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“Adulting is overrated” and apparently, Pinterest agrees. Their 2025 trend report basically screams, “Let your inner child loose with a Crayola box and a paintbrush.” Enter: Primary Play—a bold, unapologetically fun design trend where your house becomes your canvas and your furniture and accessories get a facelift. And not to be left behind, this design style also includes secondary colors like green, orange and purple. You can even throw in a hot pink. It’s taking these colors and “popping” them.
Driven by Gen Z (no surprise) and Gen X (hello, midlife crisis, but make it cute), this trend is all about joyful color, funky patterns, and permission to break the “grown-up” design rules. Whether you’re Gen Z, Gen X, or just someone who needs a little more joy in their house (hi, all of us), this trend gives you permission to make your home look less like a catalog and more like you.
But before you panic about turning your home into a pre-K classroom, let’s talk strategy. This isn’t about regressing—this is about expressing. See what I did there? The trick is in the balance: bold hues paired with clean lines, playful touches layered over classic foundations, and textures that whisper “sophisticated adult” even when the color says “LEGO set.” But don’t worry, you don’t have to go full rainbow to get the look or you can if you’re totally into it. Do you boo. You can ease into the fun (dignity intact) by trying one of these playful ideas in the most strategic spots around your home.
Pinterest’s 2025 trend report is here to shake things up—and it’s not whispering. It’s shouting in bold cherry reds, electric blues, and sunshine yellows. It’s your excuse to stop playing it safe and start painting outside the lines.
So, here’s Part 1 of Primary Play and bringing bold, brilliant ideas into your home.
Houses
We’re going to start with houses because that is your first impression, right? If your home’s exterior is looking a little “blah,” a bold color could be the facelift it didn’t know it needed. A cobalt blue bungalow? Yes, please. A red-brick home with sunny yellow trim? Hello, personality. Too scared to commit fully? Accent just the shutters or trim. Your neighbors will still be jealous.
This green is bright but because it’s in the middle of a tree-lined lot, it blends in with the surrounding nature. The key to picking this green color is in the tone. It’s yellow based, which goes so well with the leaves on the trees.
Mediterranean aqua or teal is also a good choice because it plays off the color of the red driveway of this house. The handmade feeling of each of the tiles on the face gives it a little character.
This gives a whole new meaning to “red brick house”. It is so unexpected especially because it’s such a modern house.
What could be cuter than a lavender house surrounded by lavender bushes?
Again, this particular green and yellow meshes beautifully with the leaves on the bushes and trees.
This is New Orleans with all its personality. Orange and hot pink is a totally accepted color combination so go all out and try something new.
Front Doors
Like I said, first impressions matter so forget your basic black or moody navy. A front door in a primary hue is the curb appeal equivalent of a strong handshake and a wink. Go cherry red for a warm welcome, electric blue for a statement, or lemon yellow if you’re ready to be that house on the block. Want to keep it a little more elevated? Go high-gloss for a polished finish or pair it with traditional molding so it feels quirky-but-intentional.
This cheerful yellow goes so well with the charcoal color of the house. Add some potted plants of the same color on either side and you’re good to go.
A green door with gold nailheads and a gold door handle? What could be more beautiful, not to mention the shape of the door. Although this was photographed in Morocco, it could easily be adapted to your home.
This color is so unique. Is it pink, is it purple? Whatever it is, I love how it pairs with the brass accents.
Tomato red with gold studs and a green glass door knob. So chic and elegant.
Chartreuse is arguably the trendiest color for this Spring and Summer. Paint the trim also and add a gloss finish. It speaks for itself.
Interior Doors & Doorways
We spend all this time inside painting walls, and then just… ignore the doors? Not in 2025. Give your interior doors some unexpected drama. If your interior doors are the same shade as your walls, it’s time for a glow-up. Use a bold hue—think ultramarine in a white hallway or tomato red in a neutral bedroom. It’s like giving your walls eyeliner. And don’t stop there—try the entire doorway casing for a frame-worthy effect.
Burgundy, oxblood, cherry, maroon and wine colors have been trending for a few seasons now. This stunning door and trim adds so much drama to this foyer.
After chartreuse, I’ve been seeing cobalt blue all over the place. So paint your interior door this modern color, add some complimentary artwork and you’re done.
I love this orange and black combo and even though it’s usually associated with Halloween, it doesn’t even give you a hint of that spooky holiday.
Bright pink on a pocket door is a fun surprise, isn’t it?
Green interior doors are always a great idea to me since it’s my favorite color.
This doorway with the bookshelves was probably just screaming out for color before and this poppy red did not disappoint.
