Design & Living
Bringing Personality Back Into Our Homes
· Elise Lambert
Colour, character, collected furniture and why our homes don't all need to look the same.
For years, white walls, grey floors and neutral interiors dominated home design. Walk through enough new developments, staged properties or interior design photographs, and you begin to notice how similar everything looks.
The same pale furniture, neutral rugs, oversized artwork and carefully arranged accessories. Beautifully presented, perhaps, but often difficult to distinguish from one home to the next.
Now we're seeing a renewed interest in richer colours, vintage furniture, craftsmanship and interiors that reflect the people who live in them.
And I welcome it.
A Home Doesn't Have to Follow One Style
Some of the most interesting homes I've visited over the years have been furnished with pieces collected over a lifetime.
An antique Québécois cabinet alongside an Italian modern dining table. A Persian rug beneath contemporary furniture. Original artwork, inherited pieces, vintage chairs and objects brought home from travels.
These combinations aren't necessarily planned around a particular decorating style. They develop over time.
I particularly love seeing this in Vancouver's older homes, where original fir floors, stained glass, beautiful woodwork and architectural details provide a wonderful backdrop for both old and new furnishings.
A deep blue wall can make an antique cabinet look contemporary. A modern light fixture can bring a completely different character to a traditional dining room.
Not everything needs to match. In fact, sometimes the contrast is what makes a room interesting.
Has Staging Become Too Generic?
As a Realtor, I appreciate the value of good staging. It helps buyers understand how rooms function, establishes a sense of scale and allows them to imagine living in a property.
But I also think staging has become increasingly predictable.
There's a familiar formula: neutral sofa, pale rug, round coffee table, a few decorative books, a vase of branches and artwork chosen primarily because it won't offend anyone.
We've all seen that room.
And now AI-generated interiors are often reproducing the same formula. The furniture may change slightly, but the overall effect is remarkably similar.
There's nothing inherently wrong with a neutral interior. Some homes are genuinely beautiful in a restrained palette.
The problem comes when neutrality becomes the default for every property, regardless of its architecture, history or character.
A century-old Kitsilano house shouldn't necessarily be presented the same way as a new Yaletown condominium. Nor should a mid-century home be stripped of the very design qualities that make it distinctive.
Staging Should Reveal a Home's Character
Good staging isn't simply about filling rooms with attractive furniture.
It's about understanding the property.
In a character home, that might mean allowing the original woodwork, windows and architectural details to take centre stage. In a mid-century house, it could mean choosing furnishings that complement the proportions and materials of the original design.
In a contemporary condominium, thoughtful staging can demonstrate how a smaller space accommodates everyday living without making it feel crowded.
Sometimes the best decision is to remove furniture. Sometimes it's to retain a beautiful antique, an interesting painting or a distinctive piece that gives the room personality.
Of course, sellers still need to consider how their personal belongings will appear to potential buyers. Excessive clutter, highly personal collections and crowded rooms can make it harder to appreciate a property.
But removing distractions doesn't have to mean removing character.
And when buyers visit several properties in one afternoon, a home that feels distinctive may be easier to remember.
Colour Is Part of the Story
I'm also pleased to see more interest in colour.
Deep blues, earthy greens, terracotta, warm browns and muted plums can create beautiful interiors, particularly when combined with natural materials and older furniture.
Colour can highlight architectural features, bring warmth to a room and provide a backdrop for artwork and furnishings.
It doesn't have to mean painting every wall. Sometimes a single room, a beautifully coloured cabinet or a carefully chosen piece of furniture is enough.
For sellers, the decision to introduce colour should always consider the property, its existing finishes and the likely buyer. A dramatic paint choice isn't necessarily the right staging decision for every home.
But for the rest of us, living in our homes rather than preparing them for sale, there's every reason to experiment.
A Home Should Feel Like Someone Lives There
Perhaps that's what I find most appealing about this return to individuality.
Our homes don't need to resemble furniture showrooms or the images generated by an algorithm.
They can contain things we've inherited, discovered, repaired, collected and loved. They can bring together different cultures, generations and design periods.
And they can change as we do.
I spend a great deal of time looking at homes, both professionally and personally. The ones I remember aren't necessarily the most expensive, the most recently renovated or the most perfectly staged.
They're often the ones with something unexpected: a beautiful old staircase, an unusual piece of art, a room filled with books or a wonderful combination of furniture that somehow works.
A well-presented home helps people appreciate the space. A home with personality gives them something to remember.
And perhaps we could use a little more of that.
Lambert Properties | Vancouver Westside Real Estate