this combination is a move towards spaces with more personality and warmth. Whilst people are feeling more confident in their colour choices, they still want longevity and for their choices to stand the test of time, beyond short-lived trends.

Bringing Colour Home

I’m always curious about the personal side of colour, beyond the work and brand perspective. Customer insights are fascinating, but what I really enjoyed was hearing how Tide chooses and lives with colour in her own space.

Are there colours you instinctively reach for when it comes to your own space?

Browns, greens and warm neutrals…a relaxed, inviting atmosphere is what I always aim for when making decisions for my own home.

Where do you personally look for colour inspiration when you’re not working?

Mother nature! She weaves together the best colour combinations of all.

If you could leave readers with one piece of advice about using colour at home, what would it be?

I’d leave them a few bits to consider;

• Don’t forget the ceiling. Always consider it as the 5th wall.

• Sit with your colours in the space for as long as you’re able to. See how it reacts to the natural & artificial lighting in the space. This will change throughout the day, so it’s always so helpful to see what the colour looks like in different lighting conditions.

• Consider the function of the room; who uses it, when is it used, how is it used? Knowing these basics is so helpful in how you want the room to look & feel. (For a deep dive into how to do this or where to start, head over to my article here.)

A Quick ‘Lightning Round’ Q&A

• A colour you’ll always come back to: Green

• A colour you used to dislike but now love: Pink

• A colour rule you think is made to be broken: Colour is subjective. Lean into what you love, even if it’s not considered a trendy choice.

• A room where colour matters most: The room you spend the most time in (be that the kitchen / living room / bedroom / retreating to your bathroom as a sanctuary)

• A colour that instantly changes your mood (and why): I always feel grounded and calmed in spaces that use earthy tones.

Cor, thank you so much to the lovely Tide! I really enjoyed that, and I hope you did too. After reading, I’d love to know: are you drawn to neutrals, feeling more confident with colour, or eyeing up a room for a bit of colour drenching?

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Colour is so personal, and there are many different ways that we individually relate to it. Naturally, our biggest influence is our personal colour preferences, which might be due to a holiday, memory, or experience. Then you’ve got the psychology of colour (more on that over here), and finally, what colour means to us within our culture (both the one we grew up in and the one we might have moved to).

Add to the mix budget, the pressure to get it right and the overwhelming number of paint colours at your fingertips, and it’s easy to see how choosing colours together can get a bit much. So if this sounds like you, I have a few ideas up my sleeve that will help turn this dilemma into date night.

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1. Ask Why

It’s important to understand why one of you doesn’t like a particular colour. Maybe it’s triggered by a specific memory or a negative experience, something much deeper than a simple ‘I don’t like it’. I once had a client who couldn’t stand a soft green because it reminded her of a 1980s office! Digging into the why can open up the conversation and help you understand each other’s perspectives rather than just dismissing a colour outright.

2. Talk About Tone

More often than not, it’s not the colour itself that’s the problem, it’s the tone. Someone usually dislikes a very specific shade rather than the whole colour family. I worked with a couple who wanted a blue kitchen: one loved deep navy, but the other loathed it because it reminded them of an old work uniform.

The compromise? They settled on a lighter, softer blue with a warm undertone that felt fresh to both of them, and we introduced navy in very small accents, enough to satisfy one person’s love for the colour, but not so much that it bothered the other. Exploring your mutual likes and focusing on tones instead of whole colour groups can make a world of difference.

3. Compromise

If one person in the couple or family really loves a specific colour but it doesn’t quite work in a shared space, is there a room they spend more time in where they can have their colour? I once worked with a family where the husband adored yellow, but his wife really wasn’t keen. We found a solution by using it in his study, a space she rarely used. Here is where that lovely word, compromise, comes into play.

4. Make it a Date

Redecorating or designing your home should be a fun, exciting and creative process. Go and visit interiors you both like: cafes, hotels, restaurants, shop window displays…get talking about design together, what you love and why you love it.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Sometimes, a fresh perspective is all you need. Even a short chat with someone who’s seen these dilemmas before can cut through the fog and make the decision easier. I’ve worked with couples who couldn’t agree on a single wall colour for months, and after talking it through, we found a solution that felt right for both parties in (if I say so myself) 30 minutes. If you ever feel stuck or overwhelmed, reaching out to someone with a little experience in colour can make all the difference.

I’m thinking about doing a Colour Q&A on Substack next month, so whether you’ve just bought your first home, you’re renovating your forever home, or you’re decorating a rental property, send me your questions and I’d love to feature you! x

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If you’d like more guidance choosing colours that celebrate and support the way you live, I’d love to help.

🤎 Book a colour consultation, and together we’ll find the perfect palette that feels right for you and your home.

That happened to me recently while I was writing my colour-of-the-month piece: a deep dive into one shade and how to decorate with it. And for a moment, I wasn’t sure whether my heart just wasn’t in these pieces anymore, or whether I was simply having a moment and needed to step away from the computer (very possible).

It made me pause and take stock. I have a content plan for the year, but every now and then, I still second-guess whether what I’m writing is genuinely helpful or inspiring. At the same time, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about India this past month. This time last year, we were travelling across the north, and it was, without question, the best trip we’ve ever taken. I keep drifting back there in my head, desperately wishing I was on holiday, remembering how deeply inspired I felt by the colour, the chaos and the beauty.

So I stopped writing the colour deep dive and started this instead.

These travel-inspired interior pieces may not be the most popular according to the stats, but they are the ones I love writing the most. They transport me straight back to being abroad, and travel has always been my biggest source of inspiration for my home. So this one isn’t for the content plan or a how-to guide; it’s just something that feels good to write right now.

India. It’s no secret that it’s one of the most colourful and inspirational places when it comes to design. As our friend Nilim told us on day one in Mumbai…“Indians just love colour”. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, pink, turquoise, purple and every variation in between... fluro, pastel, earthy...you name it, India’s got it.

Now, don’t worry, this isn’t a template on Indian style and adapting it to your 1930s terrace, townhouse, cottage or new build. This is a look into how we can translate colour from our travels and trips abroad, into our homes without changing ‘style’ or upheaving the whole house. This is about weaving your personal colour inspiration and stories into your existing decor to create a home that tells your story.

For this piece, I have chosen my favourite hues and the ones that felt most relevant to you and your home. Having decorated over 6000 rooms, it’s safe to say I have a little insight into the colours you might love :)

India has always been on my bucket list, and our time there honestly just felt like a dream. It was overwhelming, dirty, polluted, welcoming, friendly, fun and full of beauty. It’s a colour lover’s dream, and I genuinely haven’t stopped thinking about it since we got home (a full 12 months ago).

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Colour

Colour schemes in India are like the country itself…chaotic, instinctive and seeped in history or symbolic meaning. You come away from India feeling so inspired and drawn to colour, and I’ll confess, I haven’t worn black since I’ve been back. It felt almost a crime to wear it after seeing the beauty colour can bring and symbolise.

So, considering ‘A Casa’ is all about championing your true colours and tuning into what works for you, I hope this piece not only inspires you but brings a little joy to your day. Right. Let’s get straight to it, shall we?

Blue नीला

The first time that blue really stood out to me was in Jaipur. We visited a restaurant that was painted terracotta on the exterior and drenched in an intricately hand-drawn cornflower blue mural on the interior. Paired with blue chairs and blue upholstered benches, this was a confident lesson in blue on blue on blue. And it worked. It was stunning and felt more like a film set than it did an everyday restaurant.

The same blue, softened slightly, appeared again at Samode Haveli (our heavenly hotel), this time on the loungers, paired with terracotta trim and butter-yellow stucco walls. Heaven, one might say!

