This Is the Simplest Way to Perk Up a Sad Stairwell

Whether it’s a roommate, a family member, or partner, balancing two different interior design styles is one of the most challenging parts of cohabitating. Sometimes you luck out, and your partner doesn’t have strong opinions on design one way or another, but other times, you both come to the party with passionate ideas in distinct styles. But sometimes, the meeting of styles (and minds!) are where the most creative and exciting design choices happen.

This is exactly the challenge Noor Hasan ran into when moving in with her partner to their East London home. “My partner is big on color, whereas I prefer neutral colors and a calm aesthetic,” Hasan explains. “We’re slowly merging our styles, and it’s pushing me out of my comfort zone — in a good way. We’ve landed on a combination of natural materials, design classics, and pops of pastels.” The pastel rainbow stairs in Hasan’s home are the perfect example of the compromises the pair came to when decorating their home, as the show-stopping rainbow stair risers are paired with minimal white walls, balusters, and a simple railing. The paint colors are also on the pastel side and slightly less saturated, perhaps to assuage Hassan’s fears of decorating with bright colors.

The couple chose to keep the walls in the main living space bright white — a classic and neutral base for incorporating bits of color and personality throughout. Then they layered color in throughout the other rooms of the home that tie back to the multicolored staircase. A baby pink front door, cobalt blue office, millennial pink kitchen, green mudroom, and lots of colorful artwork and furnishings make the whole home feel elevated but also playful.