OK hot take coming in. While we all love an earth-tone home (some clay, sand, rattan, etc.), there’s a fine line between calm and curated… and flat and forgettable.
Too much beige and suddenly your “Japandi zen home” starts to feel like a sad Airbnb (sorry).
This is your guide to adding colour intentionally, so you don’t go on a dopamine-fuelled shopping binge and impulsively hit ‘add to cart’ on a fast homeware trend. At The Artisan Lab we’re all about design that tells a story, and makes your home feel like you.
So here’s the no-fluff guide to making your home pop, without losing your earthy aesthetic entirely in the process.
Why Colour Matters More Than You Think
When we talk about adding a pop of colour, it’s not just an aesthetic thing. We're talking about permission. Permission to be a little bit more daring. To disrupt the safety net of a beige and earth tone colour palette. To bring more of you and your playfulness, into the space you occupy.
For some, it’s a vintage Persian runner with threads of burnt orange, indigo, and sand. For others, it’s a hand-painted blue and white ceramic tile from Lisbon, propped on a shelf like a postcard. For you it might be an abstract art piece with layers of cerulean blue (not just any blue!) you made yourself a not-so-subtle nod towards your love for the ocean.
They shape the texture of our daily lives. They’re a reminder of where you’ve been. Of how you want to live. Quiet markers of identity in the everyday.
In a world obsessed with fast, matching furniture sets, and the mass-produced, choosing something colourful and handmade is a quiet act of rebellion. A reminder that your home doesn’t have to look like a Pinterest trend cycle. It can be an extension of you.
5 Simple Ways to Add a Pop of Colour to a Neutral or Minimalist Home
1. Choose a Bold Statement Piece That Tells a Story
It doesn’t have to be loud, but it does need to matter. What you really want is one piece that does more than just sit there looking pretty. You want it to start conversations.
One well-chosen object, whether it’s a hand-dyed storage basket from Rwanda or a planter in an unexpected shade, can create contrast and energy without dominating the room. These are the kinds of pieces that make guests ask “Where did you get that from?” while quietly helping you stay on top of your clutter.
Stop following trends and this will help you anchor your space with something that reflects your taste and your values.
2. Layer Mocha into Your Palette – 2025’s Colour of the Year
Lean into mocha’s design moment. It’s rich, warm, and plays beautifully with colours like terracotta, clay, muted sage and linen. Think of it as a softer alternative to black or charcoal, especially if your home gets natural light and love mixing textures.
If your current home is feeling a bit too off-white and oat milk, mocha adds some depth and mood without taking over the room and being too dramatic. It’s the perfect colour for those who don’t want to disrupt their calm aesthetic.
3. Make Storage Colourful and Functional
Storage shouldn’t be something you hide away. If you think about storage as something visible and part of the story your home tells, you will open up a whole new world of creative possibilities.
Ditch the grey plastic tubs and give everyday mess a stylish upgrade. It can do more than just uplift your space; read about how it transformed our founder’s ADHD. Use our colourful storage bowls, baskets and planters to soften corners, separate zones, or add visual interest to a shelf.
A saturated bowl catches our attention, subtly encouraging habit-building and organisation (especially for the chronically distracted among us).
4. Keep the Base Neutral, But Let One Thing Pop
Neutral interiors work best when they have contrast and tension, everything just fades into the background otherwise. The trick isn’t to flood your home with colour, it’s to let a single piece speak louder than the rest. Balance over being bold just because.
Examples of how to do this well:
- A clay-toned living room with soft oatmeal textiles, layered linen throws, and a bright colourful storage bowl on the coffee table.
- A whitewashed hallway with reclaimed wood details, paired with a vibrant blush pink planter to lift the space.
- A greige bathroom with ****muted towels and a stone floor - add a colourful laundry basket to anchor it visually.
Interior Designer-inspired Tips To Try
- Use colour like punctuation, not wallpaper. One bold accent in a calm space draws more attention than a room full of noise.
- Look for shape, not just shade A sculptural form in a deep colour often feels more elegant than a flat, loud object.
- Don’t default to cushions Instead, bring in colour through things you use daily like bowls, planters, trays, textiles.
- Test with lighting The same colour can shift dramatically under different lighting. Try your statement piece near natural light to see it at its best.
- Think about emotional resonance Choose a colour that reminds you of somewhere you’ve been, something you’ve eaten, or someone you love.
Adding a pop of colour to your neutral space doesn’t need to be a highway to clash city. Think of it as being a point of connection. Connection to your story, your origin, your intentions.
Choose artisan pieces that speak louder than mass-produced decor ever could. Choose function that feels good. Choose colour that reflects who you are now, not who the algorithm tells you to be.
If your earth tone palette is feeling a bit too safe, it might be time for a dose of Barbie pink, hand-dyed indigo, or 2025 mocha.
Explore our latest arrivals to find the piece that makes your home feel more like you.