Jaipur is also known for its blue pottery. While the restaurant and hotel leaned towards cornflower tones, the pottery is famous for its deep cobalt colour, brought to India by the Mughals in the 14th century. The ceramics are gorgeous (if very fragile), and of course, we couldn’t resist bringing a few pieces home with us.

Blue is such an easy colour to translate into our homes. Now I’m not the biggest blue paint fan (which is ironic because I LOVE blue and wear it all the time), but one look at Lucy Williams and Jodie Hazlewood from The House Upstairs viral living rooms, and it’s easy to see how good blue walls look.

For those like me who love blue but don’t need to be colour drenched in it, one of my favourite ways to use blue in interiors is through textiles. I love an indigo-dyed cushion or throw, especially if sourced on holiday to remind you of your time away.

Yellow पीला

Yellow revealed itself in butter-soft limewashes, mustard-rich tiles and the warm, dusty tones of raw sandstone. Samode Haveli, a butter yellow retreat tucked into the back streets of Jaipur, felt like a gentle exhale after the blues, pinks and terracottas of the city. It was unexpected, and not a colour I’m usually drawn to, but that’s exactly why I love travelling. It shifts your perspective and opens your eyes to new ways of seeing and using colour, inspiring ideas that inevitably follow you home.

In Delhi, mustard yellow took on a bolder role in the statement tiles of Haveli Dharampura (another showstopper hotel), appearing in bathrooms and stairways alongside plaster pink walls and aged brass finishes. It was playful, confident and surprisingly elegant. Another yellow I fell for in India was saffron yellow, popping up in upholstery and the canvas awnings of local fruit markets. This yellow was vibrant, sun-soaked and full of life.

Yellow is probably one of the least requested colours during my consultations, and I understand why. It can feel daunting and isn’t the first colour that comes to mind when creating a relaxing home space, but when used thoughtfully, it’s incredibly rewarding. Statement woodwork, tiles, cabinetry or panelling are all brilliant entry points. I personally lean towards a muddier ochre over a creamy butter yellow, but whatever tone speaks to you, don’t be afraid to experiment, especially in smaller spaces like a downstairs loo, powder room or guest bathroom, where a little bravery goes a long way.

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Orange नारंगी

Orange carries deep spiritual and cultural meaning across India. Aside from the bright orange headscarves we wore around the Golden Temple, the dominant orange tones I noticed were, unsurprisingly, terracotta. There was the deep burnt orange we all know and love, rust and copper hues found on almost every dining table, and moments of a more vibrant, playful orange, too.

At Samode Haveli, orange took on the role of an accent colour. It appeared in the trim of cushions and loungers and was wrapped onto the walls of the poolside bar. I’ve written before about earthy terracotta and how to bring it into your home, but this brighter orange deserves its moment too. It’s joyful and unexpected, and it pairs beautifully with blue, yellow and pink, a combination I might not have naturally gravitated towards before…

While terracotta looks good in most rooms, I think it feels most impactful in hallways and bathrooms. Terracotta has a strength and a warmth that feels perfect for spaces that usually get forgotten (hallways) or where you spend less time (bathrooms). Terracotta injects a hallway with instant warmth, while bathrooms ooze with sophistication.

Pink गुलाबी

We couldn’t talk about Indian-inspired colours without mentioning the colour pink. Ahhh, this is my favourite colour of all time, and with Jaipur being the ‘pink city’, I felt right at home.

When we first arrived, I expected a very literal pink across the architecture, but instead, the city revealed itself in a softer, more nuanced terracotta tone. The nickname ‘Pink City’ dates back to 1876, when Maharaja Ram Singh painted Jaipur terracotta pink to welcome Queen Victoria’s son, Prince Albert. The colour was chosen to symbolise hospitality and warmth, and with no name for terracotta at the time, it was simply called pink!

Of course, there was plenty of true pink too. Pink buildings were the most obvious expression of the colour, but it also appeared in intricate murals and in the women’s saris. My favourite memory of pink was while waiting to enter the Taj Mahal at sunrise. We were standing with a group of village women who were on a pilgrimage to visit the temple (a tear or two did spill over when I first caught sight of this magical building).

All the women were dressed in multicoloured saris, but the overriding colour among them was a deep magenta pink. As they were chatting away to each other, sprightly even at 5 am, the vision of pink captured me, and I couldn’t help but stare and smile. It was beautiful and enchanting and contagious all at once. And this is exactly what I mean when I say I can’t wear black.

One of my favourite pinks to bring into the home is plaster pink. These soft, muddy tones feel warm, cocooning and endlessly nurturing, especially in the natural light we have across Europe and America. They shift throughout the day, gentle and calming in the morning, richer and more comforting by evening, which is perhaps why I’m asked for them more than any other colour during consultations.

I love plaster pink paint in living rooms and hallways (where we might look for warmth without having to default to a neutral), but they’re just as beautiful in bedrooms, kitchens, and anywhere you want a space to feel supportive, yet uplifting.

Finishing Touches

When I write these travel-inspired pieces, I love including the finishing touches: the materials, textiles, furniture and personal objects that tell your story.

If it didn’t look ridiculous, I would probably kit my home out completely in Indian homewares. But of course, balance is key, and I want to make space for all the other homewares I find abroad from different countries too.

Here is my selection of Indian-inspired tips to add soul to your space:

• Brass, copper and bronze finishes - Traditional metals in India, these warm tones carry cultural, practical and even spiritual significance. Used sparingly, on lighting, hardware or small decorative pieces, they add depth, warmth and a sense of age to a room.

• Teak wood - During our stay in traditional Indian homestays, I noticed a recurring palette of white walls, heavy wooden furniture and timeworn antiques. The look felt calm, grounded and almost colonial in tone, reminding me of interiors I’ve seen in South Africa… a world away from the colour-drenched city streets, yet just as beautiful.

• Naturally dyed fabrics - India isn’t just famous for block printing. Naturally dyed fabrics, with their rich, imperfect tones, are just as popular and bring softness and authenticity to a space. These are colours that feel alive and got me diving deep into natural dying myself. Perfect for cushions, throws and curtains!

• Hand-knotted rugs - My favourites are traditional Rajasthani designs from Jaipur. I’m even toying with the idea of designing my own one day, working with Indian artisans. In the meantime, my mum brought home a hand-knotted rug in a blue-teal hue, and it still makes us smile every time we walk across it… proof that the best pieces are the ones tied to our memories. For similar pieces, try Pelican House.

So whether it’s a paint colour, a textile or a small object brought home in a suitcase, I hope this inspires you to weave a little of your own travels into the place you call home. Love Charlotte x

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Although this is the area that we probably spend the least amount of time in, it’s also the one space that connects every single room in the home, making it fundamental to get right and (in my opinion) use it as an opportunity to connect your colour scheme.

It’s also more often than not, the space that receives the least light, or spans across multiple floors, making it impossible to choose a colour that will look the same downstairs as it will upstairs. This is the room that gives my clients the biggest headache; the room that, although they want to add the wow factor, they feel totally flummoxed as to how.

So far in this series, we’ve worked through choosing colours for a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, and now I want to share how to choose colours for your hallway. So without further ado, let’s dive in.

Define the Mood & the Behaviour

I know I say this for every room, but it’s so important for the hallway, because it’s the first room you walk into when you get home. This is the room that literally shapes and influences the tone of everything that follows, which, if you think about it, is a huge responsibility for a walk-through space.

So before we even think about picking up those paint swatches, close your eyes and think to yourself…

How do I want to feel when I walk through the front door?

For some, it will be a sigh of relief; you want your shoulders to drop and to be instantly cocooned in warmth or that feeling of ‘home’. For others, you might want to make a statement. Maybe you want the wow factor, to feel refreshed and energised as soon as you step through the front door.

