What Is Millennial Pink, and Why Are People Going Crazy Over It?
This peachy, grayish, soft pink can be bold or subtle
tidgboutique
June 14, 2017
Toronto Interior Design Group is a trusted one-stop-shop residential interior design concierge boutique-style firm crafting timeless interiors.
Toronto Interior Design Group is a trusted one-stop-shop residential interior design... More
Millennial Pink is almost as hard to define as the generation it’s named after — but it’s also hard to ignore. It’s a trendy variety of pink that’s only recently been widely recognized by name, but it has actually been around for centuries and was revived by fashion houses decades ago. It’s a fun, daring, sophisticated hue that anyone can love — if you know how to use it.
It’s been a popular hue for dresses for hundreds of years, and a fun color for daring hairstyles since at least the ’90s, but it has many applications for interiors as well. A sumptuous pink wall like this isn’t for everyone, but it certainly makes a statement.
Since Millennial Pink can be a bit tricky to define, let’s start by talking about what it’s not.
Since Millennial Pink can be a bit tricky to define, let’s start by talking about what it’s not.
It’s not “Barbie pink.” The ultravibrant magenta shades of “Barbie pink” that we tend to associate with children’s toys and princess dresses will always have their place, but Millennial Pink is different. Notice how the pink painted walls in this room have a much more subdued tone than the little girl’s dress. The dress is a purer, more fluorescent shade, while the walls are subtler and peachier.
Imagine that dress color on the walls! A little goes a long way with a hue that saturated, so the softer Millennial Pink was the better choice for the walls.
Imagine that dress color on the walls! A little goes a long way with a hue that saturated, so the softer Millennial Pink was the better choice for the walls.
It’s not shy. Millennial Pink might be subtler and more complex than some other pinks, but it’s not trying to hide. It’s definitely pink, and you have to be confident enough to embrace it.
One of the ways pink is best used is mixed with white and other pale neutrals, and small hits of black, because they let the color’s subtle tones sing.
One of the ways pink is best used is mixed with white and other pale neutrals, and small hits of black, because they let the color’s subtle tones sing.
It’s not permanent. Let’s face it: Millennial Pink has been around for a little while, but it won’t be here forever. It’s definitely a trendy color that will lose its fashionable status in the future. The generation it’s named after doesn’t care, though. After all, this is the generation that embraces tattoos and social media, lives in the moment and doesn’t worry too much about the future.
Painting your walls such a bold color may feel like a big risk, but at the end of the day (or the end of the decade), it’s only paint, and you can always update it to a new hue. If you feel like your decor needs a shake-up, be bold and give pink a try!
Painting your walls such a bold color may feel like a big risk, but at the end of the day (or the end of the decade), it’s only paint, and you can always update it to a new hue. If you feel like your decor needs a shake-up, be bold and give pink a try!
It’s not easy to pin down. So if we know what Millennial Pink is not, how do we describe what it is?
Well, in reality, Millennial Pink is not strictly any one agreed-upon color, although to me, this wall is a great example. In general, Millennial Pink is a soft pink with some gray tones to add subtlety and sophistication, and a slight hint of peach, making it a warmer and rosier pink and less a magenta-pink.
Well, in reality, Millennial Pink is not strictly any one agreed-upon color, although to me, this wall is a great example. In general, Millennial Pink is a soft pink with some gray tones to add subtlety and sophistication, and a slight hint of peach, making it a warmer and rosier pink and less a magenta-pink.
Paint Colors to Consider
It’s always best to take some paint swatches home and find the color that looks right in your space, under the true lighting conditions (not in showroom lighting or on a glowing computer screen). However, to get you started, here are some paint colors to consider:
It’s always best to take some paint swatches home and find the color that looks right in your space, under the true lighting conditions (not in showroom lighting or on a glowing computer screen). However, to get you started, here are some paint colors to consider:
- Victoriana from Benjamin Moore
- Peignoir from Farrow & Ball (the company’s 2016 Color of the Year)
- Everything’s Rosy from Behr
- Unfussy Beige from Sherwin-Williams (a subtler version)
- Precocious from Benjamin Moore (a peachier version)
How to Use It
Mix with white. As mentioned, Millennial Pink works wonderfully with lots of white to set it off. However, while white will help the pink look pinker, it also helps break it up, so the overall room doesn’t feel as intense.
