Alrighty—let’s talk about this house.
This is my first time really decorating a home. Until now we’ve always thrown things together and called it a day, but designing a house properly is surprisingly overwhelming. I did a lot of research and leaned on friends who have been through it. One of the best tips I got was from my friend Elsie: create a “color story” for your home. That means choosing a cohesive set of colors, textures and patterns to use through most of the house. The point is to narrow your focus so rooms flow together. You can still have exceptions, but having a color story gives you a helpful starting point.
Today I want to share the color palette and overall vibe we’ve chosen. I’ve been collecting inspiration on a Pinterest board since we bought the house and put together a mood board that captures our goals for the space.
Sources: images from various inspiration boards and designers that informed this mood board.
Do you love it as much as I do?
What I’ve learned about my style so far:
- I’m drawn to natural elements—textured Moroccan rugs, woven baskets, rattan and wall weavings. That leans bohemian and feels warm and collected.
- White walls are a recurring theme. I like clean white backgrounds with layers of color through furniture, rugs and art.
- I don’t like gray for neutrals. I prefer creams and warm natural tones as the neutral base.
- I enjoy mixing styles: modern fixtures with rich textures, or pairing a contemporary bed with rattan nightstands. The contrast is what feels interesting.
- We both like pink—so you’ll see it pop up in choices. It’s something we both agree on, which helps!
Exhibit A for why I love white walls as a base—the same room feels completely different with a white backdrop.
How we chose the palette
After assembling our mood board, Jeff and I went to the paint store and gathered a stack of swatches. Laying them all out at home helped us visualize the whole-house palette, even though we weren’t painting every color on walls. We each picked favorites and vetoed the ones that didn’t work for the other.
Shortly after, Dunn-Edwards contacted us with their annual color trends report. As a former fashion student, I love a good trend report, and it was fun to find overlap between our picks and their trends—bright pops of color and a “natural wonders” aesthetic that matched our textures and finishes. A few of the colors we chose (like Highlighter and Go-Go-Green) aligned with their trends, which felt like fate.
We teamed up with Dunn-Edwards and worked with a color expert to finalize our white paint—opting for their standard “White” with “Igloo” as a close second. The expert also suggested creative ways to use color, like painting interior doors, the fireplace niche, or lower kitchen cabinets to add subtle pops without overwhelming the house.
Taking the swatches with us when shopping has been invaluable. We’ve matched fabrics, tiles and finishes to the palette so everything feels intentional.
Final verdict
Colors: Blush, hot pink, peach, mint, teal, yellow, creams and tans, plus lots of white. (Some Dunn-Edwards shades we referenced include Highlighter, Faint Clover, Pink Theory, Cupid’s Arrow, Sweet Sixteen, Amber Tide, Reef Encounter and Cameo.)
Finishes: Brass, marble, quartz and white surfaces.
Tile & wood: Natural wood floors, walnut furniture, scallop tiles, and colorful tile accents in bathrooms and other spots. We’ll be working with Fireclay for some of our tile choices on an upcoming renovation.
Fabrics & textures: Woven Moroccan rugs, rattan, linen and velvet. For high-traffic pieces we’re prioritizing durability—practical options that still feel tactile and layered.
Style: I’m still figuring out a concise label, but it’s something like colorful, eclectic California boho with mid-century modern touches.
I’m so excited to bring this to life and document the process. I’ll be asking for your opinions a lot—there are so many decisions to make! What do you think—was this the look you expected for our home or is it different?
Thanks to Dunn-Edwards for providing paint for our project; all thoughts and choices are our own.