the end of Millennial Grey is nigh

January has come to an end…

…We made it through what was arguably the darkest calendar month since records began. Thank - and I cannot stress this enough - fuck, for that.

Now we’re one month closer to being able to function without sitting less than a foot from a radiator, we’re able to turn our attentions to what’s kicking off in the world of colour, and we're noticing (read forcefully campaigning for) an interesting shift. And let me tell you - it’s not just our frozen digits that are warming up…

It started with furnishings. For years now, brown furniture has seen as an unfortunate relic—a reminder of your nan’s living room, something to be banished under layers of bland white paint. But lately, something has shifted. That once-dismissed walnut sideboard is no longer a project; it’s a prize. Instead of reaching for the off-white, people are actively seeking out the depth, richness, and heritage that brown wood brings. And this time, they’re letting it shine. Now, as we move past the tail end of the Milky Farmhouse era and *swallow* grey on grey on grey, people are embracing wood—celebrating its richness rather than covering it up. We’re all starting to go with the grain.

The comeback of brown hasn’t been an overnight thing. It’s been slowly easing itself in with warmer neutrals like flax, oatmeal, and cream - all cousins of the greys and greiges of 2020.

These shades piqued interests, and slowly guided hands (or more specifically, thumbs) into creating new saved folders titled: “Mid-Century Modern.” And just like that, those white clay pots on your wishlist have turned terracotta, your Pinterest board is overflowing with burnt umber upholstery, and you can’t move for amber glass!

What started with subtle accents has grown into a full-blown aesthetic revival. Rich woods, chocolate walls, and sepia-toned styling have infiltrated the consciousness of the masses for the first time in decades. Brown isn’t creeping back in; it’s storming the room, lighting a cig, dimming the lights and seducing your wife.

It’s come at just the right time, too - a time where we’re well and truly in the thick of a trend re-cycle beyond interiors alone. More songs than ever are borrowing grooves from the past—old funk and soul tracks are getting their second wind, chopped, looped, and reborn. Facial filler is getting dissolved, our on-screen protagonists are dressed head-to-toe in suede and we’re all wearing Nike Cortez’. It's a whole mood. 🪩

So now we’re back to the bare wood of things, it’s only natural that we’re looking to take it one step further and get the walls involved. You might think it’s a step too far, but trust us, brown has a lot more to offer than you think. Deeper than black and warmer than grey, brown is comforting but evocative, sexy but cute, and we have just the shade for you.

Enter… Hot Chocolate

Akin to its soul band namesake, this delectable little number is seductive, nostalgic and oh-so-embracing all at once.

It has the allure of a basement jazz bar and the warmth of Luther Vandross in an 80s knit. It oozes groove and soothes the soul.

***Colour:*** *Hot Chocolate* *by The Pickleson Paint Co.*

Now, we appreciate that not everyone is a ride or die for brown. Personally, the words “too brown” have never left my lips, but for those not quite in their full bush era, here us out… Embracing brown isn’t just about jumping on a trend—it’s about rediscovering what was always there, hidden under years of off-white paint and hesitation. It’s about bringing warmth, richness, and timeless style into our spaces.

So, how do you make this resurgence your own?

Whether you’re ready to commit to a full wall of Hot Chocolate or prefer to start with statement pieces of brown furniture in a neutral room, brace yourselves… Because, ladies and gentlemen, it’s about to go brown.