When achieving a light and airy space, few colors are as effective at bringing the look together as pastels. Whether you’re looking for an integrated color palette for your living room or adding soft accents in unexpected places throughout the home, using pastel colors can be just the right thing to give your interior design project that special touch.
With so many gorgeous hues available—from delicate lavenders to playful pinks—it’s no wonder they’ve become popular among homeowners and designers alike. So if you’d like to bring this timeless beauty into your home, below are the basics of using pastels for the best interior design!
The Most Popular Pastel Colors
Colors can transform a room’s entire look. Even though choosing the right one can be daunting, it’s all about taking the risk. Of course, asking for professional help is the best course of action. But since it’s your home, you should also listen to your gut. So if you’re dead set on using pastel colors but don’t know which ones are the best, take a look at the most popular options below:
- Pastel yellow: One of the best pastel colors you can use is a soft and paler shade of yellow called pastel yellow. It’s a beautiful option for your living room, especially if you want that pop of color to welcome your guests!
- Lilac: A pale shade of violet is lilac, a combination of mauve and light blue. So once you receive those big checks and want to renovate, consider this color for your new room.
- Peach: Another soft color to add to your life is peach. It will bring you back to your old ancestral summer home, and it’s a classic warm pastel color to always consider if you have difficulty choosing the right one!
- Mint green: If you want to add a bit of green to your life, mint green is a great choice. It’s a staple on a pastel color palette, so it’s a no-brainer for those who are big fans of green!
These four colors are the most popular pastels used for interior design. But don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try other ones. Some colors you might want to check out are pale turquoise, pale leaf, ecru white, vanilla ice, and many more.
How to Use Pastels for Your Interior Design
Consider redecorating your new house when you earn your first fake big checks or after purchasing a new home. And if you want to choose a pastel color palette, it will be a challenging feat. There are many ways to use it, but the key is ensuring everything looks balanced and cohesive. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Start with your appliances
If you need more time to paint your walls with pastel colors, try it with your appliances. Pastel kitchen appliances are becoming a thing again in the past few years. For instance, there’s a wide range of color options for refrigerators, stoves, ovens, and even blenders.
It’s a great way to incorporate pastels in your home’s interior design without spending too much money on changing your home’s colors, especially if you’re still deciding.
Create a pastel color scheme
Your pastel color scheme will help you balance the bright and dark shades. Therefore, you must start with your base pastel color. After that, choose complementary colors from the opposite end of the color wheel. Once you have the base color and the complementary color, it’s time to test the shades!
Testing the shades
You must start testing the shades since it depends on the light and how it hits them. So it’s best to do a patch test, which means applying a small amount of color to the wall and leaving it to dry. Once you see the color’s appearance after a few hours, you’ll know if it will work.
Add a pop of accent color
Apart from pastel colors, you can add an accent color. It’s usually a primary color, which makes a statement in your interior design. For instance, you can use red throw pillows on your pastel pink couch or green curtains on your mint green walls. It’s a great way to break the monotony of pastel colors but still make them look harmonious.
Don’t be afraid to add contrast
Incorporating contrast into your design is another way to enhance the different aspects of your design. Sometimes, pastel on pastel can result in a faded look. So you can choose darker tones that pair well with pale colors.
Opt for muted pastels
You can recreate a new pastel color palette scheme with muted colors only. Neutrals are excellent colors to start with, and they give that earthy look. At the same time, you won’t have to only worry about being stuck with the usual pastel colors.
Some Tips to Go By When Using Pastels
If you’re using pastels for the first time, you will need some help to give you that push. Below are some tips to consider:
- Grab attention with metallic colors: For your accessories or interior designs, metallic shades give your room a nice look. Gold or silver are the right choices to bring out the richness of pastels.
- Mix and match: Feel free to mix different colors, which brings more depth and dimension.
- Play with shapes: With the softness that pastel colors bring, you have the chance to add shapes into the mix. It’s an exciting way to add interesting shapes and patterns that mix well with the colors.
Don’t hesitate to Add More Pastel Colors Into Your Life
Whether you’re remodeling your home or want to try a new color scheme for your client, using pastel colors isn’t an idea to be afraid of. Some are scared that they might mess up their homes, but it’s an excellent option for many people who want a bit of color and warmth in their houses.
So with the help of these tips, you can easily incorporate pastel colors into your interior design without worrying about them being “too much.” At the same time, you get to take a bit of risk to find out if it’s good for you.
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at Blufashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2018. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.
