From subtle accents to bold statements, learn how to decorate with pink. Get inspired with ways to incorporate pink into your home design.
I recently lost a bet with a teenager, which resulted in me getting a pink streak in my hair. I’m surprised by how much I love it, especially since I’m not the girly, pink-loving type.
However, it did get me thinking about interior decorating with pink, which, much like my stripe, is a fantastic idea. Let’s look at how to decorate with pink.
To decorate with pink, choose natural shades of pink as a neutral or anchor color in cozy or airy interiors. Pair pink with black and white, or go earthy, accessorizing with natural textures and metallics. Focus on gorgeously textured, patterned items, or wrap an entire room.
Decorating with Pink
The millennial buzz around pink has been around for nearly 10 years now, with blush and rose making a firm statement in many of our homes.
Some designers have embraced pale pink as a neutral, while others are wedded to an earthy terracotta. Whichever shade you choose, it’s time to update your home with this versatile, elegant color.
How you decorate with pink will depend on the shade you choose and the space you want to create.
Richer pinks, like raspberry or magenta, create a warmer, cozier atmosphere, while paler and more muted pinks are perfect for brightening and lightening spaces.
Consider decorating with pink to refresh your interiors. Let’s see how.
How to Decorate with Pale Pink
This calm shade ranges from charming baby and pastel pinks to more contemporary plaster shades.
#1. Use Pink as a Neutral
Paler shades of pink are ideal as a neutral element in a room, whether a foundation or accent color.
Pink is more interesting than beige or taupe, adding comfort and coziness to an otherwise neutral interior.
Consider pink pillows, a statement artwork, or even an occasional chair.
#2. Anchor a Room with Pink
Pale pink is the perfect anchor for a room, creating a warm glow.
Pale pink with a lavender tinge adds whimsical charm to a child’s room, but consider it also for a feminine bathroom or conservatory.
This shade works beautifully in English country interiors, paired with florals, stripes, and polka dots.
#3. Be Inspired by Nature
Choose the gorgeous, soft shades of natural pinks to inspire your interiors. One option is to decorate with flowers, bringing in bouquets and arrangements from your garden.
For those of us without green fingers — myself included — floral elements like fabric, artwork, or dramatic wallpaper can introduce lush pink to a bedroom or living room.
Decorate with Rose Pink
Blush and rose, beloved of millennial interiors, have stood the test of time and remain decorating stalwarts.
#4. Make a Pink Statement
If a richer shade of pink is a little overwhelming as an anchor shade, create a statement wall.
A pink wall creates a breathtaking focal point, updating an otherwise dull room into a sophisticated, eye-catching space.
Remember your fifth wall — the ceiling — as an option for a pink statement. You’ll feel like you’re living in a sunset.
#5. Pair Pink with Black and White
Designers no longer relegate pink to little girls’ bedrooms. A contemporary upgrade is to pair pink with chic black and white, which balances any nursery associations.
This combination of colors is sophisticated and dramatic, working well with Art Deco schemes, especially if you let pink dominate and add gold accents for a luxury vibe.
#6. Cozy, Spacious or Airy
Blush and rose enhance large, airy spaces, making them appear relaxed and spacious.
However, you can take a note from my friend Heather’s book. She painted her small, light-starved study in pink, creating a cozy cocoon where she can work peacefully or put her toes up on the couch and while the afternoon away.
How to Decorate with Terracotta
Dusty, earthy shades of pink are on-trend, especially those that lean towards faded terracotta — the color of my fantasy Tuscan farmhouse, complete with rows of cypress and olive trees and rolling green hills.
#7. Go Earthy
Terracottas are easy pinks to work with, as they have a brownish undertone that stops them from becoming overly saccharine.
This lush shade is ideal for organic modern, desert-inspired, or Tuscan interiors, especially when paired with muted greens and browns.
#8. Add Textures
Terracotta pink lends itself to serene Boho interiors. So combine it with naturally textured elements like wood, wicker, jute, and rattan.
Metallics like bronze or antique brass also tone with terracotta, adding warmth, interest, and a touch of the Arabian souk.
How to Decorate with Salmon Pink
If you prefer your pink with an orange undertone, look out for elegant salmon pink. The citrus element adds freshness and vibrancy to any interior.
#9. Feel the Color
If you’re adding color through upholstery and soft furnishings, introduce lush, tactile textures for a complete sensory experience.
Velvet, leather, satin, and nubbly wool are perfect partners for a gorgeous salmon pink. Although a sequin-scaled cushion would be a conversation starter. (Salmon scales —– anyone with me?)
#10. Wrap the Room
Salmon is a gentle enough shade to color-drench a space completely, wrapping the room in a delicate, tranquil color.
The color wrapping technique involves painting walls, woodwork, and ceiling to create an ultra-contemporary effect.
How to Decorate with Bright Pink
Brighter pinks like neon, magenta, and hot Barbie pink are less accessible as decorating colors as they can be overwhelming.
However, you can’t go wrong with vivid colors for a spectacular statement.
#11. Start Small
The best option for incorporating bold color into your interiors is to introduce it in small, less committed ways. A cozy throw, bookshelves, or a doorway will add a splash of happiness.
Remember that hot pink has a blue undertone, so you can cool it down and add a modern touch by pairing it with blues and silvers.
#12. Combine Pink with Patterns
Make pink feel fresh and contemporary by introducing it through pattern, especially with contrasting colors like green and yellow.
Keep your patterns vibrant with these brighter pinks, for instance, in plaid, stripes, or graphic shapes.
#13. Have Fun with Fabric
Introduce a vivid pink punch through interesting upholstery textures, fabrics, and unexpected patterns.
Magenta adds a sultry, elegant ambiance when combined with ultrasoft leather.
Final Thoughts
Pink is officially a designer-approved color, so feel free to incorporate it as a neutral, accent, or anchor color. Stick to a paler, blush, or terracotta pink for subtle elegance and charm. Or embrace the Barbie revolution with a hotter shade in a vivid pattern or texture. Either way, you’ll update your home to an enviably uber-modern space.
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