Decorating
Millennial Pink: Popular, Perennial or Passé?
Can the colour of the moment survive the ups and downs of the fashion cycle? We think so
Millennial Pink has been the hottest colour on the block for the past couple of years, but does it have the chops to go the distance? Not an official colour by Pantone standards, Millennial Pink is not one specific colour but rather a range of pink shades from beige-pink and peach to salmon. It started filtering into tonal trends when Apple launched the rose gold iPhone in 2015 and Pantone named ‘Rose Quartz’ one of its colours of 2016, and it has remained firmly on our radars ever since.
But Millennial Pink is more than just a colour, it’s an attitude. It breaks away from the traditional gender associations of pink – there’s nothing girly or bubblegum sweet about it. Described as ‘post-pretty,’ it’s pink with a dash of irony. So can the colour that’s almost too hot to handle avoid the inevitable fashion slide? Here’s how to make sure it does.
But Millennial Pink is more than just a colour, it’s an attitude. It breaks away from the traditional gender associations of pink – there’s nothing girly or bubblegum sweet about it. Described as ‘post-pretty,’ it’s pink with a dash of irony. So can the colour that’s almost too hot to handle avoid the inevitable fashion slide? Here’s how to make sure it does.
Combine analogous hues
This bathroom has an analogous colour palette of Millennial Pink, peach and red, interspersed with grey cabinetry fronts and complemented by a dark-red tiled floor. Millennial Pink isn’t the only star of the show here, rather all the colours work to complement each other.
Why it works: Analogous colours are three or more closely related colours. They are adjacent to each other on the colour wheel, and analogous colour schemes are often found in nature. Because of their close relationship, analogous colours combine well and create comfortable, harmonious palettes that are pleasing to the eye.
Tip: Make sure you have enough contrast when creating an analogous colour scheme.
This bathroom has an analogous colour palette of Millennial Pink, peach and red, interspersed with grey cabinetry fronts and complemented by a dark-red tiled floor. Millennial Pink isn’t the only star of the show here, rather all the colours work to complement each other.
Why it works: Analogous colours are three or more closely related colours. They are adjacent to each other on the colour wheel, and analogous colour schemes are often found in nature. Because of their close relationship, analogous colours combine well and create comfortable, harmonious palettes that are pleasing to the eye.
Tip: Make sure you have enough contrast when creating an analogous colour scheme.
This bedroom also has an analogous colour palette, with shades of light and hot pink on the bed, a beige-pink floor lamp and a peach-pink bedhead. The artwork by Catherine Cassidy incorporates all these colours and more, tying the colour scheme together beautifully. Like the bathroom, it also features grey, which adds a gender-neutral base to the scheme, and one that doesn’t detract from or dampen the vibrancy of the pinks.
Why it works: Grey is a neutral colour that helps to show off bright colours in a sophisticated way.
Why it works: Grey is a neutral colour that helps to show off bright colours in a sophisticated way.
Go pink with pink with pink
An all-pink splashback and dashes of neon pink in the pendant lights reflect the fun personalities of the homeowners here. The splashback features tiny pink mosaic tiles that range from blush and Millennial Pink through to dark pink, adding texture and dimension to the simple white and stainless-steel kitchen.
An all-pink splashback and dashes of neon pink in the pendant lights reflect the fun personalities of the homeowners here. The splashback features tiny pink mosaic tiles that range from blush and Millennial Pink through to dark pink, adding texture and dimension to the simple white and stainless-steel kitchen.
This bedroom may feature a variety of pink hues, but they all fall within the spectrum of Millennial Pink. The walls, bedside tables, heater and Egg chair are solid pink, while the rug has shades of pink and peach, and the curtains are pink on beige. The room could easily be pink overkill, but manages to feel calming and serene, with a grand
four-poster bed in the centre.
Why it works: Strip away the colour and the bedroom is actually simple and pared-back in its design. The furniture has clean, fuss-free lines, allowing the medley of pinks to shine through as the ornamentation.
