July 23, 2026 — 7:30pmYou might expect an interior-design tastemaker like Greg Natale to have decorated his own home in shades of fashionable white and cream.But Natale is a fan of colours that grab you. “In my own apartment, a maroon theme runs strong,” he reveals.Interior designer Greg Natale is a fan of colours that grab you.Anson SmartMaroon reminds Natale and his partner of a cherished trip to Paris, where they saw the colour everywhere. “Having maroon walls and carpet transports us back to a city we love,” he says.Natale happily admits his maroon-led colour scheme is not on trend, acknowledging that, in 2026, many homes that hit the market or are featured in magazines are cream-coloured copies.While many home owners default to white, experts say those who plan to stay in their homes long-term should embrace hues that speak specifically to them, and can do so successfully by following simple rules. But those who are looking to sell may prefer to take a different approach.Home owners who want their interiors to reflect their personality often engage Natale, known as something of an interior-design chameleon, adapting to clients’ preferences.For one recent residential project in the United States, he employed a mix of patterns, animal prints and deep colours such as olive green and burgundy.“Another house, for a client in Sydney who loved colourful Murano glass, became a jewelled box, with each room taking on its own character, defined by colour,” he says.He believes no colour is off-limits in a home. “When applied thoughtfully and in the right context, any hue has the potential to bring depth, character and brilliance to a space,” he says.That’s not to say he operates without guiding principles. He often works with one-colour palettes, for example, combining multiple shades to create visual texture.Natale employs principles such as one-colour palettes.Anson Smart“By working with different shades and intensities of the same hue, you can create a nuanced interior that feels considered,” he says.Fellow interior designer Thomas Hamel agrees. “Rather than introducing lots of competing colours, it’s often more effective to establish a foundation and layer in subtle tonal variations, creating depth and longevity,” he says.He says nature-inspired tones evoke a sense of comfort and calm.“Warm whites, gentle greys, stone, sand, sage greens and muted blues all have an enduring quality and tend to create spaces that people genuinely enjoy spending time in.”Nature-inspired tones can create a sense of calm.Anson SmartHowever, he says there’s no “wrong” choice when choosing a palette to live in long-term.“Colour is deeply personal,” he says. “For some clients, richer tones such as deep olive, oxblood, aubergine and navy can create wonderfully intimate and sophisticated spaces when used thoughtfully.”The key to success, he says, is to select colours that reflect the style of the home – ornate or minimalist, for example – and its residents’ personalities.He cautions home owners against following the crowd when it comes to colour, as trends can date quickly.It’s also important to consider how natural and artificial light will affect a colour scheme throughout the day, he says.“Testing colours in situ and viewing them at different times of day is always worthwhile.”While Hamel and Natale encourage clients to choose colours based on personal preference, BresicWhitney agent David Smith-Cameron takes a different position when advising those looking to sell.“White is always the safest bet,” he says, adding homes painted in other colours can be “a bit overwhelming” to many buyers.“It’s something we often find with deceased estates that haven’t been touched for decades. Most buyers will walk into a colourful property and immediately feel like they need to make a change, which isn’t always what you want when selling.”BresicWhitney is selling a semi in Sydney’s upmarket Woollahra that was previously for sale in early 2021, when it had striking brown cornices and beige walls in the living room, combined with busy styling. The same home now has off-white walls and minimal styling, making the living room look calmer.Smith-Cameron describes painting a property white as an “easy win” that can deliver a strong return on investment when selling. “I’m renovating a house in Paddington at the moment, and I’ve just spent 30 grand painting it for that exact reason,” he says.But choose your whites carefully. “There are 100 different shades of white, and they’re all very different. A warm white can have a yellowy undertone, whereas a cool white might have a blue undertone.”He suggests home owners choose a white that corresponds with other colours and materials in the home.“People who have cool-coloured features throughout, such as darker floors or blue or grey stone, should paint with a cool white, and those with warmer-coloured features should choose a warm white.”For those determined to buck the all-white trend, Smith-Cameron offers some guidance: “A home with personality is a great thing, but an interior that is too loud can put people off.”Property listingsFrom our partners