As a child I always said my favorite ice cream flavor was vanilla, and my favorite color was white.

I was drawn to simplicity. I wanted to only commit to things that were neutral.

When we bought our house ten years ago all I wanted more than anything was for the walls to be white.

My first baby's bedding was all cream and off white.

My carpet is beige.

Because white and cream and beige can go with anything. I don't know if it was a control issue or part of my need to feel prepared, but I wanted anything even semi-permanent in my home to be functional indefinitely.

Part of my theory was also that if you pick a color, you will eventually get tired of it and have to change it. While white can be good forever.

The last couple of years I've changed. I've felt a need to brighten the drab. I still love the clean feeling of whites, but I find myself desiring more color in my surroundings.

I see images like these and think I would like my home to look like that.

I'm sure my mom would say "You never used to like that sort of thing!"

My husband is more than a little concerned with my interest in such an extreme change.

I'm sure there's some deep psychological explanation for why I'm craving color in this season of my life.

All I know is, after 30 years of clinging to neutral, all of the sudden color is so beautiful to me.

For more thoughts on color, be sure to visit the Gypsy Mama.