Although this might sound like a strange question for a transitional space, it’s just as important: how do you use the space? Is the hallway a bit of a ‘dump and go’ kind of place (be honest with yourselves here, nobody’s judging you), or is it a passing-through room and your coats go in the cupboard under the stairs? Or maybe you’re blessed with a big room that houses an armchair and furniture that feels more than just a corridor?

Defining how you use this space, followed by the mood to match, is your starting point for choosing colour, and it’s worth taking a moment to get it right. If you need a bit more guidance on this, I wrote an article all about how to define the mood for your home over here.

Colour Placement

One of the biggest triggers for overwhelm in a hallway is the placement of colour. There are just so many places to think about painting in here: the walls, ceiling, skirting, door frames, the doors (and god there are a lot of them), period features (if you’re lucky), bannisters, the hand rail, maybe even the stairs too. So, where to start?

Start by taking note of the features in this space.

Where do you want the eye to travel when you first walk in? Where do you want the focal point to be?

Are you in a new build with no architectural features? This might mean a boxy space, and so any contrast or ‘feature’ comes with the bannisters, stairs, or even panelling. Perhaps you live in a period home and have coving and picture rails to consider? If so, do you want to highlight these or make them recede? Is your hallway a teeny tiny space and the stairs hit you as soon as you walk in the door? If so, do you want to create the illusion of more spaciousness?

And are there any original or beautiful features that you want to be the star of the show? Original floor tiles, a stained glass window or exposed wooden stairs? Think about how you can use colour to ensure that these features stand out. Or perhaps there is a feature that actually, you’d quite like to hide, so consider how colour can make that area recede.

So with the mood defined and the key focal points identified, we can now turn our attention to colour itself.

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Choosing Your Colours

I’ve divided this next section into light hallways and dark hallways. Generally, your room will fall into one of the two and here are some key takeaways to help choose what colour works for you.

Light Hallways

If you have a light hallway, then you’re already very blessed (at least in the UK this is a rarity) and here you can pretty much do what you want with the place. I know we have readers from across the globe so I want to make sure I include ideas for all different hallway types.

The first scenario is that your hallway flows into an open-plan space, and there’s no natural break that separates the two. If this is you, one of the simplest and most effective options is to wrap your open-plan paint colour straight into the hallway. This creates a really beautiful sense of continuity, and your eye will travel effortlessly from one space to the next, making the whole area feel bigger and calmer.

If you’d prefer a subtle shift, you can still let that original colour guide you, but try choosing a shade from the same colour family. Perhaps slightly warmer, cooler, deeper or lighter, so the transition feels deliberate and harmonious rather than random or jarring.

If instead you do have a natural break between the hallway and the next room, then the world truly is your oyster. This is where the hallway can become its own moment: calm, bold, surprising or simply a colour you’ve always loved but never quite dared use.

If you’re looking to enhance the light in the space, stay neutral on your walls and introduce the stairs as your focal point. This is incredibly effective in a well-lit hallway, as you’re not relying on wall colour for impact, so the bannister, spindles or stair runner can take the lead.

Alternatively, let the doors and woodwork be the guiding line throughout the hallway and landing. Painting these in a slightly darker or bolder colour like the example below, adds personality and depth without taking away from the natural light.

A light hallway also gives you room to be playful. If there isn’t an obvious architectural focal point and you’re not keen on painting your doors and skirting, you can create your own: a coloured ceiling, a painted archway, a beautiful runner, a colourful front door (this is one of my favourite suggestions during consultations) or even storage cabinetry in a joyful shade. Hallways often become the default dumping ground, but well-designed storage, particularly in a colour you love, can turn something practical into something purposeful and make the space feel lived-in rather than cluttered.

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Dark Hallways

Dark hallways are incredibly common, and they’re often the spaces we feel most intimidated by. But here’s the secret: a dark hallway can be one of the most atmospheric areas of your home when you stop trying to force it into being something it isn’t.

The instinct is usually to reach for the lightest paint on the chart in the hope it will brighten the space. In reality, pale colours often fall flat in low light, as they can look cold, grubby or slightly greyed-out. Instead, it’s far more effective to lean into the darkness.

Now I know you’ll have heard this before and you’re probably thinking, ‘but I don’t want to go dark’. Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you have to go full on charcoal (unless you want to), but choosing a deeper or mid-toned shade will work with the natural mood of the space rather than against it. These colours hold their richness even in low light, which makes the hallway feel intentional and welcoming instead of gloomy.

Once you’ve embraced a mid tone or a deeper colour, you can think about how you want it to behave. Some people love the drama of a full colour drench (me included), where the walls, woodwork, doors and even the ceiling are all painted in the same tone. In a narrow or dingy hallway, this technique works beautifully because it removes the visual breaks and contrast that can make the space feel busy. Suddenly, everything melts together, and the hallway becomes warm, cocooning and surprisingly calm. Or perhaps you drop the deeper colour onto the woodwork and keep the mid tone on the walls and ceilings just like the example below? This hallway leans into the lack of light, but doesn’t feel oppressive or dingy.

If that feels too bold, why not soften the approach by keeping the walls deeper but allowing the ceiling or woodwork to lean a shade or two lighter. This still gives a sense of unity, but with a gentler transition that keeps the space from feeling too enclosed.

In a darker hallway, the colour is the backdrop, and the styling becomes the supporting act. Consider how you want the remaining light to move through the space. Mirrors, artwork with metal frames, and even a well-placed wall lamp will bounce light back into the room and add dimension against the deeper walls. These aren’t there to ‘fix’ the darkness as such, but to enhance the atmosphere you’ve created.

You’ve probably noticed that I ask a lot of questions in my articles on Substack, encouraging you to sit down, think about things differently and write things down, and that’s because I’ve always found it so helpful to do this with clients. When you start with the basics and work through rooms step by step, colour becomes the result of the process rather than the starting point.

I really hope this article has been helpful. It was a bit of a mission to write, but I truly believe that when you approach any type of hallway using these golden steps, it can become a space that surprises, calms or envelops you the moment you step through the front door; feeling less like a problem area and more like a design opportunity.

If you have any questions about your hallway makeover or need a second opinion on a paint colour or where your focal point should be, just let me know in the comments, and I’d love to help. C x

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If you’d like more guidance choosing colour that celebrates and supports the way you live, I’d love to help.

🤎 Book a virtual colour consultation, and together we’ll find the perfect palette that feels right for you and your home.

‘So how do you want to feel in this space?’

I often get the same look, something between panic and ‘Good lord, I have no idea’, but once we start talking about how my clients live and use their home, the feelings and emotions start to follow, and from there the colours reveal themselves surprisingly quickly.

Most people come to me armed with Pinterest boards, screenshots, and Instagram saves, and while those are useful, my first piece of advice is always the same: Don’t start with colour.

I know. It’s controversial, but trust me on this one.

While we all naturally gravitate to certain colours, in our clothes, everyday objects or even favourite restaurants and cafes, that doesn’t always mean they’re the right colours (or tones) for our home. That’s why defining the mood of a room is far more powerful than choosing a colour simply because you like it or you’ve used it before.

First things first, let’s look at behaviour

If you’re not sure how you want a room to feel, begin with how you use (or want to use) the space. The behaviour will always inform the mood.

Let’s take the kitchen

Is your kitchen the heart of the home or more of a functional nook? Do you cook for pleasure, or is the kettle its busiest appliance? Are you a ‘clear worktops’ kind of person or happy to make a mess? Is the space tiny and compact or part of an open-plan layout?

How you use your kitchen tells you whether the space needs to energise, calm, focus, tidy, or welcome.

