Journal — Style by Aviva | Design Notes & Inspiration

Warm mocha living room with velvet sofa, travertine fireplace and round brass mirror

Color Trends

Warm Colors Are Hotter Than Ever

Pantone made it official with its color of the year, Mocha Mousse — and honestly, the warm-color wave has been building for a while. Rich browns, camels, and creamy neutrals are everywhere, and for good reason: they make a room feel like a hug.

The key to keeping mocha tones from going flat is texture. Velvet upholstery, a nubby wool rug, travertine around the fireplace, unglazed ceramics — when the palette stays quiet, the surfaces do the talking.

Aviva’s tip: pair warm browns with cream sheers and one brass moment — a round mirror or a lamp — so the room glows instead of darkens.

Teal sectional sofa beneath a curated gallery wall of watercolors and vintage prints

Color Trends

Teal: The “It” Color for 2026

Teal is having its moment — and it’s a generous color to work with. Deep enough to ground a room, lively enough to lift one, it plays beautifully with both warm woods and cool marbles.

You don’t have to commit to a teal sofa (though I’d cheer you on). A pair of pillows, a lacquered tray, art with a teal thread running through it — even a painted interior doorway can carry the color through a home.

Aviva’s tip: in a contemporary space, let teal own one big gesture — a sectional, a rug, even a recessed ceiling — and keep everything around it soft and neutral.

Entryway drop zone with coat rack, round gold mirror, console table and olive tree

Everyday Function

The Entryway Drop Zone

The first three feet inside your door work harder than any other spot in the house — keys, coats, shoes, bags, mail. A well-designed drop zone keeps the chaos beautiful.

The formula: somewhere to hang (a coat rack or hooks), somewhere to sit or set things down (a bench or console), somewhere to check yourself on the way out (a great mirror), and one living thing — a plant or fresh stems — so the first thing you see is something alive.

Aviva’s tip: a round gold mirror over the console bounces light into the entry and makes even a small foyer feel intentional.