How to test paint colours
four-poster bed in the centre.
Why it works: Strip away the colour and the bedroom is actually simple and pared-back in its design. The furniture has clean, fuss-free lines, allowing the medley of pinks to shine through as the ornamentation.
How to test paint colours
Make it neon
Ironic art in ironic pink. Neon has both a retro and contemporary look and feel, a bit like Millennial Pink. This neon pink light by British artist Tracey Emin adds personality to an otherwise plain, neutral kitchen.
Ironic art in ironic pink. Neon has both a retro and contemporary look and feel, a bit like Millennial Pink. This neon pink light by British artist Tracey Emin adds personality to an otherwise plain, neutral kitchen.
Juxtapose it against raw materials
Contrasting Millennial Pink with raw materials balances their hardness and adds warmth to a space. Here, a pink-upholstered sofa and footstool appear soft and playful – a bold contrast against the hard concrete floors, exposed brick wall and timber shelving and furniture.
Why it works: The unexpected contrast between the raw tones and textures of the natural materials and the whimsical pinks draws the eye and adds interest to the space.
Contrasting Millennial Pink with raw materials balances their hardness and adds warmth to a space. Here, a pink-upholstered sofa and footstool appear soft and playful – a bold contrast against the hard concrete floors, exposed brick wall and timber shelving and furniture.
Why it works: The unexpected contrast between the raw tones and textures of the natural materials and the whimsical pinks draws the eye and adds interest to the space.
Go pink without being pretty
Our traditional gender associations mean that babies’ and little girls’ rooms are often decked out in pink. If you like the hue but not the associations, don’t despair. With attitude-laden Millennial Pink, you can go pink without any of the girly or princess-y connotations. It also looks great paired with pale blue and minty green, pushing those traditional gendered associations even further out to pasture.
Our traditional gender associations mean that babies’ and little girls’ rooms are often decked out in pink. If you like the hue but not the associations, don’t despair. With attitude-laden Millennial Pink, you can go pink without any of the girly or princess-y connotations. It also looks great paired with pale blue and minty green, pushing those traditional gendered associations even further out to pasture.
Even though this young child’s room has a lot of pink – Verner Panton’s famous chair, the bunk bed, artwork and floral rug – it manages to steer clear of sugary sweet territory. There a couple of reasons for this; the lines and forms used here are strong and modern, and the dark wooden floors and fireplace provide a bold contrast and anchor the room.
Find painters and wallpaperers
Find painters and wallpaperers
Play with complementary colours
Green and pink (as a paler shade of red) are complementary colours, sitting across from one another on the colour wheel. This means they go well together, showing off each other’s best qualities. In this sophisticated but lively kitchen, a Millennial Pink door, trimmed in white, brightens the greyish-green kitchen.
Green and pink (as a paler shade of red) are complementary colours, sitting across from one another on the colour wheel. This means they go well together, showing off each other’s best qualities. In this sophisticated but lively kitchen, a Millennial Pink door, trimmed in white, brightens the greyish-green kitchen.
Here, Millennial Pink is paired with turquoise-green, with fresh stripes on the ceiling for a more tropical tilt.
Why it works: Complementary colours are pleasing to the eye. This is due to how the cones in our eyes, which contribute to colour vision, perceive different colours of light. Stare at one block of colour for a long time and then quickly look at a white wall; you’ll see a light afterimage in its complementary colour. This is because when you stare at the block of colour, the cells in your eyes fatigue with time, sending weaker signals to your brain and slightly suppressing that part of the visual spectrum.
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See more interiors where pink is the star
Tell us
If you enjoyed this story, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation!
More
See more interiors where pink is the star
Mixing Millennial Pink with stronger and darker colours, such as navy, black and red, balances the colour palette and allows the pink to pop. Choose furniture with architectural lines, such as this modernist sofa and coffee table, to create a more confident composition.
Design tip: Scatter cushions are a great way to have fun with an of-the-moment colour without too much investment or commitment.
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