The journal

Which Colours Go Well With Pink? - Mylands

31 March 2022 6 min read

Decorating with pink has grown steadily more popular in recent years. No longer confined to little girls' bedrooms, pink is a wonderfully versatile shade that can be genuinely grown-up and sophisticated, warm, welcoming and cheerful, and we could all use more of those qualities. With such a range of pinks, from vibrant bubblegum to cool lilac, there are plenty of colours to pair them with. Here are our top ten partners for pink, along with tips on how to style each look.

Study with pink Threadneedle No.262 walls, Soho Pink No.266 bookshelves and deep Temple Bar No.70 skirting — Threadneedle No.262 walls with Soho Pink No.266 bookshelves and Temple Bar No.70 skirting in a study

Pastel pink and pale blue

You might think pastel pinks and blues belong only on baby clothes and in nurseries, but the combination is cool, clean and light. Pastel pink works beautifully with its opposite on the colour wheel; opposites really do attract and play nicely, even when you'd expect them to clash. Baby pink and blue create a calm, serene mood and make a fresh, inviting entrance, as below, where Mylands' Pink House Pink adds cheer, the perfect welcome for friends and family.

Entrance hall with pale blue Belgravia No.6 walls, Mid Wedgwood No.113 balusters and a pink painted cupboard — Belgravia No.6 hall walls with Mid Wedgwood No.113 joinery and a Palmerston Pink No.243 cupboard

Pale pink and dark blue

Pale pink is one of the more neutral pinks, subtle and soft, which makes it ideal for an accent that adds depth. Dark blue brings punch to a pale scheme, a striking combination that works well in kitchens, navy on cabinetry or shelving lending strength and impact against muted, soft pink walls.

Blush pink and teal

It's a combination that shouldn't work but really does; strong teal contrasts with pretty pink and stops it feeling sickly sweet. Teal is an ideal accent on furniture or just soft furnishings like cushions and throws, and it's very much having its moment, working in retro mid-century rooms or as a contemporary look. Here a teal accent chair adds a pop of strong colour against warm blush walls in Mylands' Floris™ No.27.

Sitting room with blush Floris No.27 walls, Kensington Rose No.22 woodwork and a teal velvet armchair — Blush Floris No.27 walls and Kensington Rose No.22 woodwork with a teal armchair in a sitting room

Dusty pink and natural green

Muted sage green and pale pink make an absolutely beautiful pairing that recalls the natural world, blossom on spring trees or a fresh peony in summer. Relaxing green with gentle, dreamy pink is ideal for a bedroom and works in bathrooms for the same reason; a pink bathroom might feel like a 1960s throwback, but using pink and green on the walls rather than the suite creates a far more contemporary scheme. To turn up the volume, pair emerald or olive green with hot pink, bright, inviting jewel tones that work especially well in living rooms.

Dusty pink Bloomsbury No.267 rendered garden wall with a green Sorrel Green No.207 back door and gate — A rendered garden wall in Bloomsbury No.267 masonry paint with a Sorrel Green No.207 door and gate

Warm pink and crisp white

Warm, cheerful pink walls are set off by crisp white ceilings and woodwork, an easy combination that works every time, whether your pink is bold fuchsia or subtle baby pink, since every shade looks great against a brilliant white. Below, the walls wear Mylands' Covent Garden Floral™ No.270, verging on red for warmth and depth; an archive colour with a modern, floral feel, it would sit nicely beside bold floral wallpaper with white woodwork and ceilings for balance.

Dining alcove with a warm pink Covent Garden Floral No.270 back wall and a Smithfield No.19 front wall — Left, a Covent Garden Floral No.270 wall against Smithfield No.19; right, the same warm pink with crisp Maugham White No.2

Barn bedroom with a Covent Garden Floral No.270 gable wall and crisp Maugham White No.2 sloping ceiling — Left, a Covent Garden Floral No.270 wall against Smithfield No.19; right, the same warm pink with crisp Maugham White No.2

Subtle pink and steely grey

Décor was awash with grey as the new neutral for a while; now we're moving on to fresh palettes. Subtle pink and soft grey are very easy on the eye, the pink adding warmth and a touch of playfulness while the grey grounds it with cool earthiness. Pink can lift a grey scheme, especially an industrial look with on-trend concrete, softening stark, hard textures and providing much-needed balance.

Warehouse living space with an upper wall in Rose Taupe No.292 over Gentleman's Pink No.221 below — Rose Taupe No.292 above and Gentleman's Pink No.221 below in a concrete warehouse living space

Light pink and rich burgundy

This light-and-dark pairing is a classic; burgundy takes in aubergine and maroon tones too, and a pale pink adds the lightness that offsets the rich, deep shade. Opt for more lilac pinks, lavender or even bubblegum, which complement the deep aubergine well and stop the room feeling dark and oppressive, sharing the bluish hues found in burgundy's depths.

Bedroom with light pink Threadneedle No.262 walls and shutters and skirting in Pale Lilac No.246 — Left, Threadneedle No.262 walls with Pale Lilac No.246 shutters; right, Lavender Garden No.30 panelling under Pale Lilac No.246

Hall with Lavender Garden No.30 panelling below plaster and ceiling painted in Pale Lilac No.246 — Left, Threadneedle No.262 walls with Pale Lilac No.246 shutters; right, Lavender Garden No.30 panelling under Pale Lilac No.246

Soft pink and sleek black

This is a grown-up, sophisticated look, a pairing of opposites, soft light pink with sleek dark black. Sensual, tactile textures like velvet or faux fur suit the scheme, and you can add contrast with smooth elements such as luxe metal or marble flooring. Below, the walls wear the very pretty Mylands' Soho House No.266, whose slight grey tone sits well against a matt black floor and furniture; for fun and excitement, splashes of flamingo or hot pink are the best choices.

Dressing room with Soho Pink No.266 walls, Oratory No.237 skirting and a matt black painted floor — Left, Soho Pink No.266 walls with Oratory No.237 skirting over a black Downing Street No.10 floor; right, Rose Theatre No.249 with Blackout No.41

Bathroom with soft pink Rose Theatre No.249 walls and joinery in black Blackout No.41 — Left, Soho Pink No.266 walls with Oratory No.237 skirting over a black Downing Street No.10 floor; right, Rose Theatre No.249 with Blackout No.41

Cool pink and dramatic red

You may have been told pink and red is a no-no; we're here to shatter that myth. These tones sit beside each other on the colour wheel, so they make an impactful combination. Dark shades add drama, just look at the statement made by Mylands' Theatre Land™ No.282 on the lower walls, then soften it with a lighter neutral pink or go really bold with another deep, rich pink; either way, this combination feels warm and comforting.

Dining room with deep red Theatre Land No.282 below the dado rail and Pale Lilac No.246 above — Deep Theatre Land No.282 lower walls under Pale Lilac No.246 above in a dining room

Cheery pink and metallic gold

We've seen a lot of this pairing in recent years because it simply looks so good, metallic gold accessories sitting stylishly against a bright pink wall, as below where warm golden pieces work with light pink walls; if you prefer lighter gold items, choose a darker pink to complement them. The look lends itself to many styles, super modern and luxe or retro and homely, depending on the accessories and how you style them.

Light pink Floris No.27 walls, Palmerston Pink No.243 shutters and brass furniture in a bright room — Floris No.27 walls with Palmerston Pink No.243 shutters and warm brass in a first-floor room

If you're thinking pink, take a look at the extensive range of pink paints by Mylands. We're here to help you choose your colour and work out how much you'll need.