I have always been drawn to the color green. It’s not just that spring is near or that St. Patrick’s Day approaches — green has always felt cheerful and comforting to me. The first bedroom I clearly remember decorating myself was painted a soft apple green and paired with navy fabric dotted in white. I must have been about 13 at the time, and I adored that room.
That early love of green stayed with me. Even later, when I painted two dining room chairs in a similar hue, it reminded me of that first room and the comfort the color brings. Green isn’t always the trendiest choice, but it consistently lifts my spirits and brings back warm memories of childhood.
As I got older, my tastes shifted at times — I had a teen room with pale blue walls and later a space with white walls and gray trim — so green hasn’t been the only color I’ve used. Still, that apple-green bedroom with navy-and-white polka dot fabric remains unforgettable.
I once wrote about the idea that everyone deserves a lovely home, and a reader named Jo shared a comment about her own teenage room that resonated with me. She described how her love of decorating started at a very young age and how many things she loved then remain part of her style today. She joked about having Donny Osmond posters on the back of her bedroom door — a detail that dates her, but also illustrates how personal tastes evolve while traces of the past remain.
Thinking back to rooms we loved as children can be a simple way to recognize what continues to inspire us. Those memories often guide current design choices, helping us choose colors and pieces that feel authentic. Sometimes evolving with the times is positive, helping us refine a personal style. Other times change can take us farther from the things that truly felt like “us.” It’s worth pausing to remember which elements make us happiest and why.
Do you ever think about your childhood bedrooms? Is there a room from a past home you still love? Have your preferences stayed the same or changed over time? Sometimes change brings improvement; sometimes it leads us away from what we love.
Below are several images that showcase different shades of spring green and how versatile the color can be in home decor.
All photos: Country Living, except the last one from House Beautiful