Shea McGee Is Breaking Out of Her Neutral Color Schemes and Decorating With This Moody Shade
I am the first to admit I’m not adventurous when it comes to the color I use in my home. Every wall is white (apart from my entryway – which got the special treatment with Cole & Son wallpaper). It’s my decor I like to get playful with, and I always thought that because I cover every surface in my home with books, magazines, crockery, vases, candles – you name it – the walls should remain a plain backdrop.
But. The moody shades that have been on the rise in the color trends of this year have me reconsidering – and a deep purply red has been living in my brain rent-free since the spring. Then, when I saw that Shea McGee, queen of the neutral color scheme, had revealed her latest project and totally color-drenched a room in the exact paint color I’d been considering all year, I knew it was time to start ordering samples.
Shea has only given hints of this new project on her Instagram, and has assured all those asking that the exact paint color she’s used here will be revealed soon. But from the snippets she’s shared, it’s clear this is a color that’s meant to be drenched. Don’t shy away from using these darker shades across all your surfaces – ceilings and woodwork included.
It might sound odd, but I think going all over with a burgundy is actually what makes it more livable. You don’t get the high contrast you would if you left the ceiling white, which, in my opinion, highlights the drama of the color and creates a starkness in the room. Whereas, as you can see in this space, color drenching means the eye has nothing to clash with. The deep purplish red is soothing and cocooning – not unlike a very safe neutral shade.
The styling feels very soft, too. It’s so easy on the eye for such a bold color choice. Soft tans and brushed gold accents bring out the warmth in the paint, and the subtle dark blue elements add to the moodiness. It’s convinced me that my love of neutrals and layering can still work against a bolder backdrop.
Now, what samples am I ordering? And where am I going to use them? I think this color would work well in any room you want to feel snug – bedrooms, living rooms, movie rooms. But I also think burgundy is the kitchen cabinet color right now, and paired with a marble countertop and backsplash, you have the most luxurious combination.
My burgundy experiment, however, is happening in the bathroom. My bathroom is small – it’s also windowless – and like all the other rooms in my home, it’s currently white. I’m having a remodel in 2026, and I want it to feel less stark. I’m leaning into the small proportions and taking burgundy over all the walls, bringing in gold hardware and checkerboard beige-and-white textured tiles to punctuate the space.
In terms of the samples I am ordering, inspired by Shea’s burgundy, I have chosen Farrow & Ball’s Etruscan Red (a little more reddish brown than Shea’s pick, but I think it will look better with the little light my bathroom gets), Little Greene’s color of the year, Adventurer, and Benjamin Moore’s Radicco.
And if you aren’t quite ready for a totally burgundy remodel, these are the picks I would choose to add a pop of this luxurious on on-trend color to my home.
Wayfair
Addison Ross Bobbin Lacquered Wood Lamp
I would happily have an Addison Ross Bobbin Lamp in every room in my home. Because they are portable, I think they lend themselves well to spaces where you couldn’t have a cord, like a kitchen island or a coffee table.
AnthroHome
Benedicta Wood Bead Petite Square Gallery Wall Mirror
While I wait patiently for my burgundy bathroom remodel, this mirror is adding a pop of the color above my sink. It’s given the area a boutique hotel–like feel in an instant.
H&M
Satin Twin Duvet Cover Set
New sheets are the easiest way to give your bedroom the biggest update on the smallest budget. These satin sheets in a rich dark red will add instant luxury, and they’re the perfect color for the colder months.
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