Pastel color palettes: folks either love ’em or hate ’em. At Star Furniture, we’ve seen home decor color trends come and go. While we love every color of the rainbow, the trick to decorating like a pro is not using every color at once, including the “new pastels.” These contemporary shades are made up of light elusive sherbert-like hues kissed with just a bit of color. Pale pinks, light lavenders, powdery blues, pale peaches, buttery yellows and the like can feel like a breath of fresh air for spring, but what about the rest of the year? Your home’s color palette should be appropriate all year long. Luckily, there are ways to embrace the new pastels 365 days of the year. Check out these tips from the design team at Star Furniture to learn how.
Pick Your Favorite Pastels
So you’re smitten with pastels. Before you begin considering pastel paint, art, accessories and even furniture to bring your color vision to life, it’s best to choose which colors you plan on incorporating into a particular space. Just as you wouldn’t use every color of the rainbow to decorate your living room or bedroom, it’s also not a good idea to go overboard with a wide variety of hues of pastels in the same area. Instead, focus on a few of your favorites to highlight throughout a specific room. The result is sure to feel polished, bright, and inviting. Not sure which pastels you prefer? Looking at magazines, home improvement shows, and, of course, social media sites is a great way to find examples of paint colors, furniture, and finished rooms that you’d like to see in your own home.
Embrace Neutral Pastels
One of the best things about pastels is that they’re incredibly versatile. Along with adding a whisper of color to one space or enhancing the visual intrigue of another, pastels are subtle enough to use in place of traditional neutrals. In fact, used with a light touch, pastels are the new neutrals. Because of this, they can effortlessly put a personal touch on virtually any area of your home while still creating a clean, sophisticated aesthetic. With this in mind, don’t be afraid to replace your grey bedspread with a muted blue one or your beige curtain panels with dusty lilac ones instead. You may be surprised by the improvement that replacing overused neutrals with refreshing pastels can have on the look and feel of your space.
Go with a Pastel Background
There’s something about walking into a room adorned with creamy pastel walls that can instantly put you in a good mood. Pastels make fabulous background colors for any room thanks to their subtle brightness that allows them to complement a variety of home decor styles while maintaining an open, airy ambiance. Looking for inspiration? Here are some of our favorite pastel picks to color any room in your home:
- Benjamin Moore’s “Palladian Blue” is the perfect combination of green and blue, making a great option for a coastal-inspired living room or calming walls to go with your bedroom furniture.
- Sherwin Williams’ “Pale Pink” exudes soft romance while being subtle enough for everyday living spaces, including your dining room or home office.
- Add playful charm to your kitchen or family room with Sherwin Williams’ “Lemon Chiffon.” This sophisticated yellow is as cheerful as it is elegant, making it an ideal pastel for the most frequented areas of your home.
Accent with Pastels
If you’re drawn to the understated beauty of pastel palettes, but aren’t quite ready to go all in with a pretty-in-pink bedroom or a creamy mint kitchen, think baby steps. Introducing pastel accents may be the way to go. The good news is that there are endless ways to make a big impact on the ambiance of your home with a few pastel accessories. Check out these simple ideas to dip your toe into the pastel pool with home decor accents:
- Swap out your ordinary throw pillows with buttery yellow ones on your bed or armchairs.
- Add a minty green shower curtain or area rug to your bathroom to give it new life.
- Give your living room a feminine touch with soft pink home decor objects, such as boxes stacked on a side table or a throw draped over the sofa.
Highlight Pastels in Artwork
Sometimes, designing a room that looks thoughtful, balanced, and stylish is easier said than done. If you have a pastel vision in mind but are having a difficult time bringing it to fruition, using a piece of artwork as your inspiration may be helpful. Start by choosing a painting, print, or other wall hanging that has a variety of eye-catching pastel colors to pull from. This piece can give you a concrete idea of what hues you’re decorating with, what other colors pair well with them, and the overall vibe you have in mind.
Star’s pro tip: Select one or two pastels from the art to incorporate throughout the space with everything from table lamps and vases to pillows and books. Once you have a few pieces of home decor that complement the art, hang it on the wall to see the finished product instantly come together.
Make the Most of the New Pastels with the Pros at Star Furniture
Pastels are both on trend and timeless. Pastels are the colors of nature. They’re also all over the runway. The process of finding, pairing and balancing a pastel palette in home decor can be a bit tricky. Breathe a sigh of relief. You don’t have to be a professional designer to whip up a perfect pastel decorating plan in your home.The trusted design team at Star Furniture are color experts that can help you navigate the nuances of color and find furnishings, accessories, and more to bring your dream pastel visions to life. Visit us today and chat with our design experts to find out more about decorating with pastels in your home.