Mix with white. As mentioned, Millennial Pink works wonderfully with lots of white to set it off. However, while white will help the pink look pinker, it also helps break it up, so the overall room doesn’t feel as intense.
Using elements such as furniture, doors, trim and art to introduce lots of crisp white and pale neutrals will break up a pink wall until just the right amount of hue shows through.
Mix with other pinks. White can make Millennial Pink stand out, but when mixed with bolder pinks, Millennial Pink can actually feel like the subdued neutral. With this rich rosy lamp in front, the subtle pink of the wall feels cohesive, so the overall look of the bedroom is restful despite refusing to stick to traditional neutrals.
On an accent wall. A single accent wall in a daring hue can completely restructure a space. This pink wall defining the dining area gives this open-concept space some sense of structure, and also makes the distant white walls feel a little farther away by comparison. Sometimes using a bit of a bold, advancing color to offset the subtler, receding hues (like simple white) can play with depth in a way that makes the space actually feel bigger. So don’t be scared to try it in a smaller home.
On a door. Want just a dash of Millennial Pink? Paint just a door this color to create an eye-catching architectural statement without overwhelming the room. Try switching out the hardware to something with a black or bronze finish for a perfect punctuation mark that completes the look.
On children’s furniture. While we might wish we could keep it forever, realistically children’s furniture won’t be needed for more than a few years, so why not embrace a fun, trendy hue that both you and your child can enjoy? A subtle pink like this gives a child’s room a classic air that feels simultaneously fun and subtly charming — especially on a fun tepee-style play tent.
As bathroom accents. Accents like towels, vessels and trays in the bathroom can all be pure white for a safe, classic look, or you can choose a matching fun hue to give a bathroom plenty of personality. Try a blush pink for small accents, then top off the look with a few blossoms, and you can get a big impact in a small space.
On bathroom fixtures. Using colorful fixtures is always a bit of a gamble. In years to come, you may still want the sink, but may or may not want the splash of color. Hedge your bets by choosing a sink like this that has a hit of color just on the outside, with a classic porcelain white on the interior. That way the sink can still look clean and crisp for years to come. Ultimately, if you love pink, you’ll still love it when trends change anyway.
With blue. Pink and blue make for a combo that is both trendy and timeless — pink and blue were even both named Pantone’s Colors of the Year for 2016. These soft pink curtains and the royal blue rug give the room a balance of hot and cold, and just enough color to feel rich even though the remaining elements are all simple neutrals.
On the exterior. Subtle shades of pink paint give a home a certain retro yet timeless flair. Just make sure to use a subtle hue (paint a tester board with a few square feet of paint to see it properly), or your home will end up as “that house” on the block.
In the bedroom. Using pink in the bedroom doesn’t have to result in a full-on princess playhouse. Using a bit of peachy Millennial Pink for bedding accents, mixed with warm wood and cool gray or black, creates a balanced and mature look. Use it for a seasonal blanket and you can have a pink look half the year and a different hue for the other seasons, so you never tire of the style.
On the headboard. For a romantic bedroom look, try a pink headboard in a velvety texture that gives the hue extra complexity and depth. Button tufting will give it a timeless air that will outlive trends, and will keep the padding from shifting over time.
On modern furniture. Classic midcentury modern pieces, like the Series 7 chair designed by Arne Jacobsen, feel fresh and new in contemporary colors. If you love modern furniture styles but don’t want something that feels too cold and minimalist, try a version in an eye-catching pink with brassy legs.
Boldly mix it. Millennial Pink doesn’t have to be a solo act. If you prefer a rich, colorful look, you can definitely mix this hue with other hues, including a rich palette of accents. Try it in a matte finish to give it an especially contemporary edge, and mix it with lots of leafy and floral patterns to get the summery appeal of this room.
