Pale pink could be the color of 2024…here’s how to use it in YOUR home

Pale pink’s rise as a top contender for 2024’s Color of the Year has its roots in this summer’s entertainment hits.

The Barbie movie made us see pink as cheerful and life-brightening. Meanwhile, the interiors of And Just Like That.., the sequel to Amazon Prime’s Sex And The City, sparked a passion for “bloomcore,” a soft and inviting look with wallpaper with oversized floral patterns, many of them in pink.

Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays Carrie Bradshaw in the series, designed these “sophisticated floral patterns.”

Such is the belief in pale pink’s potential that paint manufacturers large and small have predicted great success for it in 2024.

Versatile: Pale pink goes great with a contrasting, darker color like dusty blue

Dulux explains that Sweet Embrace, a subtle plaster pink, “has a visual softness that soothes the senses and creates an atmosphere of serenity.”

Little Greene, the Welsh paint company, has declared its Masquerade shade, a warm, powdery pink, as its top choice for the new year.

There are two key factors that cause pale pink to top the color popularity chart. Firstly, it is an ideal background for the other colors trending for 2024 – chocolate brown and plum.

But it also works with greens and grays and fits well with most interior styles, including rural “cottagecore” aesthetics or more formal urban settings.

Kate Watson-Smyth, designer and author of the blog Mad About The House, comments: “Pale pink isn’t sugary.” It’s a brilliant, neutral, calming and universally flattering shade for all skin tones. “I just painted my house in Paint & Paper Library’s plaster tones.”

Olivia Emery of Olivia Emery Interiors says pale pink is more interesting than cream or white: “Use it alone and you can create a beautiful, light and bright color scheme.” Pair it with a contrasting, darker color, like a dusty blue, and they give the room a more modern touch.

“If people are hesitant about painting an entire room pink, putting it on the ceiling gives the room a nice warm feel.” “Ceilings should always be interesting.”

Ed O’Donnell of interior design studio Angel O’Donnell is another fan: “Pale pink is as calming and mood-enhancing as a clear autumn sunrise – and a great base for deeper, bolder tones.”

“In the master bedroom of a recent project, we introduced warm kitty pink walls, deep pink artwork, and pink accents in pillows and throws to create a cozy and inviting space. It feels sophisticated, a little traditional, and gender fluid.”

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 reacts to the ambient light.” If you paint a south-facing room pink, the sunlight will make it peach-colored, which can look a little sickly. I would go for a subtle shade like “Threadneedle” from Mylands.

If you think pale pink is just too sweet, O’Donnell recommends using it sparingly as an accent in artwork, pillows, picture frames, and mirrors.

A light pink side chair like the Arianna button-down chair, £299 from Dunelm, would add some glamor to a gray interior.

Julian Page, head of design at bhs.co.uk, recommends lampshades in baby pink and soft blush, combined with bulbs in warm tones. After all, why wouldn’t you want to look pretty in pink?