Let the walls talk — colours that shape your space

The Indian subcontinent pulses with seasonal color as summer season tree canopies burst with blooms and tropical fruit perfumes the air. This instinctive celebration of color naturally extends into house areas.

We seek advice from main names in the design trade and go to 4 initiatives to grasp how the proper colours could make an impression and work for all seasons.

Rose Milk House by 85:15, Chennai

Vaishali Srinivasan’s Rose Milk House will get its identify from T. Nagar’s Amudha Dairy, the place the staff usually sought refreshment throughout the development of this venture in summer season. The principal architect at Chennai’s 85:15 studio crafts contextually-rooted areas with a lived-in enchantment.

For this 1,500 sq.ft. venture designed for her mother and father, she wished one thing particular. “Hailing from Tirunelveli and Pollachi, my parents lived simple lives. After numerous relocations, they longed for a home that echoed their childhood. I drew abundant inspiration from the government quarters from the 90s that we had inhabited,” she explains. The dwelling unfolds as a mosaic of non-public particulars: the French red-hued wardrobe fascia, the linear grain of laminated finishes, printed floral linen from the Cathedral Road retailer, Kalpa Druma, and a framed pichwai in the residing space, serendipitously discovered at a Co-optex exhibition many moons in the past. 

In Srinivasan’s design playbook, nature performs the everlasting protagonist. “The bold band of green lime plaster has become synonymous with the home. We often find ourselves admiring how it catches daylight and reveals varied textures,” she says.

When requested for a trusted technique of weaving color into houses, Srinivasan leans into nostalgia. “Look for recurring themes in the objects around you. Observe art, textiles, and keepsakes to find a palette that resonates with you. This creates colour-driven spaces that feel unmistakably personal,” she advises.

The Leftovers by MuseLAB, Mumbai

A band of indigo usurps the ceiling and walls, spotlighting the curated artwork fittingly.
| Photo Credit:
Yadnyesh Josh

For Mumbai-based MuseLAB’s principal architect duo, Huzefa Rangwala and Jasem Pirani, storytelling is an inimitable ally at the drafting board. The Leftovers is a 2,200 sq.ft. condominium in the Maximum City that poses as a neo-vintage gallery-esque house for a household of artwork and design connoisseurs. This vibrant redesign has reworked the household dwelling, mixing colour-blocking with considerate curation. A terracotta ceiling diffuses heat throughout shared residing areas, whereas every bed room revolves round a signature hue. Most dramatically, deep indigo cascades from ceiling to wall in a single room, making a fluid backdrop that amplifies the featured Krishna art work.

“The colours don’t exist in isolation; they dance with the family’s treasured possessions — heirloom furniture, curated art, and quirky finds. In this home, colour isn’t an afterthought. It’s the language through which the family expresses their story and joy,” highlights Rangwala. To introduce color the MuseLAB means, start with delicate parts — furnishings, rugs, and layered textiles. Experimenting with tonal variations of a single focal hue creates visible curiosity. The studio presently favours dusky pinks, powder blues, and olive greens for his or her refined enchantment. “We integrate these shades subtly and boldly, valuing their aesthetic qualities and adaptability rather than adhering to fleeting trends,” notes Pirani.

The Deco Haus by Chestnut Storeys, Chennai

The hanging introduction of color by way of a chunk of furnishings in a impartial space creates visible drama at The Deco Haus. Styled By: Samir Wadekar
| Photo Credit:
Ishita Sitwala

At Chestnut Storeys, principal designer Farah Agarwal champions spatial storytelling, conjuring avant-garde environments the place up to date design coalesces with visible drama.

Sprawling over 7,000 sq.ft., the Deco Haus is a non-public residence nestled inside Chennai’s coveted Boat Club enclave. The transient targeted on preserving the house’s historic integrity whereas infusing daring design parts with curated artwork and sculptural additions.

“At the Deco Haus, colour rules by following a simple rule: statement accents are balanced against subdued neutrals,” explains Agarwal, including, “We began with a neutral base for the shell, then introduced striking pops of colour through furniture and accessories — like a vibrant red dining table, sculptural inserts, or accent walls in deep greens. This creates a visual rhythm and incorporates personal elements, like art and photographs, which add meaning to the colour choices.”

Agarwal embraces jewel tones this 12 months, mixing muted pastels with bolder shades. Earthy hues are integrated — ochre, moss, and terracotta. “Texture rivals colour in impact and works effectively in small, replaceable doses. Woven fabrics, metallic accents, and natural materials create dimension, energising your palette,” she advises, encouraging newcomers to be open to color experimentation.

Jade by The Arch Studio, Pune

The tonal play of a signature hue at Jade creates visible environments helmed by color. Styled by: The Soul Concept
| Photo Credit:
Inclined Studio

Warmth, cultural resonance, and performance are the leitmotifs of principal architect Siddhina Sakla’s endeavours at The Arch Studio, Pune. “In 2025, the studio champions vibrant, soothing tones, like soft yellows and deep greens integrated through paint, fabrics, and finishes, creating emotionally rich spaces,” says Sakla. In Jade, a 1,750 sqft Pune condominium, color manifests as a visible bookmark, providing an individualistic persona.

Here, hues are entwined to relate a cohesive story, iterated additional by way of the adept use of textiles, bespoke material, Lakkadhaara furnishings (a standard Indian woodworking approach and magnificence of furnishings that entails lacquer work), and ornate gold-accented ceilings. Sakla explains, “These balanced additions were crucial in fulfilling the client’s brief. To move away from sterile whites and create a colourful, personalised home reflecting comfort, utility, and nostalgia.”

For Sakla, the interaction of color and areas is a fastidiously choreographed sequence. One can start by merely selecting a champion hue and constructing a palette from there, she says. Further, mix delicate patterns and colored accents by way of upholstery, classic finds, or wall mouldings. Layer with curated equipment and rethink necessities like curtains or lighting as alternatives so as to add color all 12 months spherical, she explains.

The author is an architect and design specialist.