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Color

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The Pink Link — Learn the Secrets of a Decorating Darling

Is it the kiss of death for masculine rooms? Can it soothe a psyche? Discover the history and theories behind this delightful color

Julia Pockett March 1, 2013

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Known to represent everything from innocence to love and passion, pink is a confident color choice that can still feel soothing and happy. A tint of the color red or a mix of red and violet creates a spectrum of pinks that both girls and boys can love. The idea of pink as a feminine color came about only in the 1900s — in fact, medieval gents often wore pink hosiery.

But how will this color affect you? Let's hear from the experts on how to use this prettiest of hues at home.

Dreamy Whites

In Catholicism pink symbolizes joy and happiness, and is used for the third Sunday of Advent in the winter and the fourth Sunday of Lent in the spring.

Pink certainly makes me think of spring, and everything bursting to life in this room shows beautifully how pink can be used as a seasonal accent.

Bowery Interior Architecture

In Japan pink has a masculine association. The cherry tree's pink blossoms that appear each spring are said to represent the young Japanese warriors who fell in battle in the prime of life.

The soft grays used to tone down the hot pink here prevent the room from feeling overly feminine.

HOPE DESIGNS

Jaipur is known as the Pink City of India and symbolizes welcome. The color is fabled to have been selected for a visit by the Prince of Wales in 1876, after several experiments to cut down the severe glare from the reflection of the glowing rays of the sun. Today every home in the old city is obliged by law to maintain the city's pink distinctiveness.

This warm, dusky-pink door looks really welcoming and is great in combination with gray walls and green foliage.

Woodson & Rummerfield's House of Design

In 1978 Alexander G. Strauss began studies on a a particular shade of pink, which he found lowered raised heart, pulse and respiration rates. In 1979 a Naval correction center in Seattle tested this theory by painting a prison cell wall in the same shade — it took only 15 minutes for this color to help calm aggressive behavior. Today this shade is often known as Baker-Miller Pink — after the two officers who agreed to the experiment — or Drunk Tank Pink.

The candy-colored hue shown here is a brave choice, but it looks wonderful with white, neutrals and complementary green accents.

KI3 Design

Baker-Miller Pink has also been said to act as an appetite suppressant. If this concerns you pink lovers, try using a different shade of pink for dining rooms and kitchens. Pink looks wonderful with brown, and this unique shade looks warm and welcoming to me.

Design Manifest

Sports teams have been known to paint the opposition's locker room pink to make use of the color's tranquilizing effect. Some studies have even suggested that male weightlifters seem to lose strength when looking at pink, while female weightlifters tend to become stronger around the color.

It's a great choice, then, for a feminine bedroom such as this — with a little blue added to satisfy the other half, perhaps?

amanda nisbet

In feng shui the widest use of pink is in the southwest area of the home, which is connected to love and marriage. According to feng shui expert Rodika Tchi, a gentle shade of pink is the most common pink in feng shui decorating. However, magenta is becoming more and more popular for its high-energy effects — particularly when paired with orange.

Bold magenta and orange against a neutral backdrop work beautifully in this vibrant bedroom.

Dillard Pierce Design Associates

Pink and black make an elegant and beautiful combination reminiscent of art deco style. It brings together the feng shui energies of fire (pink) and water (black). The mixture of these two elements creates tension in spaces that can stimulate conversation and movement.

The effect of these colors makes the combination great for a sitting room that often hosts guests.

REFINED LLC

The mix of red and violet we call magenta is said to be the color of universal harmony and emotional balance. Australian color expert Judy Scott-Kemmis says, "Magenta strengthens our intuition and psychic ability while assisting us to rise above the everyday dramas of our daily life to experience a greater level of awareness and knowledge."

Choose this vibrant color for a room where you will start your day — as this homeowner did in this great bathroom.

More: Houzz guides to using pink in your home decor