“Beige” is a loaded word: It often conjures images of drab, boring interiors, aesthetically pleasing yet creatively unfulfilling nurseries, and the Tuscan kitchen explosion of the early aughts. But if that’s all that comes to mind when you envision the color, it’s time for a paradigm shift. Beige is so back, baby, and it’s taking on a luxe, Nancy Meyers-meets-coastal-dreamscape role in homes everywhere.

Designers have been talking about the return of beige—replacing the cool-toned “millennial gray” that dominated homes over the past decade—since 2022. PureWow even lamented the “beigification” of all areas of life in 2023, addressing how the oversaturation of a desaturated look had become synonymous with quiet luxury, but in the process, fashion, homes and kids’ toys lost their personality. Well, it seems the pendulum is swinging toward a less-stark approach, and in an era where our accessories have accessories (have you seen they make clothes for Labubus now?!), we’re all craving warmth—and whimsy. That comes down to the type of beige you use and what you pair with it.