Sarah Sham on Indian homes going from beige to bright

For a long time, colour in Indian interiors was treated with caution—contained to an accent wall, some soft furnishings or a single bright rug against a sea of neutrals. But that restraint, Sarah Sham suggests, was never truly ours to begin with. “Indian homes were always centred on rich arts and crafts,” she says. “It was Western emulation that made us mute our palettes.” Her perspective is part of a broader design shift we explore in our ongoing series on colour in Indian homes where Indian designers, homeowners and creatives are reclaiming colour as a tool of identity, emotion, and expression. (Read more here.)

As the fourth generation in the Essajees family—whose century-old firm in Mumbai has long dealt in antiques, art and bespoke furniture—Sham brings a layered perspective to colour. She grew up surrounded by objects steeped in history, fine craftsmanship and echoes of India’s artistic and architectural heritage. Today, as principal designer at her firm Essajees Atelier, she draws on that legacy to create spaces that feel intimate, expressive and rooted in the Indian context.

BH: How do you think about using colour in more contemporary interiors today?

SS: The classic Indian aesthetic was often a ‘more is more’ philosophy, a curated maximalism involving a rich layering of objects, patterns and textures. In today’s context, however, this approach requires radical rethinking. Our urban living spaces have become significantly smaller, making grand, traditional pieces like ornate four-poster beds impractical.

Modern homes, often under 1,000 sq. ft., demand smart, multi-functional furniture where every item must justify its footprint. The luxury of space has been replaced by the necessity of function. This is where I realised that colour, when used thoughtfully, becomes the most powerful tool. It can create depth, build character and provide the visual richness that objects once did, achieving a maximalist spirit without overwhelming a compact home.

BH: What kind of colours do you find work beautifully in Indian light but are still underutilised in our interiors? Are there tones or combinations that surprise you with how well they sit in a room?

SS: While most colours work beautifully in Indian spaces, I am particularly drawn to those with deep cultural resonance. Yellow ochre is one such shade; it evokes the sacredness of haldi, the warmth of Jaisalmer stone and the timeless luxury of old gold. It has an inherent richness that is often underestimated.

Similarly, a dusty, muted pink feels intrinsically Indian. It’s the colour of aging Mughal frescoes and weathered pink sandstone, echoing the historic walls of Jaipur. These hues challenge the idea that colour must always be a loud ‘statement’. Instead, they offer a quieter, more textural way to build atmosphere, rooted in our own heritage.

BH: When it comes to using colour in a home, how much of your design approach is led by your own aesthetic versus what a client wants? How do you navigate that balance between guidance and personal expression?

SS: While I have a personal affinity for colour and believe it brings energy and comfort to a space, my professional practice is fundamentally client centric. If a client desires a neutral palette, we are dedicated to delivering that vision beautifully. However, when a client is open to embracing colour, we enthusiastically collaborate with them. Ultimately, when it comes to urban homes, there is no such thing as ‘too much’. The only right answer is what makes the homeowner happy in their own space.

BH: And are you seeing that openness more often now? Or does it still require a little nudge sometimes?

SS: I don't believe there’s a single, directional trend in colour preference. It remains a mixed landscape defined by individual tastes, not a monolithic movement. We’re currently seeing two polarising micro-trends emerge simultaneously. On the one hand, the widespread obsession with serene, neutral palettes, often fuelled by social media, is making clients more conservative with colour, seeking a calm refuge. Concurrently, the joyful rise of maximalism champions pattern and personality, encouraging those once hesitant to become more adventurous with bold hues. This isn’t a linear shift but a dynamic interplay, proving that clients are choosing personal expression over any single, overarching trend.