How to decorate with blush pink – make the most of this playful, pretty shade

Decorating with blush pink is a trend that is set to stay – here's how to make this rosy hue work in your home.

Decorating with blush pink pink bedroom with pink walls, grey bedding and a grey bedside table
(Image credit: Swoon Editions)

If you're planning on decorating with blush pink, you're in for a treat. While many colors come into the interior design spotlight and then quickly fade out again, blush pink is one that has stuck. ‘Blush pink is a soft, beige rose that has been continuously popular since its first big break in the 1990s,’ says Sam Baldry, head of design at Swoon. And when you take a deep dive into the psychology of the shade, it’s not hard to see why. 

'Blush pink is known for making us feel calm, protected, young and playful. These are, of course, emotions we want to feel in our own home, so it’s no wonder we’re all turning to the shade,’ says Nora Mitchel, interior design expert and Editor-in-Chief of Household Advice. We've swooned over all the pink room ideas we can, and there are five key ways to make this shade pop in your home. 

From contrasting colors to adding texture, here's how to use blush pink for a space that's calming, playful and well-balanced. 

1. Choose your rooms with care

Pink bathroom scheme with pink tiled shower and tropical jungle wallpaper contrast and wood effect flooring

(Image credit: Tile Giant)

‘As a color, pink is non-threatening and safe, and after the last two years, we are looking to feel safe and secure in our homes more than ever before,’ says Jo Massie, interior designer and color creator at Zhoosh Paints at Zhoosh. 

The calming effect of blush pink should determine where and how in the home you use it, we're talking pink bathrooms and the like. ‘Adding blush pink in areas like your bathroom can help us to relax and feel safe while taking a bath or preparing for a good night’s rest,’ says Nora. ‘Bedrooms are perfect spaces for blush pink – fill the space with plants to bring the scheme to life,’ says Marianne Shillingford, creative director at Dulux.

2. Follow the sun 

living room with a pink sofa and pink wall mural with pretty trees and birds

(Image credit: Woodchip & Magnolia)

It’s always worth considering where your room sits in relation to the sun when choosing specific shades. ‘Blush pink adds warmth to a north-facing room but also looks clean and refined with the brightness of a south-facing one,’ says Justyna, color consultant at Crown.

3. Embrace how opposites attract

pink bedroom with a gold coffee table and grey bedding

(Image credit: Swoon Editions)

If you want to make a statement with blush pink, look to the color wheel. Directly opposite pink is green, and when these shades are placed together, it's a match made in heaven.

‘Pink and green create a beautiful contrast that’s still very easy to live with. Deep green adds a modern, edgy element to a soft blush pink, perfectly balancing the scheme while creating a sophisticated look,’ says Justyna.

4. Keep it calm  

dining area with a diagonal pink colour block on the wall

(Image credit: Crown)

If a calm vibe is what you want, choose neutral colors as your backdrop and let blush pink become your accent., whether part of pink kitchen ideas or in the living room. 'Combining blush pinks with earthy tones will create a serene, spa-like space,' says experts at UK store Hillary’s. Choose a crisp white paint to bring a fresh feel, and get playful with your design. Color blocking with paint is bang on trend and it's a great way to add an injection of blush pink, without overwhelming your space. 

5. Turn up your textures

living area with pale pink walls, a boucle armchair and wooden coffee tables

(Image credit: Crown)

If you're concerned blush pink might be a little too...child-like for you, a fail-safe way to achieve a sophisticated look is to up the ante with your textures. From exposed woods to wool throws, jute rugs and boucle cushions, layer up the textures to bring some depth and added interest to your space. 

Amelia Smith
Content Editor

After joining Real Homes as content producer in 2016, Amelia has taken on several different roles and is now content editor. She specializes in style and decorating features and loves nothing more than finding the most beautiful new furniture, fabrics and accessories and sharing them with our readers. As a newbie London renter, Amelia’s loving exploring the big city and mooching around vintage markets to kit out her new home. 

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