Not your mother’s pale pink

Pastels are coming back in vogue, but they’re more modern than you think

Pretty pastels have been floating down fashion runaways for the past few seasons. But while pale palettes and mellow whites are flattering additions to your wardrobe, would you say yes to pink walls? Could you live in an all-white room? Or do you crave colour? Consider the options and then decide: which wall is you?

The grey and off-whites that have been so popular for the last few years are slowly ceding to warmer shades of brown and beige, according to Alison Goldman, brand manager for CIL Canada.

“It’s just time,” she says of the change, noting that colour trends tend to go in cycles. But Goldman cautions that the lighter, softer shades making their way onto the pages of decor magazines are not merely a repeat of the pastels that ruled in the ’80s.

“They’re not ice-creamy. That’s not what the new palette is about,” she says.

“It’s crisper and more modern,” she says, adding that delicate shades, such as CIL’s Chemise Pink, performs well as a neutral and plays nicely with pale brown, chalky grey and slate.

“It’s just got that little touch of pink that makes you feel calm and serene,” she says. “But it’s also a bit unexpected — who would ever think that the palest of pinks could be daring?”

There are two ways to work with such subtle shades, suggests Goldman, without it looking too frilly.

Atone-on-tone decor scheme, with shades running, for example, from the palest of pinks to a rich raspberry, will create visual depth and quiet complexity, especially if a mix of tex- tures are added to the look, she advises.

Pale pink can also provide a backdrop to bold, contemporary decor, she adds, particularly when strong linear elements are introduced.

“Pairing it with black and white and bright tones gives it a more graphic feel. Brights can also work when you introduce them as accessories,” says Goldman. If you’re not sure which will work, bring home accessories in several colours from a local retailer and experiment.

“You can always return what you don’t want. If you are brave enough to bring in a strong accent, you’ll see it can make a huge difference.”

What’s the bottom line for deciding which wall is you?

“I like it or I don’t like it,” laughs Goldman. “At the end of the day that’s the only thing that matters when you’re decorating your home.”

CIL Pale pink creates a stylish backdrop to modern furnishings.

FRITZ HANSEN Pale pinks are not just for walls. Spanish artist-designer Jaime Hayon created the sublime Favn sofa for Fritz Hansen in a whispery pink.

> OR IS THIS YOU? Organic tones, such as the soft green CIL calls Palo Verde, are timeless, says Alison Goldman, manager for the brand. She likes the colour, an earth tone, accented with bronze and gold accessories or paired with warm metallic finishes...

> IS THIS YOU? Pale may be prevailing on decor magazine pages, but bright colours stamp your personality indelibly onto a room. Here, a small hit of Benjamin Moore’s Banana Yellow creates a sunny effect in a kitchen.