Gorgeous and Grown-Up Ways to Use Millennial Pink

Whether you call it Millennial Pink, blush, or just (pale) pink, this shade is a current design darling for good reason: It’s as versatile as a neutral, feels fresh and modern, and flatters all skin tones—plus, it’s just plain pretty. Here are 10 tips for using this this winning shade in any room.

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October 05, 2017

By: Amanda Lecky

Shop This Look

Photo By: Kristie Hill, Colourcube Interiors; Photo by Gathering Light

Photo By: Jackson Design and Remodeling

Photo By: Simone Haag in Collaboration with Nathan + Jac; Photo by Eve Wilson

Photo By: Courtesy of Clarke & Clarke

Photo By: Design by Samantha Nicholson, Encore Construction, Photo by Dan Cutrona

Photo By: Melanie Johnson Photography

Photo By: Flynnside Out Productions

Photo By: Design by Simone Haag in collaboration with Nathan + Jac; Photo by Eve Wilson

Don’t Go Too “Girly”

How can you use pale pink in a grown-up living space without turning it into a scene from Barbie’s Dream House? Easy: Pair the soft shade with furnishings that have a clubby silhouette, like the Chesterfield-style sofa in this room by Coddington Design.

From: Coddington Design

Do the Unexpected

In a home located directly opposite the stunning white sand beaches of the western Australian coastline, designer Kristie Hill took a slightly surprising design approach. “Instead of the typical range of blues, we used a warmer pink palette, with pink bedding and accessories in the master bedroom. It helps counteract the dominant timber cladding behind the bed, for a look that is neither feminine nor masculine,” she says. Tip from the designer: “Don’t use too much of the same hue of pink. Change it up a little, Blush pink works beautifully with mustard yellow and emerald green, too.”

Have a Light Touch

No need to paint even a single wall Millennial Pink. If you’re worried about living with Millennial Pink long term, limit the color to accessories or elements that are fairly easy to replace if you tire of the color. For example, in this kitchen by Jackson Design and Remodeling, pink shades inside the geometric pendant fixtures add just a hint of the hue overhead—and cast a flattering rosy glow around the room, as well.

From: Jackson Design and Remodeling

Use It as a New Neutral

When you think of a “neutral” wall color, shades like beige, taupe, or gray may come to mind. But pale pink is a surprisingly versatile, livable “new neutral.” On the walls of this living space that the stylists at Nathan + Jac say was inspired by an “unconventional, carefree approach” to design, blush pink is the perfect foundation shade to layer with white, cream, and dove gray. Tip: To get that chalky Scandinavian look on your walls, pick a flat paint formulation.

Have Fun With Fabric

A delicate shade like Millennial Pink lends itself beautifully to fabrics of all types, but it looks especially modern on style like Clarke & Clarke’s “Biarritz,” a linen/viscose mix with a matte look and a soft, laid-back hand that’s suitable for both drapery and upholstery.

Unify Mixed Finishes

Creating a cohesive look in a space with a variety of wood and painted finishes isn’t always a simple proposition. One designer solution, showcased in this eclectic dining room by TerraCotta Design Build, is to use a warm neutral on the walls to bridge the divide between crisp white woodwork and light and dark woods. Millennial Pink is a refreshingly contemporary choice.

From: Terracotta Design Build

Add Softness

In a space with sharp architectural angles designer Samantha Nicholson’s choice of pale pink for the walls serves a dual purpose, both softening the harsh edges and highlighting the room’s character. Another bonus for a waterfront home: “It’s a simple, soothing color that’s a twist on the expected blue/green palette that you’d expect in a coastal home,” she says.

Go Glam

Yes, it’s the perfect shade of pink for contemporary spaces, but if "minimal" and "restrained" are in your decorating vocabulary Millennial Pink can still be your friend. Paired with rich patterns, formal furnishings, and the glint of gold, blush pink creates unmistakable old-Hollywood-style glamor in any room.

From: Abbe Fenimore

Create a Pastel Palette

Millennial Pink lives well on its own or with a mix of chic neutrals, but don’t be afraid to combine it with other colors, even pastels. Case in point: This relaxed dining area created by Brian Patrick Flynn, where swaths of blush pink on either side of the French doors create a flirty counterpoint for the robin’s egg blue dining chairs and the multicolored flatweave rug.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Sleep Serenely

Soft as the dawn, Millennial Pink is a soothing (and skin-flattering) choice for bedroom walls and linens. To keep the look from getting too sweet, be sure to add hints of natural texture and contrasting neutrals as the team at Nathan + Jack did in this contemporary bedroom. Shades of gray, white, black, and even navy blue all live comfortably with pale pink.

HGTV Dream Home 2018: Behind the Design

Gorgeous and Grown-Up Ways to Use Millennial Pink

Shop This Look

Don’t Go Too “Girly”

Do the Unexpected

Have a Light Touch

Use It as a New Neutral

Have Fun With Fabric

Unify Mixed Finishes

Add Softness

Go Glam

Create a Pastel Palette

Sleep Serenely

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