Why Colors Carry Our Memories (and How to Use Them in Your Home)

Oct 21
2 min read

We all have colors we love—and some we swear we’ll never use.

For me, that color was gray.

I once took a canoe trip down a river in an old aluminum boat. At first, it was beautiful: birch leaves shimmering, pine trees scenting the air. But then the sky shifted. The drizzle turned into steady rain, and soon I was shivering in the mist, my bare feet numb against the canoe floor.

By the time we pulled to shore, I wanted to banish gray forever. It felt dreary, cold, and exhausting.

And then—everything changed.

My boyfriend dropped to one knee, his smile stretching wide as he held out a small box. In the middle of all that gray, he asked me to marry him.

Suddenly, gray was beautiful.

Later, when we painted the walls of our first home, we chose gray.

Not because it was trendy, but because it carried the memory of that day—uncomfortable, unforgettable, and full of joy.

Why Colors Hold Meaning

That’s the power of color. Each shade carries the weight of our experiences. A color that once seemed gloomy can become a reminder of love, courage, or resilience.

Think about it:

Red might remind you of the dress you wore when you got your first big promotion.
Blue could be the lake you swam in every summer.
Yellow might carry the memory of your grandmother’s cheerful kitchen.

Colors don’t just decorate a room. They carry our stories.

How to Use This in Your Home

When choosing colors for your home, don’t just think about trends or what the magazines say.

Instead:

Pause and reflect. What colors make you feel something?
Ask yourself why. What memory does that shade connect to?
Bring it in. Whether on walls, pillows, art, or accents—let your colors tell your story.

Your home should feel like you. And that feeling often comes from the colors that carry your memories.