How about the living room

Is this a family hub or an adults-only haven? Do you use it mainly in the evenings, on weekends, or all day long? Is it for TV and downtime, entertaining, reading, or kids’ play? And is it open-plan or separate from the other rooms?

Your living room might need depth or softness for slow evenings, or a sense of light if it’s a daytime workhorse.

Now for the bedroom

Do you prefer to be cocooned or uplifted first thing in the morning? Do you get ready in the bedroom or in the bathroom?

I once had a client who adored the idea of deep, moody colours in her bedroom, but when we started talking about how she actually uses the space (and, more importantly, how she wants to feel when she wakes up in the morning), it became clear that four dark walls weren’t right for her at all. She needs light in the morning to help her get going, so we chose a mid-tone instead: enough pigment to feel warm and cocooning, without tipping the room into darkness.

If you can find these answers and get into the nitty-gritty of how you live, they will shape the emotional ‘brief’ that works for you, far better than any Pinterest board.

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Next, identify the mood that supports that behaviour

Once you understand how and when you use the space, ask yourself:

How do I need to feel in this space for it to truly support how I use it?

For example, if it’s a room where you practise yoga, you might want to feel calm and grounded; if it’s where you work, maybe you need to feel focused and clear-minded; if it’s where you cook or entertain, perhaps it’s relaxed yet inspired?

While this question might feel strange (and even a little awkward at first), if you can dig a little deeper and be honest with yourself, getting clear on the way you live and what you need to live well, this is where the magic happens.

A really good example of this came up last week during a consultation with a couple in London. We were talking about their dining room, a space that worked incredibly hard. It was Arthur’s work-from-home area during the day, somewhere Lily practised pilates a couple of times a week, the place they both ate dinner every evening, and where they hosted family and friends at the weekends, as well as a walk-through room from the kitchen to the rest of the house.

Because the room was doing so many different jobs, they were finding it difficult to agree on a colour, each of them picturing the space in a different way, depending on how they personally used it. So rather than focusing on colour itself, we stripped it right back and very quickly, it became clear that while the space had many functions, the priority behaviours were working from home and sitting down together for dinner every evening.

From there, the feelings began to take shape. For daytime use when Arthur worked from home, the room needed to feel inspiring yet grounded for him, supportive of focus in his corporate role without feeling cold. In the evenings, they both craved warmth and softness, helping them relax and unwind together after long days at work.

Once the behaviours and emotions were defined, the conversation completely shifted. It wasn’t about coming up with the perfect colour straight away; it was about understanding what they needed from the room to make it work for them.

And finally, here comes the colour

Now it’s time to match the colours to the mood, so my final question to you is:

What colours achieve that mood, emotion or feeling that you’re looking for?

When you know how a room should feel, you can explore colour in a much more intentional way.

If your living room needs to feel relaxed, what colours achieve that for you? If your kitchen is where you spend most of the day, do you crave light and clarity? Or deeper hues that offer comfort and ground you? The colours that make me feel uplifted and inspired might leave you feeling bored or flat. What feels cosy and cocooning to me could feel heavy or even suffocating to someone else. There is no universal formula. This is about how you respond emotionally to colour.

So my best advice is to move through your home one space at a time, be honest about how you live (not how you think you’re supposed to live), and experiment with the colours that amplify both the behaviours and the feelings you want the space to support.

Defining the mood is the key that unlocks everything else and brings you one step closer to creating a home that truly supports you and the way you live.

Because at the end of the day, isn’t that what it’s all about?

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If you’d like more guidance choosing colour that celebrates and supports the way you live, I’d love to help.

🤎 Book a colour consultation, and together we’ll find the perfect palette that feels right for you and your home.

But life (and Italy’s freelance system…) had other ideas.

Without getting too deep into the bureaucracy, turning on paid subscriptions right now would create more complications than support. And instead of beginning the year tangled in red tape, I’d rather start it with a clear path ahead and a lot less weight on my shoulders.

So here we are. Not the post I thought I’d be writing, but an honest one.

And do you know what? I’m okay with this shift. Maybe even relieved. Because this change is giving me something I hadn’t planned for: more time and energy to work closely with you, 1:1.

I’m not leaving Substack. Far from it. I love this space and all of you in it. But my in-depth, heavy-lift guides will need to take a little pause while I rework the bigger picture. Moving forward, I’ll aim for two to three Substack posts a month, as I want to keep sharing inspiration, tips, and colour know-how to help you create a home that feels truly like you.

Just last week, I popped round to a neighbour’s house, and she proudly showed me her new paint colours. She’d gone for a rich teal in the bathroom, navy in the entrance hall and a gorgeous mid-tone green in the bedroom. She said to me, ‘I would never have been brave enough to do this if I hadn’t found you and read your articles,’ and I’ll be honest, my heart soared. This is what ‘A Casa’ is all about — helping people build the confidence to choose colour, and love the spaces they live in.

And here’s the silver lining: this unexpected change of plans opens up space for some of my favourite parts of my job…

🌈 More personalised colour support

So this year I’m focusing more intentionally on:

• Colour Consultations — tailored guidance to help you choose colours that genuinely feel right in your home.

• Colour Coaching — a deeper learning journey for designers, decorators and trade professionals who want to master colour confidently.

• Colour Workshops — small, intimate sessions where we dive into colour together; chatting, learning, exploring, and building confidence in a relaxed, friendly setting.

These are the areas where I feel most energised and connected, and where I see the biggest transformations for my clients.

So here’s to 2026. To muddling our way through, to turning hurdles into opportunities, and to trusting in the process. No dramatic ‘new year, new me’, just a reminder that sometimes plans change, and that’s okay.

Thank you so so much for subscribing and Happy New Year everyone, love C x

Time to Decorate?

So I thought, instead of adding to the noise, I’d focus on exploring colour in a way that feels manageable and enjoyable. And what better place to start than with the conversations I’ve been having with you (my readers, clients and followers) over the past year.

Every year, I make a note of the most common questions and worries that land in my inbox, and in 2025, one sentence came up again and again:

“I want to use colour, but I’m scared of getting it wrong.”

And it makes sense. With so much coming at us (beautiful yet endless imagery, content and ideas), it’s easy to admire a look or colour without knowing if it’s truly right for our own home…and even harder to bring it in with confidence.

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Colour affects so many things: the mood and feel of a home, the perception of space and even how you use the rooms day-to-day. With colour, we can make rooms feel lighter, moodier, cosier, smaller, bigger, taller, shorter....

So you can see how choosing the right colour quickly goes from being a simple flip-of-the-coin decision to something much bigger: a fundamental part of your design scheme that can make or break a space.

Common colour concerns

When it comes to colour, I find it really helps to pinpoint what you’re struggling with, or where the frustration or overwhelm comes from. Often this is enough to lift a little weight off your shoulders and make it easier to see where to start.

Do any of these feel familiar?

• Colour Overwhelm: This is probably the most common concern I see - the feeling that there’s simply too much choice. The sheer number of paint brands, colours and finishes can feel overwhelming, whether you’re looking online or heading to your local DIY store. One trip to B&Q and you’re stumped for where to start.

• Fear of Commitment: So many of us are afraid of committing to colour because we worry it won’t stand the test of time, that we’ll get bored with it or that it might look different on the walls compared to what we imagined (and more often than not, it does). We’ve all been there: you see a colour you adore on Instagram in someone else’s home, only to order the sample and it looks nothing like you expected in your space. Back to square one, and suddenly you feel even more confused than before?!

• Colour Coordinating: I would say half of my clients come to me not because they are starting a room design from scratch but because they want to refresh the walls and find a colour that works with what they already have…existing furniture, artwork, flooring or other rooms in their home. If you love a colour, it’s unlikely you’ll tire of it quickly, but just because you love a colour, it doesn’t mean it’s right for that room (or that it works with your decor).

