For much of the 2010s, interior design was defined by one word: neutral.
Beige, grey, white, and greige dominated our homes, our Instagram feeds, and our Pinterest boards. Clean lines, minimal styling, and “safe” colour palettes became the gold standard of good taste.
But as we move deeper into the 2020s, colour is back, and not quietly. Block colours, contrast, and unapologetic personality are reclaiming space in our homes, drawing inspiration from the expressive palettes of the 1970s and 1980s. And honestly? It’s about time.
The 2010s: The age of neutrals
The rise of neutral interiors in the 2010s didn’t come out of nowhere. This was the decade of open-plan living, social media-ready homes, and minimalist ideals. Neutral tones worked perfectly in this context:
- Beige, grey, and white made spaces feel larger and brighter
- Neutral backdrops photographed beautifully for Instagram and property listings
- Minimal colour felt timeless, inoffensive, and resale-friendly
Scandi design, modern farmhouse, and minimalist interiors shaped the decade. Even when colour appeared, it was often softened, blush pink, muted blue, soft sage, always gentle, never dominant.
For many, these interiors felt calm and curated. But for others, they started to feel flat, repetitive, and strangely impersonal. Walk into enough homes from the 2010s and you’d notice how similar they all looked - different furniture, same palette.
The pursuit of neutrality slowly stripped homes of individuality.
Why neutrals lost their grip
By the late 2010s, cracks began to show in the neutral obsession. Grey became overused. Beige became boring. White started to feel cold rather than calming.
Then came COVID-19 and majority of the population had to work remotely.
As people spent more time at home in the early 2020s, interiors stopped being just a backdrop, they became lived-in spaces for working, relaxing, socialising, and expressing identity. Homes needed to feel energising, comforting, and personal, not just aesthetically pleasing. Neutral spaces, while stylish, often lacked emotional depth, they didn’t reflect the personalities of the people living in them.
The 2020s: Colour makes a comeback
The 2020s have ushered in a noticeable shift toward bold colour and contrast, inspired heavily by the design language of the 1970s and 1980s.
We’re seeing:
- Block colours used confidently on walls, cabinetry, and furniture
- High-contrast pairings like deep green with pink, cobalt blue with burnt orange, or mustard with charcoal
- Saturated hues replacing washed-out neutrals
- Accent ceilings, colour-drenched rooms, and statement paint choices
Lessons from the ’70s and ’80s
The renewed love for colour isn’t accidental. The 1970s and 1980s were decades of bold expression in interior design, shaped by optimism, experimentation, and cultural confidence.
- Avocado green, mustard yellow, and terracotta from the ’70s
- Mauve, teal, cobalt, and high-contrast black-and-white from the ’80s
- Colour used as a defining feature, not an afterthought
The difference now is refinement. The 2020s borrow the confidence of these decades without replicating them outright. Today’s bold interiors mix retro palettes with modern layouts, sustainable materials, and contemporary finishes.
Why we’re pro colour
Your home doesn’t need to appeal to everyone. It needs to feel right for you.
Neutral interiors had their moment, and for some, they’ll always work. But the idea that colour is risky or “too much” is outdated. The real risk is living in a space that doesn’t inspire you.
The return of block colour and contrast isn’t just a trend. A move away from perfection and toward personality and self-express.
And if the 2020s have taught us anything so far, it’s this: our homes should feel like us, bold choices and all.
WeChat
