Pink Wallpaper Ideas: 21 Ways to Decorate With Pink

Pink wallpaper has grown up. Forget sugary bubblegum nurseries: today's pinks are plaster, blush, dusty rose, terracotta pink and deep raspberry, and they're appearing in living rooms, kitchens, hallways and bathrooms as often as in bedrooms. Pink is warm and flattering, it glows in low British light, and it works with a surprising range of colours, from olive green to navy and burgundy.

In this guide I'll explain the different shades of pink wallpaper and where each one works, share 21 pink wallpaper ideas for every room, answer what colour paint goes with pink wallpaper, and show you how to make pink feel sophisticated rather than sweet.

Why Pink Wallpaper Works So Well

• It's warm. Pink has a red base, so it makes north-facing and dark rooms feel cosier than cool greys or stark whites.
• It's flattering. Pink light is kind to skin tones, which is why it's so popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and dressing rooms.
• It's a neutral in disguise. Soft plaster pinks behave almost like a warm neutral, sitting happily with wood, linen, stone and brass.
• It's versatile. Pink pairs well with greens, blues, reds, ochres and even black.

As the Dulux team puts it in their guide to using pink paint, "Gone are the days when pink was a colour reserved for kids' bedrooms."

Shades of Pink Wallpaper and Where They Work

Check the undertone. Pinks with a yellow or brown undertone, such as plaster and salmon, feel warm and earthy. Pinks with a blue undertone, such as rose and fuchsia, feel cooler and more dramatic. Look at a sample on the wall in daylight and lamplight before you commit.

21 Pink Wallpaper Ideas

Living rooms

1. A plaster pink texture. A pink wallpaper with a subtle plaster, linen or limewash effect gives a living room warmth without any obvious pattern, and it's lovely with oak floors and linen sofas.

2. Large-scale pink florals. An oversized pink floral or botanical print on every wall turns a living room into a garden. Keep the furniture simple and let the paper lead.

3. Pink with olive green. An olive or forest green velvet sofa against blush wallpaper is one of the most elegant combinations there is. Olive green grounds the sweetness of the pink.

4. A feature wall behind the sofa. If you're nervous about pink, paper just one wall and pick up the colour in cushions and a rug. It's a good trick for small living rooms, where one patterned wall adds depth.

Bedrooms

5. Dusty rose with burgundy. Pair a dusty rose wallpaper with a burgundy or oxblood headboard for a rich, tonal, grown-up bedroom.

6. A ditsy floral. Small, delicate pink florals feel pretty and timeless, especially with white bedding and a painted wooden bed.

7. Pink chinoiserie. Birds and blossom on a soft pink ground feel elegant and calm behind a bed.

8. Pink and terracotta. Warm, earthy pinks with terracotta bedding and rattan make a relaxed, Mediterranean bedroom, much like a Spanish style bedroom.

9. A cosy pink for winter. Deeper pinks, wool throws and warm lamplight make a bedroom feel like a hug, perfect alongside these cosy autumn bedroom ideas.

Children's rooms and nurseries

10. A soft pink nursery. Blush or plaster pink wallpaper with a small pattern grows with a child, from baby to school age. You'll find more palettes in these baby girl nursery ideas.

11. Pink and green for a garden feel. Pink florals with sage green furniture feel fresh and less predictable than pink on its own.

12. A removable pink mural. In a rented home, a pink self adhesive wallpaper mural or feature wall can come down when you move.

Kitchens and dining rooms

13. A pink dining room. Pink flatters faces and food, which makes it a natural choice for a dining room. A deep raspberry or dusty rose paper is magical by candlelight.

14. Pink with green kitchen cabinets. A pink wallpaper on a dining wall or above panelling looks wonderful with sage green kitchen cabinets.

15. A café-style pink. A soft pink stripe or check with bentwood chairs and a marble table gives a breakfast nook a Parisian feel, the same mood as French café interior design.

Bathrooms and cloakrooms

16. A bold pink cloakroom. A downstairs loo is the perfect place for a joyful fuchsia, flamingo or pink animal print. Choose a washable vinyl, and follow the rules for bathroom wallpaper so it lasts.

17. Blush pink with brass. A soft pink paper above white panelling with brass taps and a round mirror feels spa-like and flattering.

