Lifestyle

Inside editor NICOLE GRAY shows you how to use Barbie’s favorite color

Louie

August 9, 2022

A new wave of pink, from putty to gum, no longer reserved for children’s bedrooms and bathrooms of the 1970s, adorns our homes.

Powered by the new Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie, who created the TikTok Barbiecore trend, sweet tones, curved furniture, fringe pillows and fuchsia glows are having a moment. Meanwhile, searches for “pink house” on Pinterest increased by 80% and “pink wallpaper” by 100%.

Wanna try everything pink? The Wave After Wave wallpaper in Candy (£43 for 10m rolls, lusthome.com) is a cute yet powerful choice. And the Cannoli pink paint (£33 for 1 liter, picklesonpaint.com) should hit the mark. Thanks to its boldness, bright pink is also a good choice for creating focal points and adding interest to details such as doors or baseboards. For some fun, try Passionate Pink from eco-friendly paint brand yescolours.com (£42 for 2 litres).

Floors are also great for channeling Barbie’s dream home feeling without fear of going too far. Check out the stunning Carousel Twist rug (£15.99 per square foot, carpet.com) or ruggable.com at Antique Rose. New UK live rug series (see previous post) adorned with hot pink and blush straps.

PLAY WITH COLORS Combining different shades of pink adds depth to a simple pattern. Here, pink accents on the rug and pillows are offset by lighter pink vases and walls.

You obviously don’t need to overdose on cotton candy, not even pink business. In terms of furniture, we love loaf.com’s new Preserved Plums linen collection (starting at £295), which includes everything from stools to sofas. As for accessories, start small and try a pink champagne mug on a cocktail cart (Copas Twirl glasses, £36.50 for two, trouva.com), a pastel fluted vase in the hallway (see large fluted vase, £9.50, markandspencer. com) or a neutral rug with a subtle pink edge (see Cecily Scalloped Rug, £150, oliverbonas.com).

And don’t forget that pink is an ideal background color – pair it with navy blue for a sophisticated touch or soft sage for a more understated approach. Even a range of statements are winners, and the Tress chair (£445, oliverbonas.com) or the Hartfield sofa (from £1,595, arloandjacob.com) are standout options.

PLAY WITH COLORS

Applying different shades of pink will add depth to a simple pattern. Here (above) bright pink accents on the rug and throw pillows are offset by paler pink vases and walls. Carpet, starting from 89 TL, Monica Ahanönü x ruggable.com. Try coxandcox.co.uk for similar chairs. Conranshop.nl sells similar pillows.

IN REGION

The signature pink wall draws the eye up and continues along the ceiling, making the space appear larger.

Here, the prominent pink wall draws the eye upward and continues along the ceiling, making the space appear larger. The effect is also great for zoning smaller spaces. The walls are painted Dulux’s pressed petal and coconut white, both £43.19 for the 2.5 liter, diy.com. Try rockettstgeorge.co.uk for a similar chandelier.

JUST ADD ONE TYPE

Here, an antique pink armchair is the perfect complement to a neutral floor and can be moved from room to room.

Pink, along with furniture and accessories, for a discreet view of the trend. Here, an antique pink armchair perfectly complements a neutral background and can be moved from room to room whenever you want to change the mood. Theo armchair, £1,150, neptune.com.

GET THE BEST

This total approach is given balance and elegance by contrasting ocher curtains.

Here are the pink walls – and cabinets and baseboards – all painted in Blush (£52 for 2.5 litres, littlegreene.com). This total approach is given balance and elegance by contrasting ocher curtains.

TRY A MODERN FINISH

Brass fittings at perrinandrowe.co.uk contrast perfectly with Barbiecore plaster

For Barbiecore with a textured twist, blogger Emily Murray (pinkhouse.co.uk) painted her bathroom waterproof plaster pink (£150 per meter, pop-surface.co.uk). Brass fittings at perrinandrowe.co.uk create a bright contrast with the plaster.

NEW PINK COLORS

From flamingo to salmon, here are our color choices