The good news? Every one of these concerns is completely normal, and none of them means you’re ‘bad with colour’. It just means we need a more thoughtful approach.

How to start using colour with confidence

Now that we’ve named the fear and where it comes from, the next step is gently moving past it.

Below are some of the practical, pressure-free ways I help my clients start using colour with more confidence. Hopefully, there’s something for everyone here.

• Start Small: Start with the smaller spaces in your home, like a downstairs loo or powder room or even a room you don’t use everyday like a guest bedroom or a study. The key is to experiment with colour in a space that doesn’t feel too overwhelming and where you won’t be spending a lot of time. You could even start with an accent wall or woodwork to see how the colour behaves in your home without the pressure of doing an entire room. If even this feels too daunting, introduce small accents of the colour in your decor instead, anything from cushions to lampshades or painted furniture. While this won’t give you a complete idea of colour on four walls, it will help you understand why you’re drawn to it, and whether it’s a colour you actually enjoy living with or one you just admire from afar.

• Paint Samples: I can’t emphasise the importance of a paint sample enough. I often get asked if you can skip the sampling part, and my answer is always the same: no, no, please lord, no. Paint colours shift dramatically depending on the light and time of day, so it’s essential to see them in your own space. Apply samples vertically on different walls and live with them for a few days; notice how the colour behaves in the morning, afternoon and evening and especially at the time you use the room most. And remember, finishes matter too: an eggshell can read slightly darker than the same shade in matt.

• Dig Deeper: Ask yourself how you want to feel in the space. Does the colour support that emotion? So, for example, I work from home at the kitchen table, not in the office (even though we have one). I want to feel refreshed and motivated while I work, and I love the light and brightness of our kitchen for that. Dario (my other half) is a photographer and finds dark colours helpful for his concentration, so we designed our office to feel deep, dark and cosy. Different people need different colours to support their mood.

• Mood Boards: Never underestimate the power of a mood board. Whether you prefer to keep it digital (Canva and PowerPoint are great for this) or love getting crafty with a pair of scissors and some glue, gather fabric samples, paint chips, and photos of furniture pieces or your inspiration to see how everything works together. Getting hands-on and moving materials around (don’t glue things down straight away) is a really helpful exercise to get to know how different colours and items marry together. What is it about each colour or combination of colours that you love? This will help hone in on whether this colour is right for all walls or just a small accent or feature.

• A Neutral Backdrop: If you’re tight on time or not quite ready for bold walls, start with a neutral base, and no, this doesn’t mean opting for grey or beige. Instead, choose a neutral with a coloured undertone, such as a pink-based white, a red-based taupe, or a green-based greige, then layer bolder colours through accents. This approach builds confidence without the fear of overcommitting and allows you to gently dip your toes into colour without being ‘colourful’.

• Ask an Expert: If you’re reeeally stuck, why not book a consultation? Having 1-1 expert guidance can give you the confidence and know-how to make bolder choices, as well as save time and money. As colour consultants, we’ve studied both the science and psychology of colour and have a vast knowledge of paints — we can help you see what you may be missing.

Taking the pressure off

Ultimately, my advice is to follow your instincts and give yourself permission to try. While paint can feel like a big investment, it’s not permanent and experimenting with colour is often where the fun really begins, no matter how big or small your project.

This is where I want to start the year: not with pressure, resolutions or ‘shoulds’, but with curiosity, confidence and a little more trust in ourselves.

Over the coming months, I’ll be exploring these ideas more deeply. Colour, yes, but also how we make decisions in our homes, how we learn what we love, and how we create spaces that genuinely support the way we live.

And for now, if this article has helped you feel a little less afraid of colour, that feels like a very good place to start.

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In a world where ideas spread faster than ever, I’ve noticed that we’re becoming more selective about which ones we actually let in. Maybe it’s the digital fatigue, or just the pace of everything, but we’re no longer chasing constant novelty. We’re craving meaning, authenticity and timelessness. Colours and styles that align with how we genuinely live.

When it comes to colour (especially in interiors) trends aren’t so much about discovering something new as they are about putting existing colours back into the spotlight. They remind us of tones we’ve perhaps overlooked, or help us see familiar ones in a new context. And as we become more confident in our own choices, these colour ‘trends’ feel less like rules to follow and more like opportunities to reconnect with what resonates personally.

So, what if we looked at the 2026 palette as a collective mood board instead of a trend forecast? Because while Pantone is championing an absence of colour, my experience with you all suggests that we’re talking about colour more than ever.

So instead of feeling pressured to repaint your home or buy into the latest colour trend, think of it as an opportunity to reconnect with what already feels right to you. It’s not about chasing the next big thing, but celebrating the hues that already feel like home.

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Pantone

As I write this, I’ve just come off the Pantone Colour of the Year 2026 webinar, and I’m a tad in shock. If you haven’t heard already, Pantone announced Cloud Dancer, (yes, white), as their colour of the year.

Now, before I get carried away, there’s a lot to unpack here.

Pantone’s process is always about more than colour alone: it’s about the name, the story and the emotional message. Their COY is designed to move across industries from interiors and fashion to product design and tech, tapping into psychological and physiological responses to colour on a broad cultural level. And the guiding force this year? A collective desire to reset and transform.

In a world that feels forever switched on, many of us are questioning how we live. We’re tired of the noise, notifications, and the constant pressure. We’re craving pockets of calm, a bit of breathing room, and for some, maybe even the urge to step back altogether. We’re also trying to find that sweet spot between our hyper-digital future and our very human need for connection.

White, symbolically, fits that narrative. It’s quiet. It’s spacious. It promises stillness, pause and possibility. It offers ‘presence over performance’ and, as Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute, put it, “We just want to step back.” All of this makes perfect conceptual sense… but translating it into the realities of our homes feels a little more complicated.

Pantone shared a few all-white interior examples during the webinar: a children’s room presented as a ‘blank slate for play,’ an office in Cloud Dancer for ‘focus,’ a hallway designed to feel ‘minimalist but not stark.’ And yet, at least through my European lens, they did feel stark. Flat. A little lost. Like a return to the early 2000s when colour equalled neutrals.

Perhaps these schemes shine in sun-drenched California or Australia, where white glows rather than drains. But in the UK? Northern Italy? I’ll be honest, my shoulders tensed a bit.

And yet, this is exactly why we engage with trends. Not to agree, but to interpret. Trends act as cues. They set a mood or direction. What this shows me is that trend forecasting no longer speaks a universal language. The overarching concept may be global, but the colours that express that mood are far more personal.

And really, that’s the point. We don’t need to drench our spaces in a trend to participate. We can decide where and how colour shows up — or if it needs to show up at all.

Colortrend x WGSN

Just like Pantone, WGSN is one of the leading trend forecasting agencies, so their colours speak across more than just interiors. This year, they released Transformative Teal, a ‘fusion of classic dark blue and aqua green’, designed to ‘guide us through times of change and redirection.’

I was recently interviewed for House & Garden about the resurgence of teal, and the conversation really underlined the growing desire for our homes to comfort, restore, and heal us. More often than not, this comes through a connection to nature, and teal perfectly bridges two of the most-loved colours from the natural world: blue and green. It’s a versatile, feel-good tone that feels both familiar and a little unexpected.

WGSN also highlight teal’s connection to an ‘Earth-first mindset’; a colour intended to encourage resilience in the face of complex climate challenges. And while that sounds admirable, I can’t help but notice the irony. Trend-led colours are, by definition, part of consumer culture, which isn’t always aligned with climate-conscious choices.

