Pink gets sophisticated

From the Resene decorating blog

Suggest a pink interior to many people and they might just grimace; their imaginations filled with cliches of sickly or childish sweetness. It’s time to think again.

Sophisticated interior with split wall in earthy red and subtle pink

Earthy red is the perfect contrast against subtle pink in this sophisticated room.

Upper wall painted in Resene Dust Storm, floor and lamp base in Resene Dust Storm and lower wall and chairs in Resene Avant Garde. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.

Pink is a hugely versatile colour because it includes everything from classic shades like Resene Pale Rose to more muted, soft tones like Resene Pot Pourri through to peach-toned Resene Awaken and dramatic fuchsia Resene Lipstick. Within the pink spectrum there will be a shade that suits your taste and your palette and when paired with the right contrasting and complementary colours can create looks that are grown-up, elegant and sophisticated.

In today’s volatile world pink can be the perfect shade to create calm and soothing interior spaces that allow us to retreat and unwind.

Classics with a twist

As a place to start your exploration of modern, sophisticated pinks Resene Colour Consultant Hannah Lynch suggests shades like Resene Solid Pink or Resene Cosmic that are blended with mauve to offer a more complex spin on classic rose.

“Others would be Resene Oyster Pink, an understated blush pink or Resene Wafer. These pinks work beautifully with muted greens such as Resene Ravine, warm smoky greys like Resene Thunderstorm or whites with depth like Resene Quarter Tea,” Hannah says.

If your tastes run to other classic pinks in delicate ballet shades like Resene Vanilla Ice or cherubic Resene Cupid, you can add an edgier modern twist by pairing them with other bold or unexpected shades. This also means the focus of your room becomes the fun colour combination rather than a specific colour – if you’re worried about the space looking “too pink”.

For example, you could try Resene Cupid with fizzy pale yellow Resene Pale Prim – perfect for a fun, bright and sophisticated bathroom or layer it with Resene Half Sauvignon and Resene Soothe for a beautiful retreat room. Try Resene Vanilla Ice with the blackened soft blue of Resene Kashmir Blue.

Pairing pink with grey is one of the most classic combinations of all. Go for an update on the classic 80s pastel pink and grey by opting for slightly moodier shades like Resene Twilight, paired with hazy grey Resene Neutral Bay. For a punchier spin on the combination try magenta Resene Scrumptious with warm charcoal Resene Gumboot.

A neutral touch

The right shade of muted pink, often veering toward earthy beiges can create a beautiful warm base of an essentially neutral colour scheme – with just a subtle glow of colour. It’s a great combination on which to build a calm space in your home, whether it’s a bathroom, reading spot or a bedroom.

Resene Colour Expert Meryl Southey suggests starting with beige shades with the slightest hint of pink like Resene Pearl Bush, Resene Contented or Resene Bone. Layer them with slightly stronger pink tones like Resene Just Right and Resene Dust Storm, to keep to a neutral look with the gentle added warmth of a subtle sunrise.

Sitting room with pink-toned beige walls and a floral wall mural

Pink-toned beige shades work well as a neutral base while adding subtle warm colour.

Wall painted in Resene Soothe with mural in Resene Sauvignon, Resene Vanquish and Resene Haven, vase in Resene Sauvignon and table in Resene Half Halcyon. Chair and lamp from Soren Liv. Mural by Hannah Tapner, project by Melle van Sambeek, image by Bryce Carleton.

Lounge with a bold contrast of sophisticated pink and deep charcoal walls

Sophisticated pink can be bold and dramatic, particularly when paired with deep charcoal shades.

Left wall painted in Resene Cabaret, right wall and side cabinet in Resene Nero, floor in Resene Alabaster, coffee table in Resene Glamour Puss and plant pot in Resene Alabaster. Black cushion from Adairs, fringed cushion from Farmers, ribbed wall panels from Laminex. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.

Add a note of contrast with caramel Resene Toffee, cocoa-hued Resene Almond Frost or a lush herbaceous green like Resene Parsley with trim in an off-white like Resene Blanc to finish.

top tip If you’re nervous about a pink-toned neutral on your walls, remember that colours used over larger areas like a stretch of wall will often appear lighter than you expect. Experiment by using Resene testpots on A2 card as you can and make sure you test in both natural and artificial light in your room.