Hi-lighter yellow gives this Art Deco doorway a bold personality.
Trace lines outside of an untrimmed doorway and it’ll give it a presence. Go tone on tone with the light blue walls and it’s very sophisticated.
The sky’s the limit with this wall and ceiling treatment. Use any colors you like to get this rainbow effect in the entryway.
Stairs
Whether you’re Team Colonial Banister or Team Steel Railing, stairs are the perfect place to play. They are often overlooked, but they’re prime real estate for this trend. Try painting the steps and/or risers, paint just the handrail or spindles, add a colorful runner or go full-on with trim included. Your morning trip for coffee just became a mini gallery walk.
Traditional
Paint a traditional staircase a bright color like this beautiful blue and it instantly modernizes it and brings attention to the details in the spindles. Match the trim to tie it all together.
This statement red is a piece of art in itself.
Bright pink spindles add an unexpected touch and even extends to the underside of the steps.
Modern
This tangerine orange color that spills on to the walls and pools on the floor below is giving me serious drama.
There’s that hi-lighter yellow again in this minimalist set of stairs. But I’m not sure I’d trust myself not to fall off in the middle of the night.
Michael Murphy Home Furnishings
If you have these steps in your house and you’re wondering what features to paint, why not just paint it all?
Spiral
These architectural showpieces basically beg for attention. Try one bold, solid color in matte or high gloss. These are art pieces disguised as function.
Yellow is popping for Spring and Summer and this modern spiral staircase looks extraordinary in this space.
My favorite green in a high gloss gives a sculptural note to this bar area.
I love how the blue pops against this pink and white wallpaper. Very Miami but could be adopted to any style.
I call this black cherry because I love them and this staircase is “juicy” with its gloss finish. It’s a stunning piece of literal art.
Treads & Risers
Not ready to paint the whole staircase? Just the risers or treads will do. You could even tile them with a fun tile. Think fire-engine red risers with natural wood treads, or cobalt blue paired with a crisp white runner. Don’t be surprised if guests start taking photos of your stairs. (You’ve been warned.)
This mid-century modern tile adds a fun pop of color to these stair treads.
Let your inner artist come out and paint a design on the risers.
Pick a colorful stair runner and you’ll add comfort as well as beauty.
Surprise Inside
Opening a cabinet and seeing a splash of cherry red or cobalt blue is like an espresso shot for your eyes. Keep the outside neutral if you’re nervous, but give the interiors a secret life of color. It’s basically the design’s version of wearing wild socks under your work pants.. So, let your storage spaces live a little. No one expects it—and that’s the fun of it.
Pantry
Why let your cereal boxes have all the fun? Paint the back wall of your pantry in a bold primary color like cobalt or cherry red. Bonus points for adding a playful pattern or even wallpaper in a contrasting color. It turns grabbing the oatmeal into a moment. Functional and fabulous? We love to see it.
This gorgeous purple is just the surprise you need inside of a small pantry.
Bright yellow will just lift your mood every time you come into this pantry.
Give your pantry a color drenching of cobalt blue that feels like a secret portal to a better life. LOL
A green pantry makes you want to eat all your vegetables, right?
Cabinets
Go beyond plain white shelves. Paint or wallpaper the backs of your upper cabinets for a pop that peeks out when the doors swing open. It works beautifully in kitchens, laundry rooms, and even bathrooms. It’s a micro-makeover with mega impact—and it makes reaching for a mug way more fun.
This cheerful orange color is a total surprise when you open the cabinet doors. Painting the inside of the doors gives it an extra pop.
I love the addition of the teacup rack on the door. So sweet.
Bars
Your bar cabinet or built-in deserves drama. Think high-gloss red interiors, teal-backed shelves, or a checkerboard painted base. Bonus: Add LED lighting to really let the colors shine during happy hour. Guests open the doors to pour a drink and instead get a whole vibe..
Paint the inside of your bar with a surprising color like this bar with slide in doors.
This red just draws you inside this closet turned into a bar. Taking the door off makes it even more intriguing.
Closets
Closets are private spaces for your eyes only so why not go artistic and be as colorful as you’d like. Paint is always the easiest, but you can apply wallpaper, fixtures, rugs or even pops of colorful decor. You might surprise yourself on how artistic you could be.
Just by painting the inside of a linen closet, could make all the difference in your mood on a daily basis.
This is monochromatic but not boring. Add a feathery light or other funky pendant and you have a room you wouldn’t mind spending a lot of time in.
When I say I stopped in my tracks when I saw this beautiful teal colored closet. It’s like being inside a life size jewelry box. Painted and gilded ceiling, fun pendant and velvet stools…I could live in this room.