Maybe I’m digging too deep, maybe I’m not. After all, these colours aren’t mandates. They’re conversation starters, food for thought and reflections of broader ideas and shifts. Take what resonates with you, and let the rest simply pass by.

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Dulux

While these wider forecasts set the mood, the paint world often reveals what people actually want to live with. So, let’s look at what the major paint brands are saying…

For 2026, Dulux has done something new. Instead of selecting a single colour, they’ve introduced a trio. The headline act is Free Groove, a vibrant cobalt blue, supported by Mellow Flow, a soft grey-blue, and Slow Swing, a deep, suave navy.

Now, cobalt has been creeping back into the design conversation for a while (I spotted flashes of it at Milan Design Week, usually as a confident little accent), but I’ll be honest, I didn’t see blue-on-blue-on-blue coming.

So, what inspired this new blue direction?

Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director at Dulux, explained: “This year we recognised that the world is changing at a pace we simply can’t keep up with. We need to tap back into the natural rhythms of life — to be in tune with each other and with nature.”

And so they landed on the world’s favourite colour: blue.

By offering three blues instead of one, they’re acknowledging that even within a single colour family, we all gravitate toward different tones, whether that be something bold and bright, something softer, or something deep and moody. While I won’t be introducing these blues into my own home (they’re a little cool for my liking), they’re a positive reminder that colour isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore is always one of the first to crown their ‘Colour of the Year’, and this year’s choice was Silhouette, an ‘umber with notes of charcoal’.

The team at Benjamin Moore describe this year’s colour as being heavily influenced by the fashion world, echoing our renewed love for brown and the shift back to timeless, considered pieces. Colours that actually stand the test of time.

Where Silhouette differs from last year’s brown tones is that it feels dirtier and more charred in its undertone. It’s comfortable and grounding with the flexibility to be bold if you want it to be, or more subdued if that suits your space better.

What I like about this colour is that it isn’t a new shade. It’s an extension from 2025. Perhaps it reflects the same fatigue Pantone highlighted from the constant barrage of newness and noise, and our longing for simplicity and familiarity…

And while Dulux and Benjamin Moore are some of the bigger players in the paint world, the same emphasis on mood shows up in more subtle ways.

Little Greene’s Adventurer brings a cosy, warm-toned aubergine to the table, suggesting our desire for comfort and sanctuary, while Valspar’s Warm Eucalyptus sits at the opposite end of the spectrum with a soft, restorative green shaped by slow-living sensibilities.

When it to comes to trends…

…there will be colours you love and colours you loathe. Ideas you’ll embrace, and ideas you’ll happily leave behind. But that’s the beauty of it.

I wonder if trend forecasts (or at least the colours) aren’t as universal as they once were, but instead reflect shared moods, open to personal interpretation. And if that’s the case, maybe we’re more confident about the colours we love than we give ourselves credit for…

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Anyway, back to the niceness! Another reason I love this season is that it’s when everything starts to slow down, ready for winter. Our rhythms and routines ease up, and that go-go-go energy finally settles (well, mine does). My Substack has been quieter these last couple of months too, and for a second I almost wrote ‘sorry for the slower newsletters’ but I don’t think I need to apologise?

The truth is, this pace suits me right now. I’m edging towards hibernation mode, spending less time scrolling on Insta (anyone else exhausted?). I need a breather from consuming and creating content. And I’ve also been quietly planning some juicy, colour-filled treasures for next year that I’m really excited about.

I read this by Anna Mackenzie the other day:

“Creative work isn’t meant to be efficient. It’s my personal belief that if you’re pumping stuff out like a machine, you’re doing it wrong.”

And it all just made sense. So there’ll be another article or two before the year’s out, but expect to see a little less of me this winter, and a lot more next year.

When Trends Work

Lately, I’ve fallen head over heels for the colour brown. I’ve always loved brown in its natural form (wood, wool, stone & clay), but this new wave of brown has really captured me. And I don’t say that lightly. I’m in love with it. And not in a short-term, passing phase kind of way, but in a good lord, where have you been all this time kind of way.

Trends often get a bad rap (and rightly so), but there’s usually more to it than pure marketing, especially in interiors where trends evolve more slowly. When it comes to colour, I like to think of trends as ‘themes’ or ‘recurring colours’. They aren’t necessarily new; they’re just put into the spotlight for a while.

After spending the last five years at Milan Design Week, I’ve learnt that these trends themes are in fact responses to what is going on in the world. They are interpretations from designers trying to solve a problem, exploring how we feel and behave as individuals and communities, and what we’re collectively searching for or craving. Brown, for instance, first showed up at Milan Design Week in 2024 (which I wrote about over here). It was part of a grounding colour renaissance, and it’s held strong ever since. It’s a colour that perhaps makes us feel safe in a world of uncertainty…

I always tell clients (and fellow colour lovers) to ask themselves: do you love a colour because it’s on trend and you’re constantly exposed to it, or because it truly speaks to you? Do you admire it from afar, or does it genuinely feel right in your home?

Understanding that difference helps you not only choose colour with confidence, but also understand more about yourself without getting sidetracked by what’s going on around you.

Brown is one of those rare colours I’ve genuinely fallen for, and yes, I have the trend to thank for that. I love a dark colour to ground a space and balance mid or muted tones, but black has never been for me. Brown, on the other hand, hits the spot. It’s natural and restorative without feeling too harsh. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t need to wrap it on all four walls; I just need a cushion here or a chest of drawers there to balance my colour scheme. This trend has nudged me to be braver at home, introducing deeper browns like coffee, chocolate, maroon and burnt umber, instead of stopping at the softer mid-tones, because even the experts need a little push sometimes.

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Slow Colour 2.0

Do you remember I tried dying cushion covers with avocados on a quest to find my perfect pink? I loved it so much that I thought, why not make some more? This time, I wanted to see if I could bring those rich brown tones I’ve been drawn to into my home.

A few weekends ago, I tried my hand at dying with black tea and madder and wow, the results were wild. At first, I’ll admit I was a little disappointed. The colours weren’t the rusty brown tones I’d imagined, but the more I played around with them in my home, the more I realised that’s part of the magic. There’s very little control in natural dyeing, and that’s exactly what makes it so special.

I started with madder, which created an intense crimson red. Beautiful, but not very ‘me’, so I tried re-dyeing the fabric in the same bath. Then I experimented with black tea. On its own, it produced a warm, light brown; when I combined it with madder, it shifted into a richer, red-based hue. The tea-stained cushion even altered the dye bath itself, transforming the next batch into something entirely new. I doubt I’ll ever recreate these exact shades again (which I secretly love), but here’s what I managed to make.

Some things I’ve learnt in my natural dying journey so far…

Right now, I like dedicating one day to one cushion to really understand how the fabric responds to the dye, and to play with timings and temperatures. I tried doing multiple cushions at once, but it felt a bit too crowded, and I missed the slower rhythm of focusing on just one piece at a time.

I love having something at the end of it that I can use instantly in my home. Making my own cushions has been so rewarding… they’re tactile, personal and full of imperfections that make them mine.

Knowing that these colours come from natural plants and food waste feels refreshing somehow, like tapping into a secret world of colour hidden in everyday things.

I’m learning that colour, like creativity, has its own rhythm. Some hues come easily; others take their time, but either way, I’m happy to follow where it leads, especially when it looks like this…

The New Kid on the Block

So there’s a colour that has been quietly cropping up in consultations over the past few months.

It first appeared during a project for a country house in the Surrey Hills. The vision was comfortable and lived-in, but not too classic-country. My client said, “I’ve seen this colour and I’m in love. I’m hoping we can make it work.” It was a patinated bronze tone - a mix of yellow, green and umber. And we did make it work, as it ended up on the kitchen cabinetry. B e a utiful.

