Top 6+ designers share the boldest paint risk they’ve ever taken—and why it totally paid off

Consider this your sign to stop playing it safe with paint.

Interior designers are all about taking calculated risks when it comes to paint—it really is just paint, after all, and at the end of the day, anything that looks less than amazing can always be repainted. That kind of freedom makes it a lot easier to go bold and try something unexpected.

Here, six designers reflect on the boldest paint risks they’ve ever taken (spoiler alert: everything turned out wonderfully!) and share why they don’t regret thinking outside the box.

01 of 06

Painting Shelves Bright Red

This small and colorful apartment dressing room certainly packs a punch, thanks in large part to the bright red shelving. Madelaine Mayer, founder of AD:ROIT, opted to bring Benjamin Moore's Redstone into the space without knowing exactly how it would look.

"The result was either going to be spectacularly bold or a childish eyesore—thankfully, it was the former, and the client was thrilled," she reflects. "The color provides just enough punctuation to the space without overwhelming it."

02 of 06

Applying Limewash on All the Walls

The decision to use limewash is one that designers do not take lightly. "Limewash is definitely always a paint risk since applying it is up to the painter who’s doing it," says Shaolin Low, founder of Studio Shaolin. "How they apply, the strokes they make, how they mix in the layers—it all makes a huge difference in the overall finish."

This space, which Low drenched in a blue limewash, is an example of the technique at its best, she explains. But when working with lighter colors such as white, the process has involved some trial and error to achieve the desired cloud-like consistency, Low notes.

03 of 06

Painting a Bathroom Vanity Black

While working on a modern penthouse project in downtown Austin, Texas, designer Samantha Voges was curious about the concept of a dark bathroom to complement the black doors throughout the home.

Even though the space didn’t have a single window, Voges was pleased with how the black vanity ultimately looked. “It turned out so moody, and I think it strikes the right balance between bold and sophisticated,” she says.

04 of 06

Picking a Muddy Shade for Kitchen Cabinets

Kelsey McGregor, founder of Kelsey Leigh Design Co., admits her team was initially skeptical of the yellow-green brown she selected for a recent kitchen project—but she stands by the choice.

“It felt so risky, but once it was on the cabinets, paired with the backsplash, quartzite countertops, and warm wood stain on the oak island, it all began to sing,” McGregor says. “It’s a lesson in not selecting paint as an isolated decision—you have to consider all the ‘players’ in a space to make sure they work together.”

05 of 06

Going With Bold Green in the Office

While many people default to crowd-pleasing neutrals in a workspace, who’s to say you can’t have a little fun with wall color, as Julie Williams did here?

"While working on a home office, a very trusting client took the leap with me to color-drench the room in a darkish green," Williams says. "He was shocked by the transformation from a bland, builder-grade white box into a rich, warm workspace."

06 of 06

Color-Drenching a Dining Room

While the concept of color-drenching has surged in popularity, going all in on a single shade can still feel daunting—even for the pros. "It’s always a vulnerable moment when you choose to envelop a space entirely in a dark tone, because there’s a fine line between dramatic and overwhelming," says Parul Ghei, founder of Studio Jai, of the room shown above.

"My hesitation wasn’t about the color itself—I love rich, moody hues—but rather about the level of immersion," Ghei adds. "Painting the ceiling the same color removes the visual 'escape hatch' of a lighter plane, which can make a room feel either incredibly cohesive or unexpectedly heavy."

Ultimately, though, she’s extremely pleased with the end result, calling the space one of her favorites. "It reinforced my belief that when used thoughtfully, bold paint choices don’t shrink a space—they give it identity and emotional presence," Ghei says.