For a long time, Nina Takesh decorated with a narrow palette of whites, beiges, and gentle neutrals. What she calls ‘fear of being wrong’ kept her leaning into safe choices instead of bold color. Now, she’s learned to treat color not as decoration but as a core part of a room’s architecture and character.
- Neutral tones once felt safe but limited creative expression
- Color shapes room atmosphere and should be a structural choice
- Bold design takes courage and commitment to a vision
What happened
Nina Takesh spent years decorating with a restrained palette dominated by warm neutrals like beiges, stone, and soft whites. This approach was meant to prioritize longevity and subtlety, letting architecture speak without distraction. However, she eventually realized that much of this was motivated by a fear of making a wrong design choice and ending up with a room that felt too bold or polarizing.
Through her experiences growing up across diverse cultural interiors—from Persian to French styles—Nina saw color was more than an accent. It played an integral role in visual structure and narrative. Her design work and personal tastes evolved as she fell in love with richly saturated hues that gave rooms a distinct identity and emotional richness rather than fading into the background.
Why it feels good
Embracing color feels empowering because it demands decisiveness and personal expression. A room that commits to a strong color story projects confidence and character, qualities often missing from neutral or beige-dominant spaces. Nina highlights how color influences perception—impacting a room’s scale, intimacy, lighting, and the synergy between objects within it.
The shift away from purely safe choices allows for joyful experimentation and richer atmospheres. Bold color choices invite engagement rather than neutrality’s quiet, anonymous backdrop. As Nina puts it, choosing color means defending a position and creating a room that truly speaks to one’s aesthetic intentions, turning decoration into a meaningful, structural decision.
What to enjoy or watch next
If you’re feeling inspired to shake up your own space, consider how color can act like architecture—defining the essence and mood rather than just adorning surfaces. Look for projects or inspiration that celebrate daring palettes, like deep terracotta kitchens or forest green libraries, and see how they create an immersive atmosphere you want to inhabit.
For continued inspiration from Nina Takesh’s perspectives on color and design, explore her collection of articles at Homes & Gardens by Design. Signing up for newsletters with expert advice and trends can help you stay motivated to break out of decorating comfort zones and embrace confident, joyful interiors.