Car Interiors Are Designed to Shape Your Mood, From Cozy to Calm To Exciting. Here’s How They Do It
Trust me—there's an involved science behind why car interiors can provoke different feelings when you're behind the wheel.
In our younger years our parents taught us, “It’s what’s on the inside that counts”, right? They may have meant for us to look past our differences with other kids, but the same can go for a car’s design. It’s natural that the first thing we notice about a car is the exterior. Maybe it’s the color, the shape, the curves (or lack thereof), or the shape of the headlights. We rarely hear, “Have you seen the interior of that new Lexus?”
The conversation usually starts with the exterior, but once we slip into the driver’s seat, we are either disappointed, thrilled, or indifferent. Exterior design is nice, but let’s be honest—we spend a majority of our time behind the wheel, passively absorbing the colors, materials, and interior design. Why not prioritize our driving experience the same way we do when designing our homes?
Whether it’s fashion or healthcare, certain colors are known to evoke certain emotions. Red is emergent, often seen on fire trucks, ambulances or high-energy night clubs. Blue evokes serenity, peace, and calm like a body of water, while bright colors like yellow are eye-catching, often requiring you to take immediate action, like the yellow traffic light or caution tape. How this science is applied to a car’s interior is no different.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
Genesis Designers are Geniuses When it Comes to Car Interiors
In fashion, we often choose between style and comfort. You’re either wearing these flats or going all out with the stilettos. It’s a dream when the two can co-exist. With a careful blend of textures, colors, and materials, the Genesis GV80 interior provokes feelings of comfort and luxury.
The quilted Nappa leather, which is known to make cars feel upscale as well as feel great, the seating immediately reminds me of a quilted handbag, which takes time, effort, and precision (and usually sells at a premium price). Then Genesis doubled down on the comfort by offering a brown and camel two-tone color scheme, colors known to promote a feeling of warmth and coziness. The GV80 also offers a white and navy blue interior, which represents purity and cleanliness paired with wisdom or profound insight.
Subtle ambient lighting, known for enhancing the driving dynamic and setting moods, lines the bottom of the dash, while two vibrant and responsive screens span from the driver’s side to the passenger side. The screens aren’t just functional, but also help improve the overall look.
On Project Runway, the show co-host Tim Gunn regularly reviewed the contestants’ designs while they were mid-production; for those who struggled somewhat with the design challenge, he simply advised them to “make it work”, meaning “figure it out.” It feels like Genesis was given a design challenge to combine comfort and style, and they made it work.
READ MORE: 10 Things My Family Adored about the 2025 Genesis GV80 3.5T Prestige
The Porsche Cayenne is Clinical, But in a Good Way
Have you ever made assumptions about a car based on its exterior, but when you got a closer look, you were pleasantly surprised? This is how I felt when I learned that Porsche offers a purple interior. It’s not a Barney the Dinosaur purple, but a deep purple they refer to as “Blackberry.” It’s an unexpected car interior color to most, but the “Blackberry” hue complements all exterior paint options well.
Purple is associated with royalty, wealth, and prosperity. Paired with an image as robust as the engine under the hood, the interior of this car is powerful. So, if you want a regal ride into the office (and a break from tan, white, brown, or black), purple is a great way to add a splash of personality to your commute. A deep purple in the home setting seems elegant, regal, and moody.
For 2025, the Cayenne E-Hybrid includes multiple features that were optional in 2024 as standard, including Ambient lighting, improved air quality, and soft-close doors, creating a peaceful cabin experience.
READ MORE: Porsche Cayenne versus Macan: Performance SUVs That Handle like a Sports Car
Volvo Makes Brown Car Interiors Look Sooooo Good
Brown is a great choice for a home interior to create an earthy, cozy aesthetic. Volvo’s optional Maroon Brown leather is a rich and smooth brown, reminiscent of a decadent chocolate instead of a basic mundane hue. The brown leather in the V90 Cross Country wagon is a warm and welcoming hue. It’s not too bright, but not too muted, either.
To complement the espresso brown, the car features contrasting charcoal accents instead of pure black throughout the cabin, including the hand-stitched steering wheel. Professional home interior designers consider the brown and grey color combination the ultimate combo for sophistication. Brown provokes feelings of stability, reliability, and approachability, which are all qualities the Volvo encompasses.
The V90’s interior to home design makes me think of “Industrial Loft.” The brown leather represents the exposed brick, wood flooring, distressed wood beams, and cabinetry. The contrasting silver accents personify the classic exposed steel piping and ductwork woven throughout the home. The matte oak located just above the glove box elevates the loft aesthetic by adding a smooth organic texture. It’s a look that works perfectly for one of the nation’s remaining wagons. It made me sad to learn it was being discontinued after this year.
