Looks We Love:
Pastel Palette
The soft colors of spring are at once soothing and inspiring. Here are some easy ways to
incorporate these subtle shades that don't require a huge commitment—or budget.
Spring is all about sunshine, warmth and relaxation. Perhaps that's why a pastel palette is a tried-and-true decor trend that makes its way back into our homes each year as the seasons turn. In addition to their cheerful disposition, pastels also manage to feel light and airy without oversaturating a room in too much pigment. And don't be fooled by their affiliation with nurseries and newborns—when used correctly, pastels can live in any space, evoking a fresh, springtime feel. Here are a few easy ways to incorporate these charming colors into your existing home decor.
Go-To Shades
Ever-popular pastels include baby pink, powdery blue, pale yellow and mint green. Along with sprucing up your space, these shades also emit soothing energies unique to their individual shades. Baby pink and powder blue are tied to feelings of serenity and love, lemon yellow with hope and energy, and mint green with tranquility and trust.
Tasteful Application
To keep your room from looking like an Easter egg or nursery, be mindful of moderation. Introduce your favorite pastel shades in small doses with picture frames, candles, wall art and other decorative accents. From there, you can add more as you see fit. And remember—you don't have to confine yourself to a single shade. Using more than one pastel can work to bring a sense of unity to the look.
Coordinating Colors
Your existing decor and color scheme can also help you decide which pastels to use. Gold accents pair well with yellow pastels, highlighting depth and warmth. Powdery blues complement gray and white, while pink lends itself more to warmer hues, like chocolate, beige and yellow. Mint green mixes well with both warm and cooler colors, including yellow, brown, pink and darker green.
Pastels Per Room
Pastels can be used in any room of the house. In the living room, try them on the sofa with a throw pillow or blanket, or even on the legs and frames of furniture. A pastel area rug can work to anchor a larger living space with a fresh pop of color. For the bedroom, top off the bed with pastel sheets, pillow shams and fresh duvet cover. Breezy curtains are also an easy swap that makes a big difference. Even the kitchen can benefit from pastels. Consider a pastel appliance, dishtowel or dinner set. In the bathroom, it can be as simple as switching up towels and laundry bins.
Statement-Making Furniture
If you're feeling more ambitious, try out pastels on your furniture, like dining tables, side chairs, consoles, and cabinets. The more pigmented the pastel and larger the surface space it covers, the more impactful the scale of color and contrast.
Pastel Light Fixtures
Don't forget about lighting! Pastel table lamps, sconces and pendants make a statement, especially when reflecting a warm glow of light. Textured lampshades enhance the power of pastels by bringing an extra quality of tactile appeal. Pastels are also particularly modern and pair perfectly with the sleek lines of a mid-century task lamp.
Often overlooked, hardware can be a quick and easy way to add a surprising touch of color to a space. Switch up a drab white wall plate with one in a powdery hibiscus color to brighten up a bedroom or home office for spring. Or, go with a lilac hue to bring a calming tone to a room while complementing the warmth from a wooden side table or console.
Adding spring colors to home décor is a reliable route to a refreshed home. And whether incorporated as a big statement or a slight accent, few palettes can impart a joyful air or peaceful mood quite like pastels.
