Why millennial pink is the new neutral interior stylists love

It’s been popping up in the interiors world since 2016, and millennial pink – described as ‘pink with a hint of beige’, by Melanie Archer, Partner & Designer, Home, or ‘somewhere between blush and Barbie pink’, as Emily Murray, founder and editor of Pink House Living describes – shows no sign of slowing down in popularity.

‘A colour this feel-good and versatile is much more than a passing trend,’ says Emily, whose book Pink House Living (Ryland Peters & Small), launches in March. ‘I think millennial pink signifies the end of gendered colours. Pink – especially millennial pink – is for everyone.’

‘The evolution of this pink is interesting,’ says Melanie. No longer just an accent shade, due to its versatility, it’s now popular across all home products, from paint to furniture to cushions. ‘It’s so adaptable that it makes a good base shade.’

‘It’s a very versatile colour,’ continues Melanie. ‘It works well with metallics and grey for a sophisticated look; with dusky greens and leafy house plants for a restful feel; with saturated inky blues to create drama, or layered with textures and shades of ochre and caramel for warmth.’

‘Green is the obvious partner to millennial pink,’ agrees Emily. ‘It’s no surprise that the house plant trend really got going at the same time as pink started to capture the global interiors imagination. But it really does work with any colour. I wasn’t too sure about pairing it with red for a while, but now I’m a convert – it’s such a striking combination.’

If you're looking for millennial pink inspiration, then, ‘The Gallery at Sketch in Mayfair is the mecca for millennial pink devotees,’ says Emily, who features the space, along with an interview with the renowned designer India Mahdavi, in her book. ‘In fantasy land, head straight for The Grand Budapest Hotel, picking up a perfectly pink box of Mendl’s cakes from Saoirse Ronan on the way.’

As a colour, millennial pink works in all areas of the home – it’s perfect for giving a bedroom a touch of luxe, adding personality to a kitchen, softening a smart living room or adding powder-room glamour to a bathroom. Emily’s even painted her front door with it. ‘I’ve used pink wherever my husband hasn’t vetoed it,’ she laughs. ‘I’m particularly proud of my pink bedroom carpet.’

Melanie has kept her use of millennial pink to accents around her home. ‘I’ve used it as a paint in one room, layered a pink throw on my bed and have pink cushions on my sofa. You can use as much or as little as you like. It depends on your choice and how confident you are using colour – but we are certainly seeing people being braver.’

As a colour, millennial pink isn’t going anywhere soon. ‘I think we’ll start to see more saturated hues emerging,’ says Melanie. Emily agrees: ‘In answer to where millennial pink is going next… I’d have to say everywhere!’

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