How to introduce pink into your home

Pink is most definitely having a bit of a moment. I’m not talking about bright fuschia pink, but more muted, sophisticated shades – pale blush pink, powdery rose pink, and earthy pink with a hint of terracotta (think the colour of Moroccan adobe walls). They’ve been popping up all over the place for a while now, and with good reason: they’re both warming and calming, and they look fantastic against ever-popular neutrals such as grey, beige and white. They’re also perfect for minimalist, Scandinavian-style schemes where brighter hues might jar.

Here are a few easy ways to add a hint of pink to your home, even if you’re an interior colour-phobe like me…

Home accessories

One of the quickest ways to incorporate a touch of pink is with accessories – candles, lamps, prints, ceramics. It’s a great way to test the water, and you can easily switch them for something else if you change your mind in the future.

There are some wonderful pink pieces around at the moment. My favourites include Cooee Design’s beautiful ‘Ball vases’ (featured on These Four Walls earlier this month), and Dutch ceramicist Kirstie van Noort’s 6:1 collection, whose earthy colours were inspired by waste from the porcelain production process. A number of contemporary Scandinavian design icons are also now available in various shades of pink, including Normann Copenhagen’s ‘Flip’ mirror and Gubi’s ‘Grasshopper’ lamp.

Textiles

You can also introduce pink in throws, cushions and bed linens – an approach I’ve taken in our lounge, where I’ve softened our charcoal-grey sofas with a couple of blush-coloured accents. Soak & Sleep sells beautiful linen sheets, duvets and pillow cases in a pale rose pink, which could be used on their own or mixed and matched with grey or white for a subtler look. You could even try pink curtains, especially if you opt for clean-lined designs without any air of fussiness.

Furniture

If you want to go one step further, how about one or two pink items of furniture? I’m a particular fan of pink statement chairs, which can look stunning against grey, taupe or white walls. Made.com has a fantastic range in various shades; Normann Copenhagen and Muuto have also embraced pink with new colour options for their ‘Era’ chairs and ‘Oslo’ chair and sofa. You could even go all out with a pink velvet sofa and footstool from Att Pynta.

If a pink chair sounds too much for you, you could try an open shelving unit which allows the wall colour to show through and therefore blends into the overall scheme. As I mentioned last week, Ferm Living has launched a new rose-pink option for its ‘Punctual’ shelving system, which is ideal for this kind of look.

Wall colour

For those who fancy a larger splash of pink, there are some beautiful paints on the market at the moment. My favourites are ‘Tea Rose’ and ‘Satin Bow’ from Dulux, ‘Blush’, ‘Confetti’ and ‘Hellebore’ from Little Greene, and ‘Cinder Rose’, ‘Pink Ground’ and ‘Setting Plaster’ from Farrow & Ball. All have a dusty undertone which ensures they look sophisticated rather than childish. You could paint the whole room pink, or combine your chosen shade with grey or taupe for a more contemporary look.

Tiles

Finally, if you want to do something a little bit different, you could always experiment with pink tiles. I’ve seen them used to brilliant effect on kitchen splashbacks and bathroom walls, particularly when paired with sleek units which counter-balance any sense of tweeness. Topps Tiles and Fired Earth both have good selections.

Images via (from top): Dulux, Pinterest, Cooee Design, Kirstie van Noort, Normann Copenhagen, Studio Oink, Avenue Lifestyle, Normann Copenhagen, Muuto, Ferm Living, Olive & The Fox, Sara Medina Lind, Topps Tiles and Coté Maison.