“What’s with the beige?” Why It’s Time to Embrace Colour in Interior Design
In the 2006 romantic comedy, Something New, the gorgeous Simon Baker asks Sanaa Lathan: “What’s with the beige?”
Their fireside conversation captures something many of us feel but rarely say out loud. Beige, she explains, is safe. It’s what her mother considers “appropriate.” Simon (I can call him Simon, right?) gazes at her and pushes back: “See, I think colour brings energy. It excites the senses. It can make you feel sad, it can make you feel happy. It can make you feel bold.”
That moment stuck with me, because it’s exactly what I still see in homes in Kelowna and the Okanagan today. Beige is definitely safe, but it’s also impersonal. It’s a little like living in a hotel. Colour, on the other hand, can tell your story. It can make a space feel alive. And that’s what good interior design should do: reflect who you are, not just what’s trending.
There’s a time and place for beige
Beige isn’t the villain. In fact, it can be the perfect backdrop when used intentionally. Think of a creamy wall that allows artwork to shine, or soft natural tones that bring warmth to a minimalist bedroom. Beige creates quiet. And sometimes, quiet is exactly what we need at the end of a long day.
Plenty of designers use it beautifully. Joanna Gaines, for example, is a master at balancing neutral palettes with warmth. The problem comes when beige becomes the only voice in the room. That’s when the story starts to fall flat. And that’s when colour steps in to create richness, personality, and depth.
What science and psychology tell us about colour as energy
We all know it from walking into a room: colour changes everything. Step into a soft blue bedroom, and your shoulders drop. A sunny yellow kitchen feels brighter, even on a cloudy Kelowna morning. Walk into a red dining room and, boom, you’re alert, awake, maybe even a little bolder.
Science (and by that I mean Instagram reels) backs it up: Simon was right; colour shifts our mood and energy. It’s not just aesthetic, it’s emotional. That’s why I never treat colour as an afterthought. The right palette can be as powerful as the right lighting. It can change how you live in your home.
Cultural perspectives on colour
Growing up in a multicultural household in the French side of Switzerland, I experienced two design languages: Swiss restraint and Haitian vibrancy. Later, living all over Asia and Europe added even more layers. What one culture sees as calm, another sees as dull. What one calls bold, another calls joyful. In China and Hong Kong, deep reds symbolize luck. In Scandinavia, pale neutrals reflect precious winter light. In France, rich ochres and terracottas feel historic and grounded.
That’s why “rules” about colour are never universal (also, screw rules). Your home should tell your story, not follow someone else’s feed.
Real homes, real colour
I’ve seen colour work its magic in ways beige never could.
When my family recently moved into a modern white-box build in the Lower Mission of Kelowna, it felt like a blank page: clean, sure, but soulless. Bit by bit, I added soft green and terracotta walls, rich velvet and boucle textiles, vintage lights sourced at Lois Lane and Zangbell & Gill, and artwork collected over years of travelling that made the walls breathe. Suddenly, it was no longer a house; it was our home.
I’ve had clients who swore they were “neutral people.” We started small: a pair of teal pillows, a mustard throw. A few weeks later, they called me back asking if we could repaint their kitchen cabinets. Once you feel the difference colour makes, it’s hard to go back.
Colour doesn’t mean painting every wall fuchsia! It means allowing a room to have a heartbeat. Sometimes it’s a rug that makes you smile every morning, or a piece of art that stirs a memory. That’s the power of real homes, real colour: it tells your story, not a social media trend.
How to add colour without overwhelming your space (and your senses)
If colour feels scary, start small. You don’t need to commit to four walls of neon; the goal is to make your home feel more alive, not less like you. Here’s how you do it:
Textiles & objects first.
Pillows, throws, rugs, lamps, small, tactile things people notice. Low risk, high reward. Mix thrift finds with a unique piece so your décor tells a story.The “new” accent wall.
Forget the 2010s version. Try wallpaper murals in small zones, colour capping (a modern gradient from baseboard to ceiling), or textured wall treatments like grasscloth or panelling.Focus on key rooms.
It’s easier (and way more rewarding) to start with spaces where you spend a lot of time: kitchens, bathrooms, or your entryway. Even cabinetry, shelves, or the back of built-in bookcases can carry colour without turning the whole room upside down.Natural materials & textures.
Bring Kelowna’s nature in by leaning into woods, stone, leather, and woven fibres. These bring warmth and contrast without relying only on colour. Walnut cabinets, Zellige tile backsplash, or woven baskets display can ground vivid colours, making them feel intentional and cohesive.Neutrals as enhancers, not the default.
Beige is not the enemy— it’s the silence between notes. When colour shows up, it hits harder because neutrals give it space to shine.
At the end of the day, colour isn’t about chasing trends or painting a room just for the shock value. It’s about creating a home that feels personal, alive, and unmistakably yours. Beige has its place, but when it’s balanced with colour, texture, and character, that’s when your space starts to sing.
So if you’ve been playing it safe, consider this your gentle nudge to try something new. Add that silly rug that makes you smile, hang art that brings back a memory, or test a colour you never thought you’d dare. As my mom reminded me when I was freaking out about painting a room dark green: “It’s just paint. You can always paint over it.”
Because when your home reflects your story, it will always feel right.
