How To Decorate With Pastels

by Jaime Derringer of Design Milk, Posted Aug 3rd 2009 12:48PM

Pastels had always reminded me of Easter eggs, babies, and bad decorating. I always felt like their light (and perky!) colors weren't bold enough or were too girly, so I wrote them off as "not for me!" However, over the years of reading and writing about design, I've learned that that they've got a bad rep -- They look bad when decorators misuse them. Pastel pink, lavender, baby blue, pale yellow: It's time for them to play with the rest of the big kids. I'll show you 5 different ways that you can put pastels front and center without missing the mark.

1) Use a pastel paint to keep the room feeling light and airy, and decorate with complementary colors. Light-colored paint will help make a small room feel larger, and make whites feel even whiter. Once you've chosen your paint color, the pastel can serve as a nice jumping-off point. Now, you can add just about anything to the room.

Pastel walls create a light foundation upon which you can build just about anything. Photos: Real Simple

Don't be afraid to be bold. Photos: Desiretoinspire

2) Pair it with a bold, contrasting color. For example, pink added to deep browns and golds (above left) or pink and red paired with a seafoam green (above right). The pops of color come right out at you, while the pastels serve as a curious backdrop without interference.

One-color decorating allows pastels to blend in nicely. Photos: Martha Stewart

3) Use a pastel alongside multiple shades of the same color to add dimension and depth. Shades of the same color tend to work well together when mixing textures and lines. Check out my previous post on Decorating in One Color: Green.

One or two pastel hues can dramatically transform a room. Photos: Coastal Living

4) Add pastels to a "blah" room. A space can be quickly transformed into "beach chic" by adding a pale green and light yellow to a monochromatic room. You don't have to live near the sea to get that same feeling of calm and relaxation.

Pastel floral arrangements add subtle color and a sense of calm. Photos: Design*Sponge / Decor8

5) Use flowers. Fresh flowers are a natural pastel, and will go with any room and any decor. Bringing a piece of nature indoors will surely add a feeling of warmth, texture and calm. Plus, they smell oh so good!

Filed Under: Decorating, Color, Your Home, Projects, Design, etc

Tags: color, colors, coordination, decor, decorating, home, jaime-derringer, light, pastel, pastels, tips

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

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8-04-2009 @10:09PM
Richa said...

Hi Jaime,

It is very true. Pastel paints sound very dull and boring, but used wisely they can be the ideal backdrop for a variety of styles.

Very nice photos - they speak for themselves. The last point was different, but blends in well with the topic.

You have given me a fresh insight that I can bring to my site http://www.decoratingideas4kidsrooms.com/paint-colors.html

Thanks
Richa
Reply

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