--- title: "Blending Tradition with Today: How to Refresh Period Homes Using Modern Colour" description: Owning an older home is a joy - the ornate plasterwork, tall sash windows, and original fireplaces are full of personality. But let’s be honest — living in a house that feels like a museum isn’t everyone’s idea of home. image: https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/hubfs/Fresh-take-spring-interiors-Irish-brands-1.jpg --- - [+353 1 6612607](tel:0035316612607) - [info@guaranteedirish.ie](mailto:info@guaranteedirish.ie) [Facebook-f](https://www.facebook.com/GuaranteedIrishOfficial/) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/guaranteed_irl) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/guaranteed_irl/) [Youtube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-HE_PW8whxCMzEn5QjYesQ) [Linkedin](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/module.linkedin_link.url.href) [![Guaranteed Irish](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/hubfs/raw_assets/public/GuaranteedIrish_August2021/images/GI_Logos_Green_GI_Logo_Tagline.png "Guaranteed Irish")](https://www.guaranteedirish.ie/) - MEMBERSHIP - [WHY JOIN US](https://www.guaranteedirish.ie/why-join-us/) - [BECOME A MEMBER](https://www.guaranteedirish.ie/become-a-member/) - [MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY](https://www.guaranteedirish.ie/our-members-directory/) - EVENTS - [UPCOMING EVENTS](https://www.guaranteedirish.ie/what-we-do/events/) - [PREVIOUS EVENTS](https://www.guaranteedirish.ie/previous-events/) - AWARDS - [AWARDS 2024](https://www.guaranteedirish.ie/giba/) - [HOW TO ENTER](https://www.guaranteedirish.ie/giba-24-enter/) - [SPONSORS](https://www.guaranteedirish.ie/gibasponsors/) - [JUDGES](https://www.guaranteedirish.ie/gibajudges/) - [WINNERS](https://www.guaranteedirish.ie/giba-winners/) - [CEO ALUMNI](https://www.guaranteedirish.ie/ceo-alumni/) - MEDIA - [BLOGS](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/) - [PODCASTS](https://www.guaranteedirish.ie/category/podcasts/) - [BRAND ACTIVATION CHAMPIONS](https://www.guaranteedirish.ie/brand-activation-champions/) # Blending Tradition with Today: How to Refresh Period Homes Using Modern Colour February 23, 2026 ![Blending Tradition with Today: How to Refresh Period Homes Using Modern Colour](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/hubfs/Fresh-take-spring-interiors-Irish-brands-1.jpg) **Sort by Category** - [Blogs](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/tag/blogs) - [Member News](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/tag/member-news) - [Latest News](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/tag/latest-news) - [Thought Leader Q&A](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/tag/thought-leader-qa) - [GI Gifts](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/tag/gi-gifts) - [Press Releases](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/tag/press-releases) - [New Member Announcement](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/tag/new-member-announcement) - [Sustainability](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/tag/sustainability) - [Implementation Stage](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/tag/implementation-stage) - [Leadership Stage](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/tag/leadership-stage) Owning an older home is a joy - the ornate plasterwork, tall sash windows, and original fireplaces are full of personality. But let’s be honest — living in a house that feels like a museum isn’t everyone’s idea of home. You want a place that’s comfortable, current and completely yours. Updating a heritage property doesn’t mean choosing between keeping its character and giving it a contemporary feel. The secret is understanding what makes your home special and using colour in ways that enhance, not overshadow, its architectural charm. --- ### Why Playing It Safe Can Hide What You Love ![](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Feb-23-2026-04-18-54-9495-PM.png?width=302&height=403&name=image-png-Feb-23-2026-04-18-54-9495-PM.png)   It’s tempting to stick with safe neutrals everywhere — pale walls, white trim, a minimal accent here and there. But when you do that, your home’s best assets like cornicing or deep skirting can fade into the background instead of standing out. Historically, classic interiors weren’t shy about colour: rich [Green Paint Colours | Crown Paints](https://www.crownpaints.com/ie/colour/green) and elegant [blues](https://www.crownpaints.com/ie/colour/blue) were common features long before neutral became the norm.   ### Finding the Palette That Works Take a moment to consider what inspires you. Is it the natural landscapes you’ve walked? The colours you wear? The art that moves you? Let these influences guide your choices. If you prefer a calm, understated scheme, gentle greys, soft taupes, and creamy off-whites can create a subtle backdrop that feels serene yet stylish — think shades like [*Clay Like*](https://www.crownpaints.com/ie/colour/clay-like) or [*Afternoon Tea*](https://www.crownpaints.com/ie/colour/afternoon-tea). For homes with bolder personalities, jewel-rich tones like [*Emerald Vision*](https://www.crownpaints.com/ie/colour/emerald-vision) or velvety reds bring drama while still feeling authentic.   ![](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Feb-23-2026-04-18-08-5200-PM.png?width=302&height=302&name=image-png-Feb-23-2026-04-18-08-5200-PM.png)   ### Think About Your Home’s “Bones”   Before you [Paint Samples | Crown Paints](https://www.crownpaints.com/ie/samples), consider your home's details. Different architectural eras have their own strengths. Tall ceilings and elaborate mouldings — often found in Victorian houses — can handle deeper, moodier colours without closing in. Edwardian spaces with simpler lines may benefit from more nuanced, gentle hues. In rooms that get little natural light, daintier tones can keep spaces feeling open and intentional.   ### Colours That Bridge Past and Present   ![](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-2.png?width=300&height=399&name=image-png-2.png)   Certain shades naturally straddle the line between heritage and modern style. Deep, earthy greens like [Woodland Wanderer® | Crown Paints](https://www.crownpaints.com/ie/colour/woodland-wanderer) or [Endeavour® | Crown Paints](https://www.crownpaints.com/ie/colour/endeavour) still feel rooted in tradition yet fresh in contemporary interiors.   ![](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-3.png?width=302&height=393&name=image-png-3.png)   Warm terracottas like [Candy Clay® | Crown Paints](https://www.crownpaints.com/ie/colour/candy-clay) evoke classic palettes while lending a cosy, organic touch. Soft, complex blues like [Scrapbook](https://www.crownpaints.com/colour/scrapbook) bring both historic charm and airy modern character.   ### Where You Can Be Bold — and Where to Hold Back   Not every corner of your home needs a statement hue. Areas like hallways and staircases are perfect places to experiment with more intense colours, drawing the eye and highlighting architectural details. Main living areas can benefit from tonal shifts that feel thoughtful and intentional. Bedrooms, meanwhile, often work best with calming, layered tones that create a restful atmosphere.   ### Create Flow Between Old and New ![](https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-4.png?width=305&height=407&name=image-png-4.png)   If your property has been extended or modified over time, colour is an excellent tool to unify different sections. You don’t need to pretend that modern additions were built at the same time — instead, carry a consistent palette through varied spaces using lighter or darker versions of key tones.   ### Make Your Home Truly Yours   At the end of the day, updating a period home with contemporary colour is less about rules and more about personal expression. It’s about celebrating the details that make your house unique, while making sure it fits your day-to-day life. A successful scheme honours the past, embraces the present, and ultimately feels like *home*.   For more information visit [www.crownpaints.com/ie](http://www.crownpaints.com/ie)   [Supporting Business that Supports Ireland](https://www.guaranteedirish.ie/)    [Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/blending-tradition-with-today-how-to-refresh-period-homes-using-modern-colour) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.guaranteedirish.ie/blending-tradition-with-today-how-to-refresh-period-homes-using-modern-colour) [Email](mailto:?subject=Blending%20Tradition%20with%20Today:%20How%20to%20Refresh%20Period%20Homes%20Using%20Modern%20Colour&body=Owning%20an%20older%20home%20is%20a%20joy%20-%20the%20ornate%20plasterwork,%20tall%20sash%20windows,%20and%20original%20fireplaces%20are%20full%20of%20personality.%20But%20let’s%20be%20honest%20—%20living%20in%20a%20house%20that%20feels%20like%20a%20museum%20isn’t%20everyone’s%20idea%20of%20home.%20You%20want%20a%20place%20that’s%20comfortable,%20current%20and%20completely%20yours.