If your home is still stuck in winter-neutral mode (guilty with the gray palatte here), this is your sign to shake things up. Chicago North Shore Moms’ contributing partner, Skokie Ethan Allen, is sharing their three favorite spring colors and exactly how to use them, whether you go all in or just add a pop of something new. Walk-ins are welcome, and their complimentary 3D design service takes all the guesswork out of the process.
Words and photography by the Ethan Allen design team
Goodbye, snow. Hello, crocuses and daffodils. It’s been a winter to remember, and we could all use a fresh injection of spring color—inside and out. Whether you’re a beige devotee who’s ready to branch out or a color lover looking for inspiration, we have three favorite spring shades to start your home on a bright and beautiful new journey.
SPRING COLOR: BUTTER YELLOW
From the world of fashion to your front door, butter yellow is a trending statement that energizes a space and boosts your mood. “It’s a great first step away from beige,” says Ethan Allen design consultant Barbara Stevenson. “It’s bright yet subtle, and pairs very well with rich, dark wood tones.”
In addition to painting your walls in this happy hue, you can introduce it in an upholstery fabric—or you can drop in pops of yellow in artwork, bedding, pillows, and throws. “This color really sets off elegant materials like alabaster and plays so well with warm metal tones,” Barbara notes. “It can be both cheery and chic.”
SPRING COLOR: PLUMMY PURPLE
A bold, royal purple is on deck to be Spring 2026’s favorite color—but for a home, such an electric color may feel like a little too much. “The key is warmth,” says Ethan Allen design consultant Mia Kytola. “I like a lighter plum shade with warm red undertones—it’s a bold change without being completely maximalist.”
Like its subtler friend butter yellow, plum is a companion to cognac-colored woods and warm metals. A whole room painted plum will feel moody and cozy, but if that’s too much color for your taste, paint one accent wall your favorite shade of plum, or have an accent chair or ottoman tailored in a purple fabric. “Because of its richness, plum can draw even the subtlest textures in a room forward, so lean into the glamour,” says Mia. “Think velvets, faux fur, shagreen, and more.”
SPRING COLOR: ICY BLUE
The perfect winter-to-spring transition color, icy blue is incredibly versatile, playing well with a wide range of colors. “If you like having blue in your home, but you want to take it in a more sophisticated direction, this is the color for you,” says Ethan Allen design consultant Maria Pifke.
White and cream work exceptionally well with icy blue, but it can also work with light yellows and greens alongside, and it’s flexible enough for both silver and gold-toned metals. “This shade works well with light wood tones,” Maria notes, “and also picks up other blues and teals well. It almost acts as a neutral while giving your home this great mix of lightness, brightness, and elegance.”
NEED SOME COLOR CONFIDENCE? A DESIGNER CAN HELP.
One of the biggest barriers to bringing in color is the fear of getting stuck with a choice we’re going to regret. “Having a professional by your side to help you with colors, patterns, fabrics, all those elements, can give you the confidence to make a choice and know it’s going to look great,” says Ethan Allen design consultant Gail Writt.
Even better—before you order that purple sofa or that yellow chair, get a preview of how it will look in your space, so you can feel confident you’ve made a great decision. “Ethan Allen offers 3D planning as part of our complimentary design service,” says Gail. “We re-create your space from measurements or blueprints, put in new furniture, accents, and window treatments, and show you all that bringing in color will do for your home.”
Ready to kickstart your color journey? Stop by Ethan Allen in Skokie at 9747 Skokie Blvd., in the Shops at Orchard Place—walk-ins are welcome—or call 847.675.5600 to schedule a complimentary design session.