A couple of weeks later, I was chatting to a jewellery designer from Amsterdam who had just bought a country home outside the city. It was an eco renovation, and we were exploring earth tones and soft neutrals across the ground floor. The hallway was a small and dark space just off the open-plan living area and needed something different. We landed on an ochre limewash with green undertones, not dissimilar to a yellow-tinged bronze.

And then, lo and behold, it appeared again this week in a conversation with a designer in France. She described the shade she was searching for as “burnt ochre with a green tinge…” and I had just the right colour in mind…

Patinated bronze. Green-based ochre. Burnt toffee. Yellow-based olive. Whichever name takes your fancy, it’s a colour I never saw coming, but one that seems to be quietly making its way in. And I kind of love it. What do you think?

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So why is taupe so popular and what exactly is it? In my opinion, taupe is the most underrated neutral there is. It straddles that gap between brown and grey and can feature undertones ranging from red to green, sometimes leaning dark and at other times much paler. There are so many types of taupe and today I want to get into the nitty-gritty of what it is, why it works and the different tones to choose from. You never know, it might just be the missing colour you’ve been looking for.

Why Taupe Works: Colour Psychology

It’s tricky to talk about the psychology of this colour because there are so many variations of taupe. Some have notes of red, others subtle nuances of green and some that lean more brown and grey. What I will say, though, is that as a ‘neutral’, this colour is drawn straight from the natural world, in the most unassuming way. It’s not as obvious as green or blue, it’s more complex than brown and it’s not dull like grey. It’s understated and effortless. Used in the right place, in the right proportion, it can create a cosy, comfortable interior that feels safe and supportive.

Types of Taupe & How to Use Them

As taupe can be so varied in tone, I have split this article into the three main types of taupe you’ll find when choosing paint for your home. The first one is my absolute favourite, and if you know me, you’ll know these are some of my go-to paint colours for clients (and myself). So, without further ado, let’s meet the taupes…

Red-Based Taupe: Warm & Cosy

I was recently asked to comment for House & Garden on what colour I thought would be popular next year, and for me, it’s warm, red-based taupe. It might not be bold enough to be crowned ‘Colour of the Year,’ but it’s the shade I’ve noticed homeowners gravitating towards in real life.

These tones have just enough red to bring warmth and depth, keeping the paler versions from feeling too stark or cold, and giving the mid-tones a softness that lifts them beyond a standard neutral. They’re gorgeous options if you’re looking for something warm and cosy but want to avoid yellow-based colours, greys, or true pinks.

Red-based taupes work particularly well in hallways, living rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Essentially, anywhere you want a gentle warmth without it feeling overly ‘done.’

I recently worked with a client who wanted a bedroom colour that felt intimate and comforting but didn’t lean too pink. She was also in the process of updating her furniture, mixing new pieces with some well-loved ones, so the colour needed to work flexibly with a range of tones and materials. A red-based taupe was the perfect solution. It brought that soft warmth she was after while creating a cohesive backdrop that tied everything together, no matter what she added to the room.

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Putty Mid-Tone Taupe: Balanced & Versatile

Next up are the natural taupes. These are probably what most people imagine when they think of taupe. Calm, classic and effortlessly neutral. They’re those beautiful putty shades that sit right in the middle of the spectrum, striking the perfect balance between warm and cool, light and dark.

You’ll often see them vary in undertone, from the brown-based Weimaraner by Benjamin Moore to the slightly blush-toned Joa’s White by Farrow & Ball. This versatility is what makes mid-tone taupe so timeless and adaptable, and it works in almost any setting.

My go-to rooms for these taupes are living rooms, bedrooms, dining areas, and home offices; spaces where you want that warm and cosy feel without it feeling too dark or cocooning.

One of my favourite things about taupe is how well it works with clashing colourful accents. Whether it’s blue furniture like Poppie’s bedroom above, a green sofa, terracotta cushions, multicoloured artwork, or a rich headboard like the one in Malin + Lynn’s bedroom scheme below, taupe creates a backdrop you can shape to your own style.

Deep Taupe: Moody & Grounding

These are the decadent taupes. The hues that hold their own. From nature-inspired Rose Taupe by Mylands to soulful Gumption by COAT, this taupe’s character changes beautifully with the light, appearing warmer and richer in the evening, and softer, more muted during the day. This is your colour if you’re looking for a lived-in feel and aren’t afraid of a little moodiness.

I love using deep taupe browns in smaller spaces and places, like larders and downstairs loos, kitchen islands or accent woodwork such as staircases, built-ins and even front doors.

Taupe might not shout the loudest, but that’s exactly its power. It whispers warmth and sophistication in every space it touches. So whether you’re dipping your toes into this earth hue or you’re ready to go all-in, I hope this article has given you the confidence to choose just the right taupe for you.

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So what do I mean by something ‘unexpected’

It’s not about being quirky for the sake of it, but about adding (or keeping in my client’s case) meaningful pieces that bring you joy. They might be something new and fun that you picked up on your travels (or from scrolling on the internet, because let’s face it, we’re not always holidaying), or old and sentimental, that remind you of someone or somewhere.

Your something unexpected doesn’t need to match your decor perfectly; it just needs to make you smile and feel good. I often think of these pieces as the ‘gut reaction’ pieces. The pieces or colours you can’t say no to; that you’re instantly drawn to. Go with your gut. It’s as simple as that.

Why it works

There’s something magical about a home that makes you smile when you walk in. It feels good, not just looks good. A home should be a place where you can truly be yourself - no pretences, no masks - just a reflection of the people inside. An invitation even into their world, and that includes quirky objects, bold choices, and creative risks.

For many of us (me included), colour is often the simplest and most powerful way to add that unexpected touch - whether it’s a bold front door, a vibrant piece of art, or a splash of paint in an unusual place, but the same principle applies to furniture, objects, and textures too.

Adding the unexpected, of course, also brings soul and individuality to a space. It breaks the predictability, stops your home from feeling staged or sterile, and adds a human touch. I always tell my clients it’s about having the confidence to embrace what makes your space yours, so be brave and mix the old with the new, the passed down with the purchased and the DIYed with the designed.

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How to choose your ‘unexpected piece’ (if you don’t already have it)

Your object, piece of furniture, fabric, art, lamp or ‘unexpected piece’ doesn’t need to be expensive. It could be a flea market find, a handmade item, or even a colour choice.

Like I mentioned before, one of the best ways to think about it is to trust your gut instinct or reaction to something. Ask yourself: “Would (or does) this make me smile every time I walk past it?”

If you haven’t got a joyful, unexpected piece (or colour) and you’re on the hunt for one, here are my top tips to help you find yours:

• Step 1: Notice what’s predictable. Walk into your room and ask yourself what feels ‘safe’? Is it a neutral sofa, matching cushions, or everything in the same style? That’s your baseline.

• Step 2: Choose your point of tension. Decide where to break the pattern - it could be through colour, scale, or texture. Perhaps a vibrant lamp in an otherwise muted scheme, or a rustic stool in a contemporary setting.

• Step 3: Test the contrast. Place that unexpected item or colour (or even a stand-in) in the space. Does it feel refreshing, or jarring? If it sparks a smile or excites you, you’re on the right path.

• Step 4: Balance it back. If finding balance feels tricky, just remember that the unexpected works best when 80% feels harmonious, and 20% brings surprise.

Room-by-room inspiration

Here are some playful ways to weave in a little surprise, room by room.

• Living Room: An eye-catching lamp, a pop of colour or pattern on an upholstered coffee table, or an oversized piece of art that makes you smile.
  

• Kitchen: A splash of colour inside cupboards, a range cooker, fridge, or even the kitchen island in an unexpected hue, plus playful ceramics from your travels or a fun fruit bowl you picked up in the charity shop last Sunday.
  