%20Updating%20a%20heritage%20property%20doesn’t%20mean%20choosing%20between%20keeping%20its%20character%20and%20giving%20it%20a%20contemporary%20feel.%20The%20secret%20is%20understanding%20what%20makes%20your%20home%20special%20and%20using%20colour%20in%20ways%20that%20enhance,%20not%20overshadow,%20its%20architectural%20charm.%20Why%20Playing%20It%20Safe%20Can%20Hide%20What%20You%20Love%20It’s%20tempting%20to%20stick%20with%20safe%20neutrals%20everywhere%20—%20pale%20walls,%20white%20trim,%20a%20minimal%20accent%20here%20and%20there.%20But%20when%20you%20do%20that,%20your%20home’s%20best%20assets%20like%20cornicing%20or%20deep%20skirting%20can%20fade%20into%20the%20background%20instead%20of%20standing%20out.%20Historically,%20classic%20interiors%20weren’t%20shy%20about%20colour:%20rich%20Green%20Paint%20Colours%20|%20Crown%20Paints%20and%20elegant%20blues%20were%20common%20features%20long%20before%20neutral%20became%20the%20norm.%20Finding%20the%20Palette%20That%20Works%20Take%20a%20moment%20to%20consider%20what%20inspires%20you.%20Is%20it%20the%20natural%20landscapes%20you’ve%20walked?%20The%20colours%20you%20wear?%20The%20art%20that%20moves%20you?%20Let%20these%20influences%20guide%20your%20choices.%20If%20you%20prefer%20a%20calm,%20understated%20scheme,%20gentle%20greys,%20soft%20taupes,%20and%20creamy%20off-whites%20can%20create%20a%20subtle%20backdrop%20that%20feels%20serene%20yet%20stylish%20—%20think%20shades%20like%20Clay%20Like%20or%20Afternoon%20Tea.%20For%20homes%20with%20bolder%20personalities,%20jewel-rich%20tones%20like%20Emerald%20Vision%20or%20velvety%20reds%20bring%20drama%20while%20still%20feeling%20authentic.%20Think%20About%20Your%20Home’s%20“Bones”%20Before%20you%20Paint%20Samples%20|%20Crown%20Paints,%20consider%20your%20home's%20details.%20Different%20architectural%20eras%20have%20their%20own%20strengths.%20Tall%20ceilings%20and%20elaborate%20mouldings%20—%20often%20found%20in%20Victorian%20houses%20—%20can%20handle%20deeper,%20moodier%20colours%20without%20closing%20in.%20Edwardian%20spaces%20with%20simpler%20lines%20may%20benefit%20from%20more%20nuanced,%20gentle%20hues.%20In%20rooms%20that%20get%20little%20natural%20light,%20daintier%20tones%20can%20keep%20spaces%20feeling%20open%20and%20intentional.%20Colours%20That%20Bridge%20Past%20and%20Present%20Certain%20shades%20naturally%20straddle%20the%20line%20between%20heritage%20and%20modern%20style.%20Deep,%20earthy%20greens%20like%20Woodland%20Wanderer®%20|%20Crown%20Paints%20or%20Endeavour®%20|%20Crown%20Paints%20still%20feel%20rooted%20in%20tradition%20yet%20fresh%20in%20contemporary%20interiors.%20Warm%20terracottas%20like%20Candy%20Clay®%20|%20Crown%20Paints%20evoke%20classic%20palettes%20while%20lending%20a%20cosy,%20organic%20touch.%20Soft,%20complex%20blues%20like%20Scrapbook%20bring%20both%20historic%20charm%20and%20airy%20modern%20character.%20Where%20You%20Can%20Be%20Bold%20—%20and%20Where%20to%20Hold%20Back%20Not%20every%20corner%20of%20your%20home%20needs%20a%20statement%20hue.%20Areas%20like%20hallways%20and%20staircases%20are%20perfect%20places%20to%20experiment%20with%20more%20intense%20colours,%20drawing%20the%20eye%20and%20highlighting%20architectural%20details.%20Main%20living%20areas%20can%20benefit%20from%20tonal%20shifts%20that%20feel%20thoughtful%20and%20intentional.%20Bedrooms,%20meanwhile,%20often%20work%20best%20with%20calming,%20layered%20tones%20that%20create%20a%20restful%20atmosphere.%20Create%20Flow%20Between%20Old%20and%20New%20If%20your%20property%20has%20been%20extended%20or%20modified%20over%20time,%20colour%20is%20an%20excellent%20tool%20to%20unify%20different%20sections.%20You%20don’t%20need%20to%20pretend%20that%20modern%20additions%20were%20built%20at%20the%20same%20time%20—%20instead,%20carry%20a%20consistent%20palette%20through%20varied%20spaces%20using%20lighter%20or%20darker%20versions%20of%20key%20tones.%20Make%20Your%20Home%20Truly%20Yours%20At%20the%20end%20of%20the%20day,%20updating%20a%20period%20home%20with%20contemporary%20colour%20is%20less%20about%20rules%20and%20more%20about%20personal%20expression.%20It’s%20about%20celebrating%20the%20details%20that%20make%20your%20house%20unique,%20while%20making%20sure%20it%20fits%20your%20day-to-day%20life.%20A%20successful%20scheme%20honours%20the%20past,%20embraces%20the%20present,%20and%20ultimately%20feels%20like%20home.%20For%20more%20information%20visit%20www.crownpaints.com/ie%20Supporting%20Business%20that%20Supports%20Ireland%20 ) 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