Honestly, if you turn on HGTV right now, what do you see? Probably a lot of "greige." White kitchens, grey LVP flooring, and maybe a sprig of eucalyptus in a glass vase if the designer is feeling spicy. It’s safe. It’s sellable. But it’s also a little bit boring.
That’s why people are still obsessed with Color Splash David Bromstad.
Back in 2007, fresh off his win on the very first season of HGTV Design Star, David Bromstad didn't just walk onto our screens; he exploded onto them. He was this high-energy, tattooed former Disney illustrator who thought "neutral" was a four-letter word. For eight seasons and over 100 episodes, he treated living rooms like giant canvases.
He didn't care about resale value. He cared about how a room made you feel.
The Winning Formula of Color Splash David Bromstad
Most people forget that Color Splash was David's prize for winning Design Star. He beat out nine other designers to get his own show, and HGTV basically handed him the keys to the kingdom.
The show started in San Francisco. It was cinematic, moody, and deeply focused on the artistic process. David would literally sit down and sketch—actually sketch with pencils and markers—to show homeowners his vision. It wasn't a computer-generated rendering. It was raw talent.
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From San Francisco to Miami
Around 2010, the production moved to Miami. If you've ever seen David's personal style, you know Miami is his spiritual home. The colors got brighter, the energy got higher, and the designs got even more fearless.
- The Team: He wasn't alone. Remember Danielle Hirsch? She was the color specialist and carpenter who kept things grounded while David was dreaming up custom art pieces.
- The Format: Every episode followed a "Color Inspiration." He’d take homeowners to a flower market, a glass-blowing studio, or a beach to find a specific palette.
- The Twist: He almost always created an original piece of fine art for the room. He wasn't just a "decorator"; he was a painter using the walls as his medium.
Why David Bromstad Left the Color Wheel Behind
By 2012, Color Splash went off the air. It wasn't because people stopped liking David—obviously, the guy is still one of the biggest stars on the network. But the TV landscape was shifting.
Home renovation shows are incredibly expensive to produce. Recent industry reports from late 2025 suggest that full-scale renovation shows can cost upwards of $500,000 per episode. In contrast, "walk-and-talk" real estate shows are much cheaper.
That’s essentially why we ended up with My Lottery Dream Home. It’s a great show, and David’s personality shines through, but for fans of Color Splash David Bromstad, it feels a little like watching a Formula 1 driver navigate a school zone. He’s charming, he’s funny, but we miss the paint splatters.
The "Millennial Gray" Effect
There’s also a theory among design nerds that Color Splash fell victim to the rise of minimalism. As the 2010s progressed, everyone wanted their house to look like an Apple Store. David’s vibrant teals, deep reds, and custom murals started to feel "too much" for a public obsessed with farmhouse chic.
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But guess what? Trends are cyclical. In 2026, we are seeing a massive "maximalist" revival. People are tired of living in beige boxes. They want character. They want—dare I say it—a splash of color.
What Most People Get Wrong About His Style
A common misconception is that David Bromstad just threw bright colors at walls and hoped for the best. That’s actually not true at all. If you go back and watch the old episodes on Discovery+, his layouts are incredibly disciplined.
He followed a very specific rule that he still mentions in interviews today: Keep the "big" items neutral.
"The couches and chairs—anything that’s expensive—should be neutral," David once explained. He would then use paint, pillows, and art to bring the "wow" factor. It was actually a very budget-friendly way to design, because you could change the entire look of the room for the price of a few gallons of paint and some new shams.
The Bromstad Legacy in 2026
David is currently one of the few "old school" HGTV stars who has stayed relevant for two decades. He’s open about his life, his "tattoo addiction," and his journey from a Disney illustrator to a household name.
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While My Lottery Dream Home is his primary gig now—and HGTV recently announced new specials for the 2026 season—the DNA of Color Splash David Bromstad is everywhere. You see it in the way younger designers on TikTok use "dopamine decor" to make their spaces feel alive.
He proved that you don't have to be a "serious" architect to create a space that moves people. You just need to be brave enough to pick up a paintbrush.
How to Get the Color Splash Look (Without a TV Crew)
If you’re sitting in a white room feeling uninspired, you don’t need to wait for David to knock on your door. You can channel that 2007 energy yourself.
- Find your "Inspiration Item": Don't look at Pinterest. Look at a scarf you love, a piece of fruit, or a photo from a vacation. That’s your palette.
- Commit to one bold wall: If painting the whole room feels scary, pick the wall behind your bed or sofa. Go dark. Go bright. Just go for it.
- Create your own art: David always did this. Buy a large canvas, some acrylics that match your new wall, and just play. It doesn't have to be a masterpiece; it just needs to be yours.
- Swap the hardware: Change out boring cabinet knobs for something with personality. It’s a "mini" color splash.
David Bromstad didn't just change rooms; he changed the way we thought about "home." He taught us that a house isn't just an asset to be sold—it's a place to live, loudly and in full color.
If you want to dive deeper into his early work, most of the original Color Splash seasons are currently streaming. It’s a trip down memory lane that might just convince you to finally paint your bathroom that "crazy" shade of turquoise you’ve been eyeing.
Practical Next Step: Go to your local paint store and grab three "wild card" paint chips that you usually wouldn't dare to use. Tape them to your wall for 48 hours. See how the light hits them. You might be surprised at which one starts to feel like home.