When it comes to home design, colour isn’t just decoration – it’s emotion, memory and mood all wrapped into one. From the moment you pull up to a house, the palette speaks volumes. A bold door, a calming exterior tone, or a splash of vibrant trim can change how we feel before we even step inside. And once we’re in? Colour continues to shape how we experience space – lifting us up, calming us down, or grounding us in comfort. It’s one of the most powerful, yet often overlooked, tools in residential design, and it deserves a closer look.
As a full-service design and build firm, Eurodale focuses primarily on the physical built form, leaving the colour selections up to our interior designer Laura Thornton (@Thorntondesign) – or to the client themselves... if they’re feeling brave!
To help guide you all, we sat down with Thornton to get a refresher on what’s hot (and what’s not) in colour, and what to consider when updating your home to confidently align with today’s trends.
Brendan Charters (BC): Anything new in cabinet colours? Or is white still dominating?
Laura Thornton (LT): White continues to be a staple in kitchen design, but we’re seeing a subtle yet impactful shift toward warmer, creamier tones, moving away from the bright, stark whites that have been prevalent in recent years. This evolution brings a softer, more inviting look that feels timeless and lived in.
We’re also seeing a resurgence of wood tones in kitchen environments. While white oak remains popular, there’s a growing movement toward richer, more classic brown finishes. This return to depth and warmth in cabinetry is another nod to the European influence that’s quickly gaining traction in both kitchen and bathroom design. The overall aesthetic leans into relaxed sophistication, favouring natural textures, weathered finishes and even the omission of upper cabinetry to create an open, effortless feel.
BC: Metals – lights, faucet and handles. Chrome and satin nickel gave way to brass and black. What’s next?
LT: Brass – especially with a living finish – and matte black continue to dominate kitchens today. Both bring a relaxed yet refined elegance that complements a variety of design styles. While these finishes remain strong, we’re beginning to see the emergence of coloured plumbing fixtures making their way into kitchen design. Matte white is leading this charge, but bolder hues, such as greens, navy, rich reds and even orange, are starting to appear in more adventurous, design-forward spaces.
As for cabinetry hardware, metal finishes still reign supreme, but there’s a clear shift toward added texture and detail. Hammered finishes, industrial-inspired elements such as exposed screws, and more intricate designs are gaining popularity. We’re also seeing the return of traditional European detailing, with ornate backplates and hinges.
BC: “Builder beige” was always said to be boring on the inside, yet we’re seeing the return of lighter browns in hardwood and Taj Mahal counters with hues of beige.
LT: After more than a decade of living in a sea of cool greys, the return of warmth is a refreshing and welcomed shift in Canadian interiors. Beige, tan and deeper browns are making a strong comeback, bringing a sense of comfort and richness to spaces that once felt stark and cold.
While “builder beige” may have earned a reputation for being uninspired, today’s version is anything but. We’re seeing these tones reimagined in a more refined, elegant way – think creamy beiges with depth, warm wood floors and natural stone counters with soft, earthy undertones.
Design details are also evolving to reflect this new-found warmth. Kitchens and bathrooms are embracing softer elements, such as reeded textures, curved silhouettes and tactile materials, which are becoming more prominent. These features are often paired with soft brass plumbing and hardware finishes, creating a cohesive and elevated look. The overall design direction is moving away from the stark, farmhouse-inspired minimalism and heading toward a more lived-in, sophisticated warmth that feels timeless and inviting.
BC: Exterior claddings face challenges. should the interior of a home match the exterior? and Do you like a high mix of colours or a more monochromatic exterior?
LT: While I don’t specialize in exterior building materials, colour and aesthetic continuity are very much within my realm, and both ultra-light and ultra-dark exterior finishes come with their own set of maintenance challenges. Lighter tones can show road grime and moss more easily, while darker finishes are prone to fading over time from the sun. My advice? Choose what you love. If a quick refresh each spring or fall keeps your home looking its best and brings you joy every time you pull into the driveway, then the maintenance is absolutely worth it.
As for whether the interior should match the exterior, I believe there should be a sense of flow. The palette doesn’t need to be identical, but there should be a visual or tonal relationship that connects the inside and outside for a cohesive feel.
In terms of colour mixing, I lean toward a more restrained, tonal approach on the exterior. A monochromatic or harmonized scheme feels timeless and allows architectural details to shine, while still letting your home stand out, in the best way. Don’t feel pressured to blend in with the neighbours; your home should reflect your personal style, both inside and out.
BC: If you could give one tip to a colour-conflicted homeowner, what would it be?
LT: Be brave. It’s only paint, and the beauty is, it can always be changed. That said, working with a designer can take much of the guesswork out of the process. A designer considers the tone, hue and undertone of a colour, and how it interacts with the existing elements in your space, such as flooring, furniture, cabinetry and architectural finishes, to ensure your selections elevate the overall design.
Lighting also plays a major role in how colour is perceived. Natural light during the day and artificial lighting at night can dramatically shift the appearance of a shade. I always recommend testing paint swatches on multiple walls and reviewing them at different times of the day – morning, noon and night – before making a final decision. And this tip doesn’t just apply to paint; the same approach works beautifully for other finishes in your home, from tile to flooring to cabinetry. Thoughtful testing leads to confident, long-lasting decisions.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re starting from scratch or breathing new life into an existing space, colour should be one of your first – and most exciting – decisions. From the curb to the kitchen, every hue has a role to play in how we live, feel and connect with our homes.
When planning your own home project, remember there is real value in working with a professional to design and build or remodel the space.