12 Colorful Homes That Ditch White Walls

By Samantha Price 14/08/2026 3 min read 27 views

Colour is one of the biggest things we look for in every home we feature on TDF. It might be in the furniture, artworks, or even something simple like lighting. But it’s especially exciting when people have been brave enough to ditch the default of white walls. Scroll on for 12 of our favourite homes that will inspire you to ditch the safe option and adopt colour in a big way.

Stylist Kelly Thompson’s Colour-Rich, Happy Home

When interior stylist Kelly Thompson first inspected this Heidelberg Heights home, she thought it was ‘way too white and stark looking’, but there was enough potential in the spacious block and retained 1940s features to make it her own. Over the past three years, Kelly has slowly chipped away at mostly DIY cosmetic updates to introduce gorgeous colour throughout the interiors.

Pieces by local artists (many collected from her time running online design store Makers’ Mrkt) and vintage furniture add character, creating a home that’s distinctly ’Kelly!’. The result is a lived-in space that feels less like a showroom and more like a personal collection of memories.

From Mouldy to Marvellous: An ‘Unliveable’ Retro Apartment

When Nina Siska came across this Parkville apartment, it was unliveable, with mouldy ceilings, stained walls, and peeling paint. The listing wasn’t lying when it described the art deco pad as a ‘renovators delight’, but Nina saw the potential in the retro details and wooden floorboards that were hiding under carpet.

With the help of Studio Co & Co, Nina has renewed the 90-square-metre apartment, creating a bold peachy kitchen and eclectic interiors, styled with art and furniture from some of Melbourne’s best local creatives. The transformation required a significant amount of labour to strip away years of neglect and reveal the structure underneath.

Early 2000s Melbourne Apartment Turned ‘Piccolo Palazzo’

Eryca Green says buying her Carlton apartment was ‘never a case of love at first sight.’ With its all-white walls and grey carpet, the circa 2001 apartment was a far cry from the established and eclectic homes she’d previously lived in, but the price was right, and Eryca had a vision.

Almost two years later, the apartment is unrecognisable. Working with Julia Cox of jcHQ, Eryca has designed a home that feels rich in history, featuring vintage furniture, coloured walls, and beloved art. Eryca has created a room of one’s own — an always warm, light-filled, and decorative sanctuary away from the busy world outside.

While the initial investment in materials and labour was high, the long-term benefit is a residence that avoids the common trap of looking like a temporary rental. These owners prioritised character and longevity over quick fixes, ensuring the property develops a unique patina over time. The use of warm tones in the kitchen and living areas helps tie the eclectic mix of vintage finds together, proving that a bold colour palette doesn’t have to be overwhelming when balanced with neutral textiles.