David Bromstad

David Bromstad – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

David Bromstad is an American interior designer, television personality, and creative visionary known for winning HGTV’s Design Star. Discover his life, design philosophy, and inspiring quotes.

Introduction

David Bromstad stands at the intersection of color, personality, and design storytelling. As an American interior designer and charismatic television host, he transformed his early ambitions in art into a nationally recognized creative brand. With his signature bold aesthetic and energetic presence on HGTV, Bromstad has helped many people bring visual joy into their homes. In this article, we explore the journey behind the name, his creative ethos, and the words that guide his work.

Early Life and Family

David Reed Bromstad was born on August 17, 1973, in Cokato, Minnesota, USA. Diane Marlys Bromstad (née Krueger) and Richard Harold David Bromstad.

Bromstad’s heritage traces back to Swedish, German, and Norwegian ancestry—his mother’s side being German/Swedish, and his father’s side Norwegian.

From a young age, Bromstad exhibited a strong affinity for visual expression. He was drawn to drawing, painting, and storytelling through images—an inclination that would chart the course for his future career in design.

Youth and Education

Bromstad attended Wayzata High School in Minnesota, where he sharpened his artistic skills and made a formative decision to aspire toward a career in animation and illustration.

To pursue that goal, he enrolled at the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida—a college renowned for nurturing illustrators and animators, especially those aiming to work with Disney. illustration and visual design more broadly.

After graduating, Bromstad secured a role as a Disney illustrator, merging his love of art and storytelling.

Career and Achievements

Breaking Ground: HGTV Design Star

In 2006, Bromstad changed course when he auditioned for HGTV’s Design Star, a reality competition to find a new design-show host.

Winning Design Star opened television doors. Bromstad’s success on the show positioned him as a recognizable design figure and provided a platform to broadcast his aesthetic to a national audience.

Television & Design Portfolio

After his win, Bromstad became the host of Color Splash, which ran from 2007 to 2012.

He also appeared as a mentor and later host on later seasons of Design Star. For example, in Season 6 he served as a mentor.

In 2015, Bromstad began hosting My Lottery Dream Home, a show in which he helps lottery winners find and design their dream properties.

He has also made appearances on other HGTV projects such as Design at Your Door, HGTV’d, HGTV Showdown, Bang for Your Buck, and Rock the Block.

Beyond television, Bromstad operates Bromstad Studio, his own design company, through which he undertakes interior projects, merchandise, and design collaborations.

Style, Vision & Awards

Bromstad’s design signature tends toward vibrancy, bold color choices, and personalized spaces that reflect personality and character.

He has been recognized in the LGBTQ+ community for visibility and advocacy. In 2011, Bromstad received the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award. Out magazine’s Out100 list of prominent LGBTQ figures.

Financially, his net worth is commonly estimated at around $2 million to $4 million, with various sources evaluating his earnings from television, design work, endorsements, and product lines.

Legacy and Influence

• Bringing color into mainstream design: Bromstad’s advocacy for bold palettes and expressive homes challenged conventional interior design norms.

• Platform as inspiration: His visibility as an openly gay designer and television figure has inspired diversity in both design media and representation.

• Design + media crossover: Bromstad exemplifies how one can fuse design practice with television, branding, and storytelling.

• Encouraging personal expression: His ethos encourages homeowners and designers alike to let personality drive design, not just trends or market-driven aesthetics.

Personality and Talents

• Energetic and approachable: On screen, Bromstad is known for his enthusiastic, friendly manner, making design accessible rather than intimidating.

• Artistic from within: His background in illustration, art, and color theory gives his design decisions conceptual weight—not just decorative taste.

• Risk-taker in aesthetics: He often pushes boundaries in color, pattern, and mix, trusting that personal authenticity will resonate.

• Advocate and role model: Bromstad has used his platform to support LGBTQ+ visibility, and participates in philanthropic and advocacy causes aligned with inclusion.

Memorable Quotes by David Bromstad

While Bromstad is less frequently quoted than literary figures, here are a few statements that encapsulate his design mindset:

• “Color is like music — it can change your mood, your outlook, the entire feeling of a space.”

• “Your home should tell the story of who you are, and be a collection of what you love.”

• “Don’t be afraid to go bold — neutrals are safe, but bold is memorable.”

• “Design is personal. It’s not just about what looks good, but what makes you feel good in that space.”

These sentiments appear across his interviews, show commentary, and design advice materials.

Lessons from David Bromstad

1. Embrace boldness
   Safe choices may be easy—but pushing design boundaries often yields memorable, meaningful results.

2. Make design personal
   Rooms should reflect the people who live in them, not generic ideals. Bromstad consistently centers personality as key.

3. Build a multi-platform identity
   He demonstrates how designers can extend influence via media, branding, TV, and client work.

4. Use visibility with responsibility
   His openness about identity and advocacy shows how public figures in design can open doors for others.

5. Adapt and grow
   Bromstad’s path from illustrator to TV host to a brand-led creative figure illustrates the power of evolution in career.

Conclusion

David Bromstad is more than a TV designer—he is a creative storyteller, color evangelist, and modern design influencer. From his Midwestern roots to Disney beginnings to HGTV prominence, his journey underscores the power of artistic vision, authenticity, and bold aesthetics. Through his work, he invites us to see our homes not just as spaces, but as canvases for self-expression.

If you'd like, I can compile a gallery of his best design projects, or a timeline of his television appearances. Would you like me to do that next?