Let’s get one thing straight—decorating with color is rebellious as hell. In a world where people are still obsessed with neutral palettes, muted tones, and playing it safe, color is the one thing that screams, “I don’t care what you think, I’m doing me!” And for someone like me (Aquarius, Enneagram 8, liberal, and wildly allergic to conformity), that’s a vibe I can absolutely get behind.
Color isn’t just about making a room look pretty; it’s about making a statement, living boldly, and refusing to blend into a world that wants you to sit down, shut up, and pick a nice shade of greige.
Why Beige Is the Real Villain
Listen, if you love beige, more power to you. But let’s not pretend it isn’t the ultimate choice of people who are terrified of being noticed. Neutral tones are safe, unchallenging, and—let’s face it—boring. It’s what you choose when you’re more concerned with blending in than standing out. Decorating with beige is the equivalent of whispering in a room full of people shouting.
But here’s the thing: life is too short to whisper. And Life is definitely too short to worry about what Karen from down the street thinks of your bright yellow couch or your wild floral wallpaper. If someone tells me a bright turquoise accent wall is too much, I’ll paint the whole room–and in a high-gloss finish no doubt– just to prove a point. And let me tell you, that is the energy we all need more of.
Color as an Act of Defiance
When you decorate with bold color, you’re not just making a room look vibrant; you’re saying, “Watch me.” Watch me break the rules. Watch me live out loud. Watch me not give a damn if you think it’s unsophisticated or gauche or too much. Because being told you’re “too much” for a bold Southern Girl like me whose every report card said “Smart but talks too much” is the ultimate badge of honor, right? IYKYK
In a world that constantly tells women (and especially women over 50) to shrink, stay small, and not rock the boat, using color in design and your wardrobe is the ultimate middle finger to societal norms. Want to slap some hot pink in your living room? Do it. Think kelly green should grace your kitchen cabinets? Go for it. Want to deck yourself out in red from head to toe? Hell Yes! Because who decided sophistication means neutral? The same people who decided women should be quiet and “ladylike.” And newsflash—I’m not here for it.
The Risk of Being Judged
Decorating with color is risky, not just because people might question your taste, but because they’ll judge you for it. Trust me, I know. The world loves to label things that don’t fit into the mold as “tacky” or “unsophisticated.” They’ll say you’re trying too hard, that it’s not refined, that you should really think about resale value (as if our lives are meant to be lived for the next buyer).
If I had a dollar for every vomit emoji that was commented on my design work when I was published in major national magazines and they would share my bold projects like my dining room with bold floral wallpaper and pink dining chairs, then I would be sitting waterside at the Four Seasons Bora Bora right now with a cocktail and not writing this blog post.
But here’s the truth: most of those people are scared. They’re scared of stepping outside their beige-colored boxes, scared of expressing themselves, scared of doing something different. And isn’t that what rebellion is all about? Doing what scares the hell out of people? Particularly you. Showing them that you can take risks, you can live boldly, and you can do it while being unapologetically you. It’s about choosing authenticity over approval. And for the record, whose work was in that magazine and who was sitting like an arm chair quarterback overusing the vomit emoji? Exactly.
Sophistication Is Overrated
Speaking of sophistication, let’s unpack that for a second. Who in tarnation decided that sophistication had to be synonymous with boring? Some guy in a suit who’s afraid of a little color? That’s not my vibe. I’d argue that real sophistication is about confidence. Confidence to choose what you love, even if it’s wild, loud, or unconventional.
The reality is, taking risks with color—hell, taking risks in life—is far more sophisticated than blending into the background because you’re afraid of what someone else might think. So, when people throw around the word “unsophisticated” to describe your bold color choices, just smile, because what they really mean is, “I wish I had the guts to do that.”
Rebel with a Paintbrush (or Wallpaper)
Look, if you want to live a life that’s rebellious, daring, and unapologetic, color is your weapon of choice. It’s like throwing up a big, neon sign that says, “I live my life on my own terms.” And let’s be real, isn’t that what we all want?
Your home is your sanctuary, your personal playground for self-expression. So why on earth would you let it be defined by what’s “acceptable” to someone else? Play with color the way you live your life–or like you wish you had the guts to– boldly, irreverently, and without a care for what anyone thinks. Maybe that’s the 50-something version of me talking, but I like her so we are going with it!
Throw caution to the wind and let your home be an extension of your soul—wild, free, and full of color. Because the only thing worse than being judged for using too much color is living a life that’s beige, inside and out.
Color is a Revolution, my friends, Yes every time you decorate with color, you’re starting a revolution—one bright orange sofa or electric blue wall at a time. You’re saying no to the bland, the beige, and the boring. You’re embracing a world where you get to take up space, live loudly, and refuse to apologize for it.
So if anyone tells you to tone it down, or that your bold colors are a little too much, just give them a smile and throw on another hot pink pillow for good measure.
Because in the end, decorating with color isn’t just about creating a beautiful space. It’s about choosing to stand out when the world tells you to blend in. And honey, you were born to stand out.
Xo, Tobi
