Afraid of Colour at Home? A Melbourne Interior Decorator Shares How to Get It Right
With Lauren Egan
Most of us have stood in a paint aisle, held up a dozen swatches, and walked away with white. Again. But according to Melbourne-based interior decorator Lauren Egan, the hesitation people feel around colour at home is rarely about taste. It's about overthinking.
"I think people hesitate with colour in their home because they're thinking about who might buy my home in the future, or what will my friends think about this colour, when really you should just be making a personal choice that feels good for you."
It's a mindset shift that unlocks a lot. Here's how Lauren recommends approaching colour in your home, whether you're renovating or simply ready for a refresh.
Start Small if Colour Feels Overwhelming
You don't need to commit to a bold living room wall on your first attempt. Lauren suggests beginning in a lower-stakes space.
"The best way to start experimenting with colour is to maybe start with a kids' bedroom or a small room."
Building confidence in a smaller space makes it easier to take bigger swings later. Window furnishings are a particularly good entry point: a set of curtains or blinds in a new colour or texture can completely change the feel of a room without touching the walls, and if you change your mind, they're far easier to swap out than a paint job.
Work Backwards From What Won't Change
One of the most common colour mistakes is choosing paint or furnishings in isolation. Lauren's approach is the opposite: start with the fixed materials already in the room.
"To pick the right shade for your home, it's important to consider the materials that aren't going to change, so things like timbers, tiles, brickwork, and making sure you riff off of those for the paintwork in the home."
The same logic applies to curtains and blinds. Choosing window furnishings that connect back to your floors, benchtops and architectural finishes creates a cohesive look that feels considered rather than accidental.
The Colours Worth Knowing About Right Now
If you're looking for a starting point, Lauren's read on current trends points in a clear direction.
"The colours I'm seeing trending at the moment are really earthy, warm tones, from neutrals through to deep reds and burgundies and greens with a real earthiness to them."
These tones work particularly well with textured fabrics, adding warmth and depth without feeling heavy. If you're choosing new curtains or blinds this season, warm earthy colours in linen, woven or brushed finishes are a natural place to start and a low-commitment way to bring the trend into your home.
Test Before You Commit
Before you paint a wall or order new furnishings, test how the colour actually behaves in your space. Lighting changes everything.
"My biggest tip for trying a colour in the home before committing is to grab a really cheap, stretched canvas and get a roller and roll out two coats of paint on that and move it around the house."
Watching how a colour shifts from morning to evening, and under artificial light, tells you far more than any swatch in a store. The same principle applies to your free DIYblinds window furnishing samples. View them in the room, at different times of day, before making a decision. Order up to 24 and get them delivered to your door, free.
Colour Is Easier to Change Than You Think
If one thing holds people back from committing to colour, it's the fear of getting it wrong. Lauren's response to that is simple.
"The one thing I wish everyone knew about colour is that it's not hard to change. Be bold and be brave and choose something that makes you feel good, and if you want to change it later on, it's easy."
That applies to paint, and it especially applies to window furnishings. Curtains and blinds are one of the most impactful and reversible colour choices you can make in a home. If you've been playing it safe with white or neutral, this season is a good time to try something different.
Explore DIYBLINDS new season colours and order free samples to see how they work in your home before you commit.