Wallpapered doors are a fun and inexpensive way to add a pop of color to your closet. The yellow trim on the doorway adds a little something too.
Furniture
Hand-painted furniture is back and thriving. Whether you thrift a vintage dresser and go wild with cobalt, or turn that sad side table into an abstract masterpiece, this is the trend to finally justify your obsession with painter’s tape. If you’re not into painting all the things, let your furniture do the talking. But it’s not only paint, there’s upholstery and new technologies that inject that color into your furniture.
Upholstery
Bright velvet is definitely a thing now in just about every manufacturer’s offering this year. But not only that, there’s a definite trend of going bold in your big furniture pieces which is usually a no-no in the design world. We used to think that you should go neutral and use pillows to add pops of color. Now we see more and more furniture designers making that bright couch. It’s fun and if you’re not worried about trends, which you shouldn’t be, you can pick your favorite color and go with it.
Colorful stripes on these side chairs add just enough of a playful note wherever you put them.
A yellow upholstered bed is so cheerful that even if you didn’t have natural light in your bedroom, you would still feel the sunshine.
Bright green with white polka dots. It’s surprisingly modern. Who knew?
These are beautiful but wacky at the same time. Especially if you can envision using all of these dining chairs at the same time. It would certainly make a statement, but just one next to a console could do the trick too.
I like to think the song “Blue Velvet” was made about this couch. The chrome details are so edgy but it also looks comfortable which is the most important thing for me.
This chair with color infused resin and upholstered bolsters is fun and surprising.
Tables
Tables are no longer just flat surfaces to drop your keys on or put coffee table books that you don’t read on. A bold table turns functional furniture into a focal point. Paint or buy a dining room table in a rich red or deep blue to anchor the space with confidence. Go playful with a coffee table in lemon yellow or even a checkerboard pattern for that artsy vibe. And don’t sleep on side tables, stools or benches—a little color here brings just enough surprise to make a room feel thoughtfully layered (without committing to a full furniture makeover).
This dining table looks like a watercolor painting and would certainly start a conversation.
Love this side table with an enameled yellow color. Very mid-century modern and at the same time of the moment.
Adding a pop of color on the trims and legs of this picnic table is all you need to make it stand out.
Tangerine is always a color that makes me happy and this wavy coffee table makes me very happy.
A red glossy console table in a foyer would be the first thing a guest would see. It lets them know that this is a fun home.
Free Standing Cabinets
Whether it’s a bar, a tv console or a hutch, bold cabinets make any space instantly cooler. You can thrift any of these and transform it with paint or buy something since new technology is just about using every color in the rainbow to get a custom look.
A bold purple liquor cabinet, or at least that’s what I would use it for, will give you the royal treatment.
Glossy orange again with this tv console. Modern and striking.
There’s something about this green ribbed cabinet against the green wall and the colorful lamps are just gorgeous.
This is basically sunshine in a cabinet. I love how they’re using the complementary color of purple to make this really pop. And Snoop just makes this Grandma Chic look more cool.
Bold colors work well with black and white like this green sideboard with black and white striped wallpaper.
Benches and Stools
These are easy entry points. Paint a step stool red, or snag a blue bench and suddenly your mudroom feels designer-curated.
If you want to go all out designer, these ribbon like benches are just absolutely stunning. They are made of folded fabric, with a traditional Bedouin weaving technique in the UAE (United Arab Emirates) by women. Anytime we can support women artisans is a win.
Al Ghadeer Crafts via Middle East
I don’t even know what color these stools are exactly, but I love them. Sprinkle these around your living room for seating and to add little pops of color.
This red steel bench with red upholstery is streamlined and very modern. Think about mixing it with antiques to give your home that eclectic look.
This fun green stool will make a statement wherever you put it. It looks like a robot and will give you all the Star Wars feels.
Instagram @craftsmanextraordinaire
Lilac Metal. This molded bench is another one that will make a statement.
Colored stains are making a comeback. Just ask Minwax who announced a purple stain as their 2025 Color of the Year.
So as a final pep talk, this isn’t about throwing out your existing style and turning your house into a ball pit—it’s about injecting some joy, energy, and originality into spaces that could use a little personality. So whether you dip your toe in or cannonball into the trend, Primary Play is your 2025 permission slip to have fun with your home.
Even in my own style, the queen of neutrals with muted pops of color, I will be trying some of these out and if you knew me, you’d know that this is a very bold statement. So go ahead—color outside the lines. Your house will thank you for it.
Let me know in the comments if you like very bold pops of color. In Part 2, we will have a lot of fun exploring the world of Decor and Outside Spaces.
See ya next time.
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