The emergence of pale pink as one of the front runners to be the colour of 2024 has its roots in the entertainment hits of this summer.
The Barbie movie cajoled us into perceiving pink as cheerful and life-enhancing. Meanwhile, the interiors of And Just Like That.., the Sex And The City sequel on Amazon Prime, sparked a passion for ‘bloomcore’, a soft and welcoming look incorporating wallpapers in outsized floral patterns, many in pink.
Sarah Jessica Parker, who plays Carrie Bradshaw in the show, designed these ‘refined florals’.
Such is the belief in pale pink’s potential that large and small paint manufacturers have tipped it for greatness in 2024.
Versatile: Pale pink looks great combined with a contrasting darker colour, such as dusty blue
Dulux declares 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 powder-like pink, as its choice for number one in the new year.
There are two key factors propelling pale pink to the top of the paint popularity charts. First, it is an ideal backdrop for the other colours that are hot picks for 2024 — chocolate brown and damson.
But it also works with greens and greys, and blends well with most styles of decor, including the rural ‘cottagecore’ aesthetic or more formal urban settings.
Kate Watson-Smyth, designer and author of blog Mad About The House, comments: ‘Pale pink is not sugary. It’s a brilliant neutral, comforting and universally flattering to all skin tones. I’ve just painted my house in the Plaster shades from Paint & Paper Library.’
Olivia Emery, of Olivia Emery Interiors, says pale pink is more interesting than cream or white: ‘Use it on its own and you can create a lovely light and bright scheme. Pair it with a contrasting darker colour, like a dusty blue, and you give the space a more contemporary edge.
‘If people are nervous about painting a whole room pink, then having it on a ceiling adds a lovely warm feeling to the room. Ceilings should always be interesting.’
Ed O’Donnell, of interior design studio Angel O’Donnell, is another fan: ‘Pale pink is as soothing and mood-enhancing as a crisp autumnal sunrise — and a great base for deeper, richer tones.
‘In the main bedroom of a recent project, we introduced warm putty-pink walls, intensely pink artwork, and pink accents in cushions and a throw to create a comforting and inviting space. It feels sophisticated, a little heritage and gender-inclusive.’
Coco Chanel, whose iconic pink suits can currently be seen in a special exhibition at the Victoria & Albert museum, famously painted her bathrooms pale pink. Her awareness of how light can change any colour doubtless influenced her choice.
Watson-Smyth says: ‘Pink really reacts to the ambient light. If you are painting a south-facing room in pink, the sunlight will turn it peach, which can be a little sickly. I would go for a subtle shade like Mylands’ Threadneedle.’
If you feel pale pink is just too sweet, O’Donnell suggests that it can be used sparingly as an accent in artwork, cushions, picture frames and mirrors.
A pale pink occasional chair, such as the £299 buttonback Arianna from Dunelm, would lend a certain glamour to a grey interior.
Julian Page, head of design at bhs.co.uk, recommends baby pink and soft blush lampshades, combined with warm-toned lightbulbs. After all, why wouldn’t you want to look pretty in pink?
