As a designer, I can tell you: this one simple change can transform any home’s decor

Welcome to the first column in a new series by Ashley Montgomery, designer and founder of Ashley Montgomery Design, as she joins Homes & Gardens’ By Design to share her approach to creating rooms full of personality and timeless style.

If there’s one thing I wish more people would do in their homes, it’s this: use paint with purpose – not just on the walls.

Paint is, without a doubt, one of the most transformative tools in design. It’s accessible, relatively affordable, and has the power to completely change the mood and feel of a space – without knocking down a single wall. Yet so often, I walk into homes where paint is an afterthought. Walls are relegated to safe neutrals, trim is ignored, and ceilings? Left flat white.

Here’s my plea: stop defaulting to 'ceiling white.'

The ceiling is often called the fifth wall – and for good reason. It’s a blank canvas with the power to add depth, drama, and cohesion to a room. Rather than treating it as an afterthought, consider extending your wall color up onto the ceiling. This color-washed effect creates an immersive, enveloping atmosphere – perfect for bedrooms, powder rooms, or any space where you want extra mood and intimacy.

For a bolder approach, try a contrasting ceiling color to make it pop. Want to really push the envelope? Consider wallpapering the ceiling. Yes, wallpaper. It’s unexpected, elegant, and adds a delightful element of surprise. In projects where we’ve done this, the reaction is always the same: people stop, look up, and say, 'Wow, I never would have thought of that.' That’s exactly the kind of reaction good design should evoke.

And remember, it’s not just about ceilings.

Another detail I wish more people would embrace is contrasting trim and interior doors. In many homes, trim is treated as purely functional – white and standard. But this is a prime opportunity to add character and intention to the spaces between rooms. It’s not just about the profile you choose; it’s about the color you carry through the home.

Hallways, in particular – where multiple doors line a space and there’s often little else – can be transformed by painted trim and doors. What might otherwise feel like a cold corridor becomes a curated, intentional moment. We love using deep, saturated hues – warm taupes, olives, ochres, muddy blues – treating these earth tones as neutrals to give transitional spaces a sense of place and personality.

People often underestimate the emotional power of color. It’s not just about aesthetics; color influences how a room feels and how you feel in it. That’s why I always encourage clients to be bold. Don’t chase trends – trust your instincts. Bold doesn’t have to mean bright or loud. A soft, moody taupe can feel just as daring as a vibrant rust orange if it’s applied with intention.

When we approach color in our projects, we think about the home as a whole. We want the spaces to flow seamlessly from one room to the next. Where can we create moments of drama? Where should a space feel soft and calm? How do the colors transition from one area to another? Paint lets us sculpt that narrative. It’s one of the few tools that can unify an entire home – or make each room shine individually.

And the best part? It’s not permanent. It’s not structural. If it doesn’t feel right, paint over it. Try again.

So the one thing I wish everyone would do? Use paint. Use it thoughtfully. Use it creatively. Use it everywhere. Don’t limit yourself to walls. Don’t shy away from darker tones. Don’t assume white is the only safe choice. Your home should reflect your story, your style, your soul – and color is one of the simplest, most powerful ways to express that.

It’s the details that matter. They’re what make a space feel curated and intentional. Often, they’re what turn a house into a home.

Read more about how Ashley Montgomery designs spaces here