Light pink could well be the color of 2024… here’s how to use it in YOUR home
- Next year’s light pink trend is influenced by film and TV hits
- Paint comes in a wealth of shades, from putty to pink
- We asked interior design experts how to style it – without looking sickly
Pale pink’s emergence as one of the frontrunners to become the color of 2024 has its roots in this summer’s entertainment hits.
The Barbie movie made us think of pink as cheerful and life-enhancing. Meanwhile, the interiors of And Just Like That.., the sequel to Sex And The City on Amazon Prime, sparked a passion for ‘bloomcore’, a soft and welcoming look with wallpaper in outsized floral patterns, many in pink.
Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays Carrie Bradshaw in the show, designed these “sophisticated flowers.”
Such is the belief in light pink’s potential that paint manufacturers large and small have warned it of greatness in 2024.
Versatile: Light pink looks great paired with a contrasting dark color, such as dusty blue
Levis states that Sweet Embrace, a subtle plaster pink, “has a visual softness that calms the senses and creates an atmosphere of serenity.”
Little Greene, the Welsh paint company, has named its Masquerade shade, a warm powdery pink, as number one in the new year.
There are two key factors pushing light pink to the top of the paint popularity charts. Firstly, it is an ideal backdrop for the other colors popular for 2024: chocolate brown and damask.
But it also works with green and gray tones and fits well with most interior styles, including rural ‘cottagecore’ aesthetics or more formal urban settings.
Kate Watson-Smyth, designer and author of blog Mad About The House, says: ‘Light pink is not sugary. It is a brilliant, neutral, comforting and universally flattering color for all skin tones. I just painted my house in the plaster shades from Paint & Paper Library.’
Olivia Emery, from Olivia Emery Interiors, says light pink is more interesting than cream or white: ‘Use it on its own and you can create a beautiful light and bright look. Combine it with a contrasting, darker color, such as dusty blue, and you give the room a more contemporary touch.
‘If people are nervous about painting an entire room pink, hanging it from the ceiling gives a lovely warm feeling to the room. Ceilings should always be interesting.’
Ed O’Donnell, from interior design studio Angel O’Donnell, is another fan: ‘Light pink is as soothing and mood-enhancing as a bright autumn sunrise – and an excellent base for deeper, richer shades.
‘In the master bedroom of a recent project we introduced warm putty pink walls, intense pink artwork and pink accents in cushions and a throw to create a comforting and inviting space. It feels sophisticated, a bit heritage and gender inclusive.”
Coco Chanel, whose iconic pink suits are currently on display in a special exhibition at the Victoria & Albert museum, famously painted her bathrooms pale pink. Her awareness of how light can change any color undoubtedly influenced her choice.
Watson-Smyth says: ‘Pink really responds to the ambient light. If you paint a south-facing room pink, the sunlight will turn the room peachy, which can be a bit sickly. I would go for a subtle shade, like Threadneedle from Mylands.’
If you think pale pink is just too sweet, O’Donnell suggests it can be used sparingly as an accent in artwork, pillows, picture frames and mirrors.
A pale pink side chair, such as the £299 buttonback Arianna from Dunelm, would add a certain glamor to a gray interior.
Julian Page, head of design at bhs.co.uk, recommends baby pink and soft pink lampshades, paired with lamps in warm tones. After all, why wouldn’t you want to look beautiful in pink?