On cabinets. A grayed-out Millennial Pink makes for a beautifully unexpected cabinet color. Try it for just the lower cabinets (or a space with no upper cabinets or shelves) to keep the bolder hue low to the ground, so the sightlines are open and the look is breezy.
On a partial wall. If you’re already being bold in your color choice, why follow the old rules for how to paint? Giving a wall a fun diagonal slash of paint allows you to add just the amount of drama you prefer. You can paint a little, or a lot, or even paint just a little and add more later until the look feels just right.
On small accents. Don’t want to go all-in on Millennial Pink? A pillow or another small accessory, like a planter, is always a great way to dabble in a trend without investing too heavily. Repeat the same hue a few times in a small space and you can create a real feeling of color with just a few elements, perfect for a first home or a rental.
More
12 Tried and True Paint Colors for Your Walls
Read more stories about decorating with pink
More
12 Tried and True Paint Colors for Your Walls
Read more stories about decorating with pink
We help you design, build, and turn your home into the space you’ve always wanted. Contact us today about your... Read More
Related Products
Related Stories
Events
5 Movies Where Pink Played a Starring Role
By Becky Harris
The new Barbie movie is the latest in a long line of films that make us think pink
Full Story
Kids’ Spaces
Sophisticated Girl’s Bedroom Perfect for Now and Later
Dusty pink paint, white shiplap and a cozy daybed make this girl’s bedroom in New Jersey a lovely space to grow into
Full Story
Color
Striking Color Combo: Green and Hot Pink
By Jennifer Ott
These 7 examples of the dynamic duo create a bright and cheery vibe
Full Story
Colorful Kitchens
Cooking Up Color: 9 Kitchens That Serve the Perfect Shade of Pink
By Jennifer Ott
You might be surprised by how this uncommon kitchen color can fit into the heart of the home
Full Story
Kitchen Makeovers
Pale Pink Carries Through This Kitchen, Right Down to the Grout
Retro colors, appliances and materials complement a midcentury house in Australia
Full Story
Color
5 Colors That Pair Perfectly With Pink
See which colors bring out the best in pink and take it into grown-up territory
Full Story
Color
10 Reasons to Love a Pink Bathroom
By Kate Burt
Blush bathrooms, popular in the 1950s, are enjoying a revival. Are you in?
Full Story
Color
8 Do’s and Don’ts for Peach in the Bedroom
By Becky Harris
Yes, peach. It’s time to give this long-maligned hue a second chance
Full Story
Color
In the Pink: Falling in Love With Romantic Blush
See the world through rose-colored glasses with a dreamy palette that will soften even the hardest of spaces
Full Story
Ann, it wasn't so long ago that my beige walls and brass fixtures were considered out. When we built our home in 2000, beige was considered boring but I didn't want to be locked into something more colorful. (I know, it's "only paint," unless you hate to paint and "only" goes out the door.) And brass was plentiful. A few years later when I wanted to add a ceiling fan in my kitchen, which has pendant lights with brass poles, I was very limited in what I could find in brass. Now both my beige and brass are back in fashion. My daughter was visiting a couple of weeks ago and had a friend come over to visit. The daughter doesn't care too much about what's in but her friend was impressed that my decor, which is almost all original, was so current. So, just wait a while and whatever color you have will be back in fashion. In the meantime, what you like is much more important than what others say is in style.
Paint Colors to Consider
It’s always best to take some paint swatches home and find the color that looks right in your space, under the true lighting conditions (not in showroom lighting or on a glowing computer screen). However, to get you started, here are some paint colors to consider:
• Victoriana from Benjamin Moore
• Peignoir from Farrow & Ball (the company’s 2016 Color of the Year)
• Everything’s Rosy from Behr
• Unfussy Beige from Sherwin-Williams (a subtler version)
• Precocious from Benjamin Moore (a peachier version)
Used to be called Dusty Rose, now it’s Millenial Pink. Somebody clearly made an effort to appeal to the masses (who are always willing to “buy” anything that’s trendy).