Vancouver’s Interiors Finally Get Their Colour Back

After what seems like an eternity of slightly off-whites dominating Vancouver interiors, the first rays of colour are finally breaking through. With a wide range of hues forecast for the coming year, there’s something to suit every mood and every space.

Many Vancouver homes are open-concept, making the use of a single colour throughout the main living areas common. Livability and comfort remain key, so this year’s soft taupes and “greiges” are smart choices — subtle yet full of character. We recently completed a home in Mount Pleasant that used a beautiful greige — a complex tone that lives between grey and beige. It shifts gracefully with the light, staying balanced whether under the sun, clouds, or warm evening lamps.

Bedrooms are a perfect place to explore deeper, more personal colours. For adult spaces, muted greens, olive, sage, soft terracotta, and clay tones are timeless yet contemporary. Even the early-2000s “feature wall” is making a comeback — but with more sophistication. In a Cedar Cottage master bedroom, we used a soft sage on three walls and a slightly darker shade on the fourth, adding subtle depth without dominating the room. And when your kids start to care about colour, things can get exciting fast. We recently painted a 10-year-old girl’s room in East Vancouver a punchy lavender with a turquoise accent wall — she was absolutely thrilled.

A common misconception is that white paint makes small rooms feel larger. While that can work with lots of natural light, in dimmer spaces white often feels sterile and utilitarian. Instead, small rooms are the perfect opportunity to lean into rich, dramatic tones. Deep blues, burgundy, plum, and chocolatey browns can make a small office feel cozy and intentional. And don’t forget the powder room — a space often treated as an afterthought. We recently painted one in Riley Park–Little Mountain a deep charcoal grey with crisp white trim; paired with ornate silver frames, it became an oasis of vintage Hollywood glamour.

As Vancouver’s design sensibility matures, we’re seeing homeowners embrace more colour, texture, and personality — without sacrificing the city’s signature calm and livable aesthetic. Whether you start with a subtle greige or dive into something bold and moody, the best colour is the one that makes your home feel more like you. After all, walls aren’t just backdrops — they’re the atmosphere you live in every day.