Redecorating with a Sensory Friendly Colour Palette.
For years, I’ve loved bold colours. Deep teals, bright yellows and oranges, and dramatic contrasts. Our hallway, in fact, is currently black and white with a pop of red. But as much as my logical brain loves the aesthetic of bold interiors, within our home environment we’ve began to realise that for our sensory brains, it’s maybe not always the most functional choice.
Every room in our house is a different bold colour, and while that might work for some people like two years ago when I painted it and I thought it would be ‘fun’ for our daughter to grow up in a rainbow coloured house, I now realise that it can feel overwhelming. Like a constant visual clutter that adds to the mental load.
So, to mark our two year anniversary of island life as a family - we’ve been talking about change. Not just a fresh coat of paint, but a full reset… something a little softer, more cohesive, and sensory calming. We are inspired by Mediterranean tones and we’ve settled on a palette of Creamy Off-Whites, Muted Tuscan Pinks, Muted Terracotta and Olive Greens - warm, earthy, and consistent throughout the house. We will still have nods to The Hebrides through our artwork which brings connection and personality, but in a way that feels grounding rather than stimulating and a little chaotic.
This palette also serves a practical purpose beyond just being sensory-friendly. Living on the Isle of Lewis, we’re surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, but the environment can often be cold and grey, especially in winter. Ever heard of Stornoway Grey? There’s even a Land Rover of that very colour! Therefore, it’s fair to say natural light can be limited, particularly in our kitchen and dining area, which always feels darker than the rest of the house. By leaning into these warmer, natural tones, we’re bringing a sense of light and warmth into our home, making it feel more inviting even on the dullest days.
For my partner, this shift feels even more meaningful. With his partly Italian heritage, the Mediterranean aesthetic isn’t just about style… it’s something that connects him to his roots. He grew up around stories of Italy at family gatherings, of warm tones and natural textures, of homes that felt lived-in and welcoming. Bringing a touch of that into our own space feels like a way to honour that part of him, to create a home that reflects not just what feels good but what means something to us.
A Budget-Friendly Approach
Since we rent and don’t plan to stay in this house long-term, we can only visualise another few years here until we’re ready to purchase a place of our own, this needs to be a budget-friendly refresh. We’re working around what we have, keeping costs down by choosing affordable paint brands, upcycling furniture, and focusing on small changes that make an impact without a huge financial investment. It’s about creating a space that feels good to live in at the moment while keeping our long-term goals in mind.
Preparing for Change When Change Feels Hard
One challenge we’re working through is helping our daughter adjust to the idea of redecorating. Change can be unsettling, even when it’s positive.
Here’s what we’re doing to help:
• Involving her in the process: We’re letting her help pick shades within our chosen palette, so she feels like she has a say in her space. Even just showing her sample swatches and asking her opinion makes a difference.
• Using visual previews: Instead of just telling her what’s changing, we’re showing her pictures of similar room styles so she can visualise the end result.
Calming Interiors Pinterest Board
• Making changes slowly: Rather than redoing everything overnight, we’ll introduce new colours gradually, starting with the kitchen then living area before moving on to other rooms.
• Keeping some familiar elements: Her room will remain mostly the same for now, so she has a space that still feels like hers while the rest of the house transitions. Her room isn’t too far from the colour palette anyway and only needs a refresh and muted slightly.
As someone who is slightly obsessed with home and interior design - I’m excited for this shift not just aesthetically, but in the way it will shape how we experience our home. The colours are so different to anything I’ve chosen before but after a ton of research I’m more than sure they will create a more soothing, sensory-friendly space that reflects the life we want to live here. And in a small way, it’s also about a connection to our needs, to our identities, and to the places and stories that shape us. I can’t wait to share the change when I’m done.
If you’ve ever adjusted your home for sensory needs or on a budget, I’d love to hear what worked for you?
Til Next Time | Lesley-Anne