Moving on from millennial pink

Through the last decade, “millennial pink” ruled the roost when it came to pink interior colour palettes. Named Pantone’s Colour of the Year in 2016, the shade is a blend of rose and peach tones, found in shades like Resene Just Dance and Resene Sakura. It was – and is – popular for a good reason. It’s a shade that can add both freshness and warmth to most spaces whether you’re a Scandi-style minimalist or simply want a versatile backdrop to a more colourful room.

It’s also a shade that has continued to evolve over recent years, notably toward more beige, earthy tones like Resene Cashmere or warmer baked hues like terracotta Resene Summer Rose. Try your beige-toned paired with rich reds like Resene Lusty and subtly off-white Resene Quarter Bianca. Try Resene Summer Rose with grey-green Resene Infused and peachy cream Resene Solitaire.

Luxurious lounge with walls painted in a neutral tone with pink undertones

Pink undertones lend a rich, luxurious finish to this neutral living room paint palette. Rear wall and battens painted in Resene Martini, floor painted in Resene Dust Storm with Resene Cest La Vie and Resene Dust Storm mixed with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium, skirting in Resene Snow Drift, side wall in Resene Half Wood Bark, shelves in Resene Quarter Karaka, table in Resene Bon Jour, cup in Resene Cashmere and vases in Resene Wilderness, Resene Quarter Karaka, Resene Snow Drift, Resene Ship Cove, Resene Cashmere and Resene Greige. Chair from Danske Møbler, art Fairy Falls 2 by Lucy Rice from Endemicworld, lampshade from Corcovado.

A note of drama

One thing to remember in your exploration of pinks, particularly if you’re not a fan of neutral minimalism or pastel subtlety, is that pinks don’t need to be muted to be sophisticated.

For example, Resene Colour Consultant Jill Marsh says many shades of bold magenta pair surprisingly well with warm and earthy neutrals to create a space as interesting and unexpected as it is sophisticated.

She suggests trying Resene Geronimo with the stony greige of Resene Zorba or Resene Lip Service with Resene Half Drought.

For a cosier room, paint your walls in charcoal Resene Quarter Bokara Grey with accents like furniture or light fittings in Resene Lipstick, Jill says.

As some more unexpected shades to pair with rich and bold magentas, Jill recommends buttery yellow Resene Chenin, the ocean turquoise of Resene Fountain Blue or the more muted blue of Resene Morning Glory.

It can be tempting to assume that if you’re including a bold shade like magenta in your sophisticated pink palette that other colours must be calmer or more neutral, Jill says while a classic cream like Resene Pearl Lusta can be very effective at cooling and calming a bold magenta, there is no rule that says you can’t go for other dramatic, bold shades.

For a plush, luxurious finish Jill suggests trying magenta layered with shades of purple or softer lilacs. For example, Resene Boogie Wonderland and Resene Pukeko look beautiful with fuchsia Resene Smitten. “Add freshness and emphasis with creamy off-white Resene Arrowroot,” Jill says.

Experimental pinks

Whatever end of the pink spectrum your tastes run to, remember there is a colour combination to suit you. Start by looking at the classic colour partners to pink, like green, grey, white or navy blue. Then start to push the boundaries of those colours out to their different shades to find combinations that are unique to you and will elevate your rooms.

For example, instead of classic rose pink, with navy blue, why not try a more chalky grey blue with Resene Waikawa Grey paired with barely-there pink Resene Spring Wood. For a new sophisticated spin in pink and green try subtle green Resene Rainee, with pinked beige Resene Serene, with wood trim washed in Resene Colorwood Whitewash for a relaxed beachy look.

Pink takes in far more looks and palettes than you might think, so experiment with what works for you.

Colours mentioned in this article

Colours marked as "buy in-store" may not yet be available in our online ColorShop, however, the testpots can be purchased at your local Resene ColorShop or reseller.

Swatch
Resene Quarter Bianca