Pastel decorating ideas – 15 ways to embrace a soft, whimsical color scheme (2023)

These pastel decorating ideasare fun and simple ways to incorporate soft and quirky hues into your home. If, like us, you're on the countdown to spring and all the fresh vibrancy that comes with the change in season, these pastel ideas are a great way to embrace it.

A key player in the home decor trends 2022, we're seeing pastels used in every room from the living room to the bedroom and even on kitchen cabinets. While they might be subtle and more muted than deep, rich shades, pastels can really pack a punch and create an impact in your space. From going all out with an entirely fresh color scheme to adding in selected statement accessories, let the power of pastels bloom with these creative design ideas.

1. Go all over with elegant lilac

Lilac is big news in the interior design sphere at the moment and we're expecting to see a surge in this pretty pastel shade throughout spring/summer 2022. With cool bluey undertones, lilac is an inherently cool color. This means it works particularly well in south-facing rooms, so the cool tones can balance out the yellow warmth of the sun to create an ambiance that's pleasing to the eye. We love the color courage in this space of taking the shade on all walls and floors. Sticking to black and white with the furniture and accessories makes for a calm and cohesive scheme, letting the lilac do the talking.This living room idea is one we'll be copying this season, and we've got our eye on French Lilac from Benjamin Moore (opens in new tab) to recreate the look.

3. Frame your headboard with a calming mint green

If there's one room where we need to feel calm, it's the bedroom, so any green bedroom ideas are a great way to go. For many of us, the thought of an all-over color is too much. So if you'd be happier sticking with a neutral backdrop, think creatively to find a space where you could create an accent. Here, a block of soft pastel green has been painted to create the effect of an extended headboard, framing the bed and giving the room a clear central focal point.

4. Create a soothing pastel pink arch

We’ve labored on about color blocking for a while now, but it is a great way to add new colors without them overwhelming the space. We love how this semi-circle block of pastel pink acts as a headboard in the space – a genius way to turn your bed into a design feature whilst taking up minimal room.

3. Introduce sunshine vibes with mellow yellow paint and fabrics

Yellow is the color of optimism - think sunshine, smiley faces and warmth, but for many it can be too much. Choosing a more pastel hue, as seen in this yellow bedroom idea, is a more subtle, calming way to introduce this positive shade into your home. We love how this linen chair blends in seamlessly with the wall color for a highly curated scheme that makes the room feel bigger than it is.Golden hour by Mylands (opens in new tab) is the perfect pastel yellow – not too dark and not too subtle.

4. Choose pastel furniture for quick update

Add in pops of pastel hues with furniture and accessories. From dining chairs to pendant lights and from statement sideboards to decorative armchairs, this is a great way to test out the power of pastels on a non-permanent basis. We love these mix and match dining chairs, bringing a playful and fun feel to the scheme.

5. Highlight architectural details with varying shades

Unusually shaped walls can be seen as an annoying burden, or they can be seen as an interesting architectural feature that you can accentuate with color. These pastel blue hues make for a calm and collected space. The contrasting dark blue paint makes a great ceiling idea and creates the impression of a cozy and cocooning nook.

6. Go bold with pastel kitchen cabinetry

Well isn't this a breath of fresh air? We've seen dark blue and rich green kitchens take the spotlight for years, so why not stand out from the crowd with soft, minty pastel kitchen cabinetry? This modern handleless design exudes clean lines and is sleek and minimal for a calm and tranquil space.If you want to recreate this look but you are doing up a kitchen on a budget, then look to paint kitchen cabinets yourself for a quick DIY.

7. Pink and green, always to be seen

Sitting at opposite ends of the color wheel, pink and green is a match made in heaven, but when they take a pastel twist, the look becomes even more whimsical. This striking wall hung vanity unit pops against the soft pink wall for a space that's sure to brighten your every morning.

8. Add a splash of color with a pastel gallery wall

If you've got a neutral blank canvas, add some pastel pops and make a talking point in your room with a pastel gallery wall. We love gallery wall ideas, but choosing a specific palette like this to stick to is a really straightforward way to ensure your wall appears expertly curated.

9. Choose pastel window treatments

It's pretty easy and inexpensive to change roller blinds or Roman blinds, so why not add a touch of pastel by switching up your current window treatment? These English Blinds (opens in new tab) roller blinds are perfect if you're refreshing your space on a budget and the cool minty green creates an instantly fresh feel.

10. Prefer shutters over blinds? Check this out...

If you have more of a budget to help make your pastel interior dreams come true, then colored shutters are a great way to add some candy hues to a space. And why limit yourself to just one colour when you could have a rainbow of pastel shades? These solid panel shutters (opens in new tab) are from Shutterly Fabulous.

11. Use pastels to create a soothing work space

Pastels work perfectly in home offices. Take Benjamin Moore’s Southfield Green (opens in new tab), for example– not too bold so you are distracted from your mountain of work but not so bland that you feel totally uninspired.

12. Pick a bold pastel wallpaper

Ah, wallpaper, it's possibly the simplest way to completely change a room without a massive amount of effort. We will say, as a general rule, when it comes to pastel wallpaper to avoid anything floral, unless you're decorating a bedroom or love that vintage kitsch vibe. For more of a statement, choose a more grown-up botanical wallpaper designs (opens in new tab) like Cole & Son’s Palm Leaves (opens in new tab).

14. Get creative with graphics

A graphic wall treatment is a refreshing way to use pastels without the danger of them looking too twee. Softer colors are always going to dull down the overall effect, so the bolder the better, we say. Use geometric shapes and clean lines, as in this kid’s bedroom, to keep everything looking crisp and modern.As kids' bedroom paint colour ideas go, this one ticks all the boxes for a fun yet stylish space they'll love as much as you do.

15. Pastels can be maximalist too

No one can say this space is playing it safe. Pastels may be soft but combine them with a dark dramatic color (something like Annie Sloan's Amsterdam Green (opens in new tab)) and plenty of pattern and textures, and they can still make a really bold statement.