READ MORE: 7 Things That Make the 2025 Volvo XC90 T8 Ultra PHEV One of the Best Family SUVs
Cadillac’s White and Beige Represents Both Classic and Modern Luxury
In interior home design, an advantage of white or beige walls is the freedom to alternate throw pillows, rugs, artwork, linens, and not worry if it will clash with your painted walls or wallpaper. The Cadillac CT5 offers a similar option with ambient light (126 color options) rather than throw pillows. The Sahara Beige will complement any of them, and unlike throw pillows, you can change up the look every day. The bright beige also brings an open, secure, and free feeling, helping center you on your drive to work.
I learned how to drive in my grandparents’ Cadillac DeVille when I was about 15. I vividly remember the leather scent and the light interior, closely resembling the CT5’s Sahara Beige. My grandfather’s Caddie was huge, but the beige interior made it feel larger than life, especially to a 15-year-old. In homes, white or beige interiors make the space feel clean and spacious. Using beige in a sporty sedan like the CT5 helps reinforce that something quick can also feel open and airy.
READ MORE: A New Look, More Tech in the 2025 Cadillac CT5 Luxury Sport Sedan
Black is Back, And Better in the 2026 Lexus ES
Lexus has done a complete overhaul of its ES model for 2026, and with the release of the all-new ES comes the debut of their new design concept “Clean Tech x Elegance.” This design concept is centered around the sedan’s proportions and creates what Lexus calls a “simple and clean design aesthetic.” Black, aside from mourning, is associated with authority, power, and sophistication, while tan helps balance it out with friendliness.
It reminds me of open concept homes, which typically feature fewer walls and more open connections between spaces so that the home feels airy and less compartmentalized, allowing natural light to permeate throughout the space. Leaning into the open concept style, Lexus intentionally lowered their window frames for even more glass space, creating a more expansive look, especially with the mostly black interior and tasteful tan accenting.
In a way, they’ve created a sensory experience by coating the door interiors in a Bamboo-like material (made from a 3D printer), bringing a tactile experience, all a part of the new design concept.
READ MORE: 6 Things That Make the 2026 Lexus ES Worth Waiting For
Range Rover Uses Navy Blue and White Creatively
I recently attended an interior design conference session led by Tarkett, where the speaker discussed the impact color has on mood, especially for the aging population. Interior designers with a knack for designing healthcare facilities carefully consider the colors and textures throughout healthcare facilities. Blue is a favorite for its calming effect; it’s known to promote feelings of serenity and peace. According to HGTV, looking at the color blue causes your body to produce chemicals that calm you down.
The 2025 Range Rover SV Serenity with Liberty Blue interior and Perlino is the epitome of Nautical Design style, offering a bit of coastal escape in the middle of rush hour. Navy blue and cream are your anchor, while the (optional) wooden trim represents the driftwood. No matter where you’re going, you’ll feel like you’re smoothly sailing on calm waters.
Could a blue interior calm a rowdy crew of kids on the way to extracurricular activities or calm your nerves before a big meeting? According to research, it just might. The Range Rover SV Serenity trim (yes, the folks at Range Rover knew what they were doing with this name), the Liberty Blue, and the Perlino rear seats and gloss white ceramic controls create a contrast that carries the Nautical feel throughout the cabin.
BMW’s Navy and Coffee Interior is Funky but Fresh
A jaw-dropping interior with navy blue (or Deep Lagoon in BMW’s terms) and brown (Vintage Coffee) mentally sends me to a posh, rustic-yet-modern wilderness lodge. The silver accessories and AC vents resemble the stone boulders that would line the cabin’s exterior. The deep shade of green makes me think of surrounding pine trees, and the brown suede-like fabric mimics the natural log walls, fur throws, and maybe even the taxidermy. The color contrast is noticeable down to the steering wheel stitching.
A nearly 15-inch curved infotainment screen is angled towards the driver for a driver-centric experience. All passengers can enjoy heated seats, while the driver and front seats come equipped with massaging seats. The car comes furnished with heated or cooling cup holders to keep your morning coffee (hot or iced) at the right temperature. The XM does not completely abandon tactile functionality, allowing you to control some features with both the touch screen and with a knob.
A cabin-like interior is an experience most can relate to and feel comfortable in, regardless of age. The brown is loud, but not overwhelming, and is very complementary to the deep blue. BMW “made it work” by simultaneously crafting an interior that’s futuristic, rustic, and peaceful. Brown is known to make people feel approachable and stable, while navy provides an air of mystery, wisdom, and deep personal thought. These colors are an excellent interior for deep discussions and big decisions.
Knowing how car interiors can shape your experience adds a new layer to car shopping—but a good one. Finding the right car interior to set the mood for your day, and your commute, can be a true game changer.
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