• Bedroom: A vintage chair that doesn’t ‘match,’ an upholstered headboard in your ‘guilty pleasure’ fabric, or some unexpected wall art that you’ve had your eye on for forever.
  

• Bathroom: Patterned or colourful tiles, a cheeky towel hook, or woodwork and radiators painted in a bold accent colour.
  

• Hallway: The inside of your front door painted in a favourite colour (what better way to welcome you home?), a bold stair runner, painting the bannisters or handrail in an accent colour, or even a fun, meaningful object you love on a console.
  

At the end of the day, design isn’t just about what looks good - it’s about what feels right. It’s those little surprises that make a home yours, making you pause, smile, or remember. Every home has its story, and every story deserves pieces that bring joy. So take a look around. What’s the one unexpected thing in your space that always makes you smile? If you haven’t found it yet, trust me, you will. And when you do, it will make your house feel a little more like you.

It made me feel like I was tapping into something bigger. Something that goes far beyond colour. I don’t mean that in an 'I’m-amazing-and-I’ve-found-my-calling-in-life' kinda way. I mean it in a quieter way, one that feels meaningful to me - a 'god-that-felt-good' kinda way. If nothing else, writing these more personal pieces helps me continue to see my thoughts and ideas through. It makes me accountable, so I thought...why not keep going?

Something I’ve been trying to work on this year is how to manage stress and overwhelm better at work. Quite frankly, both are guaranteed, no matter what job you do, and (I speak for myself here), I definitely work longer and harder running my own business than I did as an employee. Maybe because I care more, maybe because I always aim to give my best, but maybe because I genuinely enjoy it more too.

This year started slowly, and as soon as we got back from India, it was like I'd hopped on the fast train, and I'm yet to get off. Business is busy and I couldn’t be more grateful, but naturally, with that comes a pocketful of overwhelm and a sprinkling (pressure hose) of stress.

My girl friends and I talk a lot about how to manage and deal with stress at work, which in turn trickles into the home. We vent to each other, exchange advice, share what we've learnt from business coaches, courses, our mums, and just life experience in general. My best friend is a mental health nurse trained in cognitive behavioural therapy, so her advice is like gold dust, and after endless phone calls, we’ve built a library of little lifelines to help get us through the hard times. This isn’t a guide as such, more just a ‘sharing’ of what works for me, and hopefully it might resonate with you too.

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1. Less really is more

I used to constantly consume content, from podcasts, books, courses and magazines, searching for ways to build a brand, launch a product line, explore money manifestation, master marketing, find happiness (don’t judge me), work less, earn more…you name it, I’ve read it. But I quickly found that reading so much content and being exposed to so many ideas became completely and utterly overwhelming (funny that…). In fact, it made me feel worse, not better.

So after years of constantly consuming content, I decided to stop and take it back to basics; to keep it simple by talking to family, friends, or just sitting with my own thoughts. And what a difference it’s made.

Don’t get me wrong, I still consume content. I still get lost down a rabbit hole of social media, comparing myself or worrying that I could be doing something ‘better’ in my business, but I stop myself sooner and bring myself back from overwhelm quicker. I still dip into the odd book now and then, especially ones rooted in psychology or spirituality, but not to ‘fix’ myself or my business - more out of curiosity and to see things from a new perspective.

Ultimately, what I’ve found is that when I stop searching for the answer out there, I usually already know what I need to feel better in here.

2. Make your diary work for you

This seems soooo simple, but was probably the most game-changing adjustment for me. For a long time, I said ‘yes’ to everything. A decorator coming tomorrow? Sure, let’s squeeze in a call today between meetings and mood boards. Need colours by yesterday? Wonderful, I’ll work till late creating your dream colour scheme. Which of course ended in instant overwhelm, half-present work, and no space (or time) for myself.

Now I have a two-week waiting list for consultations. It means no one is rushed, every client gets my full focus, and I get to enjoy life outside my inbox too. Slower, yes. But so much better.

3. Know your values and refer back to them.

I must admit, going freelance, I had none of this figured out. The first time I heard about values was when I trialled a workshop with a business coach, and she asked me, “So Charlotte, what are your values?” and I remember saying, “Oh, I have absolutely no idea…”

Since then, I’ve learned that values are the things we align with, the compass points we can always check back in on. Whether it’s a project, a collaboration, or just how I spend my time, asking “does this align with my values?” helps me say yes to the right things and no to the rest.

The business coach gave me a sheet of words that described different values, and my task was to choose ten that resonated with me. Every day, I had to revisit my values and narrow them down to just four.

Some of the examples of values were:

Venture, Impact, Coach, Encourage, Invent, Inspire, Emote, To Feel Good, Guide, Expert, Part of Community, Connect, Nurture, Support, Learn

After ten days of revisiting and narrowing them down, these are the values that finally feel like mine:

Inspire, Design, Expert (quietly), Educate

And because I couldn’t quite land on four, I blended two more into one: Emote & Unite.

Seeing my values clearly on paper has been transformative. It makes saying no easier, saying yes clearer and more importantly, it helps me put myself (and my wellbeing) first.

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4. What you achieve is not who you are

We’ve all heard this before, but…

I read this next line in Miranda Hart’s book ‘I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You’, and it really stuck with me:

“Strip away your job and you’re still the most important part of your wild self.”

Doesn’t that just put it all into perspective? We are not what we do.

When I read this quote, I actually paused and thought about when I feel happiest. It wasn’t after sending twenty emails, ticking off a to-do list or posting on social media. It was sitting in the garden with a cup of coffee, chatting with Dario, cuddling my new baby niece or cooking for friends. Nothing ‘productive’. Just me, being me. And that’s when it clicked: my worth isn’t tied to my inbox, my client list, or how fast my business is growing. It’s in those small, ordinary moments that I feel most like myself.

And here’s what I think: when we tie our identity to constant achievement, we set ourselves up to feel like we’re never enough. But when we loosen that grip and let presence, and the everyday moments matter just as much, we give ourselves space to actually feel good in the life we’ve worked so hard to build.

5. Remind yourself how far you’ve come

I think this is a huge one for freelancers or small business owners. It’s so easy to keep your eyes glued to the next deadline, the next client, or the next goal. The to-do lists, the numbers, the constant hum of social media, pushing us to keep moving without ever taking a breather. But if we never stop to look back, we miss the fact that we’re already standing on ground we once dreamed of reaching.

I am sooo guilty of doing this. So it’s about time we gave ourselves some credit. I started my business in a new country, studied for six years to build my expertise (in a conventional sense because we never stop learning, do we?), and have grown from offering one-to-one consultations to coaching and collaborating with big brands. God, I feel calmer just writing that! So yeah, I will take a moment to enjoy how far I’ve come.

Maybe, just maybe, taking the time to acknowledge our wins (both the big and the small) can help us feel calmer and less overwhelmed, because it shifts our focus from what’s next to everything we’ve already built.

6. Find the thing that makes you feel like you again

Finally, but ever so importantly, find your thing that makes you feel like you again. For me, it’s swimming. Get me in a pool and I’m a new woman. For you, it might be walking, painting, dancing, baking, or simply spending time with your loved ones. Whatever brings you back to yourself. Stress won’t ever disappear completely, but finding that one thing that helps you reset is your magic ingredient.

Of course, we’re all a work in progress and there are days that I can’t see past my small world and the emails in front of me. But when I do manage to find my calm… I am a whole lot happier, and it’s these lifelines that have helped me get there.

I’d love to hear what you do to support your mental health. I’d hate to think this is just me rambling away at you, and wouldn’t it be a whole lot lovelier if we all got to chat and help each other? So, what are your go-to ways for feeling good?