The 'recovering beige mum' is bringing color back - here's how to embrace it in your home
Plenty of parenting trends are divisive, but one seems to have really kicked off a lot of debate in recent years: the 'beige mum'.
We've all seen the TikToks and photos of mums who look like they've pulled their kids' playroom out of a magazine. Perfectly-curated wooden toys, everything in neutral shades of wood and beige, and don't even think about a single battery-powered toy making it into that space. It was known as the beige mum movement, and I'm pretty sure it's now over.
When I became a mum around 2.5 years ago, the beige aesthetic for babies and toddlers was everywhere. Curated nurseries where every shade in the room was beige, bone, oat, or soft browns created what was an undoubtedly calm space, but one lacking in personality.
But it seems in recent months, more parents are turning to color. A quick scroll through playroom ideas or toddler bedroom inspo online, and it's clear bold patterns, big prints, and vibrant colors are back! I've been trying to do this in my daughter's room and our house, hanging up colorful pieces from daycare, letting her help me make art for the wall, and a framed retro Barbie print in her bedroom, and veering into color in her wardrobe.
And you know what? I love it. Whether it's bedroom styling, outfits, or even just the toys you're buying your kids, it's clear there has been a shift online. Influencer and mum of six Krystiana Tiana recently shared a reel on TikTok as she redecorated her son's bedroom. "Watch me heal from my sad beige mum era," she added in text over the clip. At the time she was pregnant with her newest bub, and filmed herself switching over the art on the walls. Originally there was a muted blue Mickey Mouse piece, which she swapped for unique colored frames with bold prints inside, including one of a dog on a skateboard. Krystiana added details like a yellow banner, flags with motivational words on them, colored shelves, and even a new cabinet for toy storage that's bright red. She also added his name, Ronan, in colored ceramic letters - a trend a lot of mums have been embracing for a cute way to add some personality into your kid's room. The overall change is a big one, with plenty of bold colors, fun pops of personality, and a lot of good vibes, and it's been watched over 650k times.
"I absolutely love how colorful and full of life it is!!" commented one follower. Another wrote, "Now that's a kid room tbh it's so beautiful and I love it." "Proof that a room can still be aesthetic but not beige," replied one person. She's not alone. A quick search through TikTok for "The opposite of a beige mum" or "recovering beige mum" and there are hundreds of other women who are reclaiming color and fun. Aussie mum of three Roísín has been adding more whimsy and fun to her home, painting tiny little characters in her kids' bedrooms on the walls. She also hand-painted the wallpaper in the room of her twin girls, creating a stunning and one-of-a-kind design. It's also kids' clothing brands like Goldie and Ace, Spicy Dugong, By Gee, Cubby, and others that are opting for more color and prints, fun designs, and embracing childhood fun. The big brands like Cotton on Kids are also big on color, proving this style goes far beyond just interiors. Then there's the mums who are really going all out, turning their kids' art from school and daycare into big art pieces for the whole house. Artist Shana Blakley went viral for her creative way of turning all of those drawings, scribbles, and pieces - putting them on a canvas and turning it into a piece of art for your wall. "Your child's creativity deserves more than a storage bin. Let's make something beautiful for your wall," she captioned one post on Instagram. Aussie mum Sophie recreated this with her own kids' artwork, crediting Shana for the idea. She also went viral for her own take on art for your kid's room, painting a canvas for her son featuring some of his favorite things with plenty of color. "I wanted to create something fun for my big boy's room with a bunch of things he loves the most," she captioned the post. "My biggest ethos I've been following with any project we do with our little cottage is meaning. This is their childhood, and I want it to be special." Then there's the ceramic letters for name signs, which are starting to pop up in kids' bedrooms all across the country, and for those who are creatively inclined, another easy DIY with a bit of air-dry clay and some paint. Color has been keeping back, and judging by the viral posts online, it ain't going anywhere.
