This week in thoughts: sometimes it's better to *stay* in your comfort zone...
A year ago, I painted our living room blue and guess what?
I.HATE.IT.
According to a quick google search, blue is the most popular colour on the planet, and listen I get it; after an influx of blue hued rooms on social media, it’s no wonder that so many of us have the blue bug. Blue has been *everywhere*. It dominated the interiors world in 2024 (the year I painted our living room) and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere soon. Apparently this rise in blue is an ‘antidote’ to all the beige we’ve been using but I find this rationale reductive. If you are someone who genuinely loves colour- in your interiors and otherwise, it shouldn’t take something being suddenly trendy to get you to incorporate it. You should just want to use it anyway right? Right?…
And here’s the thing- do we *really* want a powder blue lounge or do we just think we do because FASHION. I often wonder whether people are really into all of this ‘stuff’ they say they are into, or whether they think they should be. Is everyone on instagram playing a huge game of Keeping Up With The Jones’, terrified that someone will find out that they actually still love shabby Chic?
Liking, or using blue (or anything else that is very ‘in’) is in my mind, the equivalent of trying to ‘fit in’. Something I know I have done myself, often, and with varied success. Trends are great if you really truly love them, introducing a little bit of something new can freshen up a space and give it a new lease of life but the key is really (like absolutely flippin’ really) LOVING them. It’s ok to say no thank you, or to pass on something. And it’s ok to prefer a white wall over a blue one. It doesn’t mean you’re not hip. On the contrary, I think it shows a strength of character.
I like to think that I’m quite strong minded when it comes to trends. I generally know what I like and, am repeatedly drawn to the same things when it comes to interior design. My pinterest boards are all very similar-I gravitate towards the same types of pieces when shopping. I have a few ‘trendy’ things; wallpaper in the dining room, some decorative items etc, but I’m learning to stick with what I like because ultimately that is where comfort lies, and being uncomfortable, or feeling ‘at odds’ with your home decor does not a healthy environment make. Maybe I’m boring, but at least I’m honest.
Simply put, I do not love lots of colour- particularly brighter tones, or less organic shades (and having introduced a little more colour into the cottage, I am now more sure of this than ever!) I like the idea of colour, however, the reality is that I cannot live with (much of) it and I find it tricky to work around/ incorporate into the type of look I like to achieve. Ultimately, I would feel overwhelmed in a very colourful home. And practically, I just dont think pastels or primaries (or even a a very colour heavy scheme) works as well when combined with a lot of texture (which is what I prefer.)
Red is one of my fave hues for example; especially a pillar box- but I never wear it and bar the odd book, or Christmas dec, don’t have it in my home either. Alas. I am in love with the idea of it rather than the application of it in real time. I know not to use it, or if I do, to make it temporary and inexpensive.
I do not love flounce and frill, anything too neat or formal-generally preferring a rustic vibe. I LOVE neutrals. Adore muddy tones. And am constantly drawn to earthy, natural materials.
Neutrals have always, and will always be super popular because they are so easy to live with. They are all at once; timeless, calming and provide an excellent backdrop. Do I think neutrals can be uninspired? Yes, if there is an absence of texture and dimension then almost certainly, but that isn’t the fault of the neutral- it’s a styling issue. Neutrals can fall flat if they lean too ‘clean’ in my opinion. That’s why material friction (pairing opposites with each other for example) is so important for a scheme that feels interesting versus insipid.
If blue, and green are the most loved colours due their connections to the natural world then I definitely fall into the latter category- but agan, it has to be a dirty, sulky green for me to really enjoy it. So why I went with blue in our living room is a question I have been deliberating over for some time.
Truth is, I am not a trendy person. I don’t buy lots of clothes, I don’t try and keep up with fashion trends. I’m not even someone who dresses or decorates seasonally. No. I am what I am and I like what I like but sometime in March 2024, I obviously fell victim to influences outside of my control, and have regretted it almost every day since.
When it came to painting the lounge I, rather annoyingly, sampled a tonne of products, spending an ungodly amount of money on a range of blues. I chose pastels (yuck) and delicate cornflower hues (also yuck.) I chose blues that I’d seen in other people’s homes that I was sure I loved. I chose on trend blues, vintage blues, smoky moody blues, even very dark black blues. It’s funny because almost instinctively I knew I didn’t really LOVE any of them, but put my ‘slight wobble’ down to it being a scheme out of my comfort zone.
I eventually settled on DeNimes. A gorgeous, dusty blue that looks stunning with wood tones. Of course, when it first went on I adored it. Over the freshly plastered walls it looked incredible- with that signature very flat finish from Farrow & Ball. And it felt *so* different from the brilliant white artex that had adorned the walls before. But to be honest? I think ANYTHING would have looked better at that point, and that in itself was part of the problem. I didn’t actually love it at all…it was just an improvement on it’s previous incarnation.
As the months passed, I started thinking about our old home more, and missed elements of how I’d decorated it. It was just *so* calming, and so cohesive. Much of that was my consistent use of neutrals and the way that each and every room gently complemented the other. Whilst I have moved away from very contemporary decor, I am still a neutral girl at heart, I am also someone who often has a delayed response to big events and I just hadn’t really given myself time to ‘grieve’ our old home. Instead, I threw myself into decorating our new one; with little consideration to how the use of these new colours would actually make me feel. SIGH.
Our blue living room is popular on my socials. I am frequently asked about the shade, but that doesn’t stop me wanting to repaint it. I decorate for myself and my family first and foremost. Decor isn’t cheap. Constantly changing your decor isn’t either, and so it’s better to get it right the first time. That’s not to say that you should never change anything; it’s fun to update a space! However, I think it’s better to have an understanding of what you enjoy and what your core style is before committing to anything. Take time to really think about how you want to feel and what you can live with.
So with that in mind, I will be making some changes in our living room this year; hopefully starting around May time. My brief and uncertain love affair with blue is over. It’s time to get back to who I really am….
My living room plans:
Repaint! I love Little Greene Joanna but will need to test first.
I’d really like to add some panelling to the walls-I’m talking tongue and groove. However, the walls were only freshly plastered a year ago so it feels a bit silly covering them up. Possibly could go with half height.
I’d like to move the TV over to where the sideboard is at present, and create a gallery wall around it. I would KILL for a Samsung Frame TV but not sure budget will allow (although there are some well priced second hand ones on Ebay.) I’d also like to swap the sideboard out. It was an impulsive purchase, and it’s poorly made sadly. I think I’d prefer a long low shelf.
We have beautiful console table from Still & Bloom that I’d like to put behind the sofa to add some dimension and styling opportunities. I absolutely love the look of furniture behind a sofa, but have never had the space to do so. Luckily, the living room at the cottage is large and the sofa can afford to be pushed forward a little. I will then also remove the gallery wall and use the prints around the TV.
I would like to install some shelving into the arch where the green chair is.
I would like to add a blanket box or a small unit to the left of the striped chair.
I would like to invest in some better curtains!
Wish me luck!
Nina x
A lovely read, honest, interesting & articulate. Love your pov & yes it's relatable. Do what you love, you've got to live with it after all. Good luck going forward. ✌️🫶