Quote Of The Day By Cher: 'I Prefer A Neutral Palette, Especially In My...'

Some people are so iconic, they need no introduction. Still, if you need a reminder, here it is: Cher is a world-renowned singer and actress, often called the "goddess of pop." Born in California in 1946, she released her first hit song, "I Got You Babe", before turning 20 as part of the famous duo Sonny and Cher. From then on, Cher came out with hit after hit, both on her own and as part of the duo. Some of her greatest hits include 1989's "If I Could Turn Back Time" and 1998's "Believe."

Now in her 80s, Cher continues to stun with her absolute class, unique style, and iconic one-liners. In recent years, she was inducted into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame and accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys, and a Broadway musical was even produced about her life. She also released a best-selling memoir, with a second part coming out in 2027. 

Over the years, Cher's eye-catching looks became as famous as she is, and it's fair to wonder if she brings this edgy, glamorous, and unique style to her interior decor, too. Is she a fan of goth bedrooms with a dark side, or does she love leopard print everything? Luckily, she's opened up the doors of some of her properties to the press, allowing us to get a peek into her personal space and plenty of inspiration along the way. That's why Cher is today's quote of the day.

Cher's full quote reads: "Though I loved collecting Gothic and can spend hours drawing with every shade of Pantone pen, I prefer a neutral palette, especially in my bedrooms, because the colors are so easy to live with."

This quote comes from a 2010 interview Cher gave to Architectural Digest. The piece features a walkthrough of her ultra-glam Los Angeles high-rise, which the pop diva showed to the magazine along with her friend and interior designer, Martyn Lawrence-Bullard. The piece has several photos of the luxurious apartment, along with commentary from the pair about how and why they chose certain styles, colors, and pieces for the space.

Leading up to this quote, Cher mentions her love of Buddhism and explains how it has influenced her interior design choices. She wanted her 4,000-square-foot apartment to feel "ethnic, spicy, and romantic." But all of this, she notes, was done in neutral colors: whites, beiges, and ivories, which make the space feel calming, like a peaceful retreat. This quote helps draw a contrast between the bold, eye-catching styles Cher loves and the understated way she prefers to design her homes. This is a distinction you can also keep in mind when decorating.

Cher's preference for light, neutral tones in her houses might be surprising to some because of how well-known her fashion moments are, featuring a range of sparkles, dark leather, bright feathers, and other elements that are anything but neutral. Her love of Gothic-inspired fashion and design is also well documented, as she even published a 1990s catalog called Sanctuary, where she sold Gothic home decor and accessories. 

But in order to feel good at home, she leaves those bolder styles out, particularly in her bedroom, and gravitates towards a neutral palette. This allows her bedrooms to feel like true sanctuaries day after day. A bedroom that looks like a red carpet moment come to life just wouldn't have the same effect.

But don't get it twisted, Cher's Los Angeles bedroom is far from boring. Her interior designer pulled from her passion for Buddhism and spirituality to create a space that feels earthy and unique, with large antique Indian panels around the bed, reminiscent of a palace. It's a good reminder that neutral palettes don't have to mean plain. 

Keep this quote in mind next time you redesign a bedroom. You may love maximalist decor, saturated palettes, or kitschy '50s and '60s collectibles, but it doesn't mean you must bring them into every room of your home, let alone where you sleep. There are ways to pair your personality and passions with neutral colors, especially if you want your bedroom to feel like a peaceful oasis rather than a headache. 

• "There are no words to describe how intrusive [the paparazzi] can be, which is why my homes, and now this among them, have become so very important. In a word, they are my sanctuaries." — from a 2010 Architectural Digest interview
• "You have to know your limitations and then either rise above them or make peace with the fact that you're never going to." — from "Cher: The Memoir, Part One"
• "My mom said to me, 'You know, sweetheart, one day you should settle down and marry a rich man.' And I said, 'Mom, I am a rich man.'" — from a 1996 interview with Jane Pauley
• "Men are not necessities, they're luxuries. You don't need them, but they're really wonderful. They're like children, they're the most interesting thing that can happen." — from a 1982 Interview Magazine interview
• "I want to do what I want to do. If I live in a place, I want it to be exactly the way I want it to be when I want it to be that way." — from a 1989 Architectural Digest interview
• "My bedroom has been my sanctuary, my fortress, really my very special place." — from a 2022 Architectural Digest feature