Each era has its own aesthetic structure. In the 1970s, interiors followed suit, embracing a riot of color and pattern, from orange and yellow kitchen cabinetry to geometric and floral fabrics in purple, magenta and lime green.
For those of us who lived through them, the ’80s were equally memorable, with big shoulders, bigger earrings and layers of pastel shirts and pushed-up jacket sleeves translating into dollops of pale pinks, peach and mint green interiors teamed with soft grey, or shiny splashes of electric blue, black and red contrasted with polished chrome or brass.
Love it or hate it, they were bold statements where the personality of the homeowners came to shine.
But what will interior design in the 2020s be remembered for? Quite possibly, it’s beige.
Under the influence
Sarah Marriott, director of SJS Interior Design, says it is quiet luxury or Byron Bay boho, social media accounts are full of interiors in shades of cream and caramel – and not much else.
“Beige and white cream-on-cream earth viral styles, that’s what influencers are showing, especially in Byron (Bay),” he says.
And the homeowners prefer what they see as an unhealthy forehead.
“It’s normal for customers to see that as trending. Even Temu and the ‘click and deliver’ options for quick furniture, they’re all cream and boucle.”
Interior designer and stylist Jono Fleming agrees that the warm gray of the past few years has given way to a palette that starts with warm whites and ends with chocolate colors. He says while it’s a good look, it also risks being lifeless.
He recently blamed the lack of chroma in an Instagram post, referring to brown as beige “and better PR”.
Finding your own style
Fleming regularly visits clients’ homes to advise on ways to bring their personality into the space. While beige may seem like a stylish choice to some, she says that doesn’t mean it creates the sense of sanctuary or connection that many desire.
“After doing 80 consultations (last year) and going to people’s homes, those who have gone with beige will say, ‘it still doesn’t look like me’,” he says.
He says that there is nothing wrong with a warm palette of white and beige but alone it can leave rooms lacking.
“Beige is really a safety net for people who don’t have the design skills to apply color. They say: ‘Beige is my favorite and it’s my taste because you can’t go wrong. It blends and it all looks cohesive.’
It is a space supported by color sales. Lauren Treloar, color and design manager at Dulux, says their range of interior whites are still the most sought-after colours.
“White is our most popular color but we’re seeing a continued preference for warm, comforting colors like white and neutrals,” she says. “There’s a quiet luxury style that’s still very popular. People really like understated sophistication over flashy, loud designs.”
Reason for resale
Matthew Carvalho, a Sydney-based real estate agent at Ray White, says homeowners who reject the power of beige may also pay too much when selling.
“No one has a problem with a white man,” he says. “Sometimes I go into houses, especially old houses, and they have mustard or dark red on the walls.
“It might look good in the past, with heavy wood on the door frame, but some of those dark colors can be off-putting to a buyer, especially if it’s been done a while ago.”
Carvalho recommends whatever you use to whitewash your home before selling the will pay you ten times over at the auction.
“So a $10,000 paint job adds $100,000 to the price,” he says.
If you’re planning to use a painted interior before selling, Carvalho says professional design advice is in order to make sure the board doesn’t disappoint buyers.
“I wouldn’t paint unless you had good advice from a design professional,” she says.
More neutral
Marriott says some customers are afraid to go outside the white palette because they have trouble imagining how it will look, and they think it will be harder than living with a neutral color.
“Most people think the color will come off but it has no date at all,” he says.” “If you really hate it you can repaint it. We can put (room systems) in AI or make 3D models and graphics – it’s a quick and easy process now.”
While Instagram posts can showcase the perfect photo gallery, she says the “cut-and-paste” approach to styling can be bland.
“Good house influencers show, not real life,” he says. “Boho is fine if you’re in the Byron area but often the house tells you its style.”
Fleming suspects some fears about getting out of the cream and caramel color are fueled by concerns about reselling.
“Of course estate agents will say that’s not the best way – to add too many personal touches to a renovation – and ‘you have to be neutral to sell’ is the hype,” he says. “From a design point of view, everything will remain current. Ultimately, no matter what the white wave is today, in five to 10 years, maybe even five years, it will reach now.”
Even if you’d prefer to keep your walls white, she says you can create a sense of warmth and connection by adding personal touches such as something from your travels, a colorful rug or a favorite painting, which can help provide a palette for another room.
While beige will be with us for a while yet, it is not static. Fleming says the emerging trend is less about quiet Instagram-worthy luxury and more frivolous.
“People are looking for furniture on Facebook Market and vintage stores to add personality – it’s become an ‘anti-trend’ style. Beige will change.”
Robyn Willis is a property reporter and former lifestyle editor for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
