Once the sole preserve of pre-teen bedrooms and ‘50s kitsch, pastels have managed to pull off a major comeback in the last few years: done the right way, sorbet shades feel modern and fresh, not retro and twee.
Of course, this reinvention is in no small part thanks to one colour in particular. Whether you want to call it millennial pink or rose quartz, Instagram's favourite hue has proved just as irresistible in the interiors world as it has done for fashion designers and beauty brands (paging Glossier...). It's also acted as something of a gateway pastel: start off with pale pink and you might find yourself considering lilac (a washed out version of 2018's Pantone colour of the year, Ultra Violet), cornflower blue or even a soft lemon yellow or palest green.
We've scoured Pinterest for the most stylish and unusual ways to make the trend work in your home, from the unexpected colour combination that'll stop pinks feeling too 'Barbie' to clever ways to incorporate texture and pattern...
Pastel Living Rooms - Grazia
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Pinterest: Rose & Grey
pastel living room interiors inspiration
We're never sure exactly which colours the old adage refers to, but this set up proves that pink and green should definitely be seen together.
Forget magnolia, a lick of pale blue paint can help smaller rooms feel light and airy (plus, here's proof that it makes a very Instagram friendly backdrop for botanicals)
Yet more proof that pink and green is the dreamiest of colour combinations. Here, a pale backdrop keeps the deep olive sofa from feeling too heavy or old fashioned.
And don't forget, pastels aren't just aesthetically pleasing and of the moment, either. With an unrivaled ability to make your space feel lighter, airier and more spacious, they're a particularly smart colour choice when it comes to decorating your living room.
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