Hallways and other spaces

18. A warm pink hallway. A salmon or plaster pink paper makes a dark, narrow hallway feel welcoming from the moment you open the door. These Georgian hallway ideas show how pattern and colour lift a period entrance.

19. Pink on the ceiling. Wallpaper the ceiling in a soft pink pattern and paint the walls a plain pink or white for a surprising, cocooning effect.

20. A pink home office. A muted pink gives a home office warmth without being distracting.

21. Pink inside cupboards and alcoves. Lining the back of shelves, a wardrobe or a drinks cabinet with pink wallpaper is a small, low-risk way to try the colour.

What Colour Paint Goes With Pink Wallpaper?

Pink is easier to pair than most people think. The trick is to choose whether you want a calm, tonal room, a fresh contrast or a rich, dramatic scheme.

Little Greene's creative director, Ruth Mottershead, suggests two simple ways to combine paint and wallpaper: for a simpler look, paint the woodwork in the wallpaper's base colour, or for a highlight, use a contrasting colour instead, according to the brand's article on ways to embrace pink in the home. For a fully enveloping room, she suggests taking the darkest colour from the wallpaper's design onto the ceiling and woodwork.

My designer's tip: pick the paint colour from the wallpaper itself. Hold the sample against paint charts and find the leaf green, the deep berry or the cream background in the pattern. A colour that's already in the paper will always look right. If you'd like a step by step method, these tips on choosing the perfect colour palette work for any room.

What Colours Go With Pink?

• Green: sage, olive, emerald and forest green are pink's natural partners, like flowers and leaves.
• Red and burgundy: tonal and rich, especially in bedrooms and dining rooms.
• Navy and blue: a crisp, confident contrast.
• Ochre and mustard: warm and slightly retro.
• White and cream: fresh and classic; choose warm whites.
• Grey and charcoal: a cool, sophisticated balance.
• Natural materials: oak, walnut, rattan, linen and stone stop pink feeling saccharine.
• Metals: brass and antique gold warm pink up; chrome and nickel make it feel cooler and more modern.

How to Make Pink Wallpaper Feel Grown Up

• Choose muted, dusty or earthy pinks rather than bright candy shades.
• Add a darker contrast, such as olive, burgundy, navy or charcoal, on woodwork or furniture.
• Mix in texture: velvet, linen, wool, rattan and aged wood.
• Bring in brass and antique gold rather than shiny silver.
• Use art and books to break up the pattern.
• Add real flowers and plants. Pink walls and green leaves are a natural pairing, just as in famous flower paintings.

How Much Wallpaper Do You Need?

Measure the height and width of each wall, subtract large windows and doors, and remember that large patterns with a big repeat need more rolls. The wallpaper calculator works it out for you. Always buy all your rolls from the same batch, plus a spare for repairs.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Frequently Asked Questions

What colour paint goes with pink wallpaper?

Warm whites, a tonal pink, sage or olive green, burgundy, navy and charcoal all work. The easiest choice is a colour taken from the wallpaper pattern itself.

Is pink wallpaper a good idea for a living room?

Yes. Muted pinks such as plaster, blush and dusty rose make living rooms feel warm and welcoming, especially with green, wood and brass.

What colour furniture goes with pink wallpaper?

Green velvet, natural oak and walnut, rattan, cream linen and dark burgundy or navy upholstery all look good against pink.

Does pink wallpaper suit a north-facing room?

Yes. Warm pinks with a yellow or brown undertone, such as plaster and salmon, counter the cool light of north-facing rooms well.

What colour woodwork goes with pink walls?

For a calm look, paint the woodwork in the wallpaper's base colour or a tonal pink. For contrast, try olive green, burgundy, navy or a warm white.

How do you make pink look sophisticated?

Choose muted or dusty pinks, add a darker contrast colour, mix in natural textures and brass, and avoid too many pink accessories.

Think Pink, but Make It Grown Up

Pink wallpaper can make almost any room warmer, softer and more flattering. Choose the right shade for the light, pair it with greens, deep reds, navy or warm whites, and add natural textures so it feels relaxed and grown up.

For more colour ideas, explore the interior design section, and if you'd like help choosing the perfect pink wallpaper and paint colours for your home, you can book a one-hour online interior design consultation with me.