Blush Pink Living Room Decor: Trying Out a New Decor Style
In this post: Thinking of trying out a new interior design style? Check out these ideas I used to test drive a new look with blush pink living room decor.⇒
Did I ever tell you about the time I lost my mind and bought a turquoise armoire?
Not a pale dusty greyed-over blue, mind you. No, this was straight out of the crayon box full-on bright turquoise.
And did I mention the Aztec motifs it had painted in bright coral? Apparently this was part of my Southwestern phase. Well, more accurately, it was the entirety of my ‘blink-and-you-missed-it’ Southwestern phase.
It was a very expensive mistake I lived with for a long time. At first I tried to decorate with it. And then I tried to decorate around it. Later, I tried to ignore it, which was rather impossible when you’re talking about a huge turquoise armoire. Ultimately, I painted it and eventually relegated it to the basement.
What on earth was I thinking?
How to Try Out a New Home Decor Style
In case it’s not obvious, this is not the way to try out a new home decor style.
But what happens when you discover a style that completely romances you? Do you stay away because it’s a passing trend? Or do you indulge your infatuation for the sake of having fun?
I say indulge away, but do it on a smaller scale. Much like with fashion, the best way to enjoy trends, or design styles that you’re experimenting with, is to find inexpensive options and go deep on decorative accessories.
Start with a Neutral Foundation
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of French Country style, and I love to use white and neutrals to play off my antique pieces.
My rooms tend to be built around white and greige, with chippy gilding and vintage silver used as “accent colors”. I wouldn’t call my style formal or rigid, but I do lean toward tailored, albeit relaxed elegance.
That said, no matter how well defined my decor style is, I also enjoy playing with other design styles, ranging from cottage farmhouse through rustic industrial and stretching all the way to modern glam.
With a foundation of neutral furniture, both in color and with clean simple styling, all that’s needed to change the personality is to address the character of the room’s accessories.
Select a Style to Experiment With
I love to flirt with color, particularly feminine colors, and most notably pink. And while a color doesn’t preclude maintaining a vintage French style, in the living room I’m sharing today, I went decidedly off my usual script.
I was feeling a bit playful and decided to try something new. It’s less vintage than usual, more colorful for sure, and perhaps even a bit glam. I added a refreshing spark to my living room with very simple items.
The best part of adding personality with home accessories is that you can change a room’s look in no time. The key is to subdue your foundational pieces and let the accents do the heavy lifting.
Following are several categories you can concentrate on when looking to try out a new decor style without a major commitment, whether it be French, industrial, farmhouse or glam, or any other attitude or concept, for that matter.
Color
One of the first things you notice when you walk into a room is the color that’s surrounding you. It might be soothing shades like tonal beiges or peaceful greens and blues. But color can also create drama with vibrant pops of color, or can be moody with deep dark hues.
Yet color can also be associated with specific design styles, as blue and greens tend communicate coastal style.
In my case, as I mentioned above, I went with blush and rose pink with glimmery accents of gold, which I often associate with glam.
But I’m not talking about painting the walls or buying a sofa in the selected color.
Pillows and Throws
Easily the fastest way to infuse a room with a new look, adding tossed pillows and throw blankets can introduce color, pattern and texture into a space.
For my blush pink living room I decided to play up the subtle pinks that were already there with a mix of pillows that mirror the dusty pink from the painting over the sofa.
A jaunty buffalo check plays off the mauve slub end pillows, which in turn flank the cream button pillow.
Unabashedly feminine, pink room decor doesn’t have to be sugary sweet. A ruffled throw blanket with a whisper of blush color drapes seductively over a side chair in the adjacent corner.
Flowers & Branches
Flowers, branches and plants can also bring character to a room. Much like the textiles, they bring color into a space, but they also can have a personality that works better with some styles than others.
For a modern space, I like all white flowers, particularly potted orchids. For a boho space I’d forego all flowering plants and stay strictly with greenery and bare branches. For a cottage look I like baby’s breath or a bouquet of mixed wildflowers.
And for my glam space? It doesn’t get much easier than looking for pink flowers! I used a fresh arrangement on the coffee table and faux branches around the room, particularly two types of cherry blossoms.
Decorative Objects
After textiles and florals, the next thing to address is accessorizing with decorative objects. This is where your selections may seem a bit more subtle at first, but in reality they can be quite defining.
For my glam room, for instance, I put away most of my French antiques and instead displayed items with more polish. Where I usually have distressed and timeworn, I went with chic and glossy, with glimmer provided by metals, specifically gold.
A pierced ginger jar instead of a rustic urn. A lacquer tray instead of an aged wooden one. A pair of sleek crystal cube vases instead of antiqued olive jugs. New instead of ancient.
One of the things that makes trying a new style successful, or at least that makes it easier, is if you find the commonalities between the styles and play to them. Had I decided to go industrial instead of glam, I could have found vintage industrial pieces that would still work with my French foundational furniture. Even super sleek modern could be highlighted with an antique or two.
Additional Ideas
Pulling in one quirky decorative piece that’s purely for fun gives a room real personality. I used the gold and white ceramic pineapple as such a piece, placing it under the cloche for an extra note of drama. It serves no functional purpose yet anchors the room firmly in the glam style I was toying with, and feels downright modern as a foil to my vintage pieces.
Picture frames, too, can add a defining tone to a room, from buttoned-up and traditional, to playful and flirty. Likewise the photos or art you put in them. They are easy to change and can make a significant difference.
For my glammed up pink space I selected pretty metallic frames and the golds pair nicely with the pink room decor. I love to mix metals in all of my spaces, and here you will find a liberal blend of coppers and golds. Family photos bring personalization to your home, and the frames they sit in should be equally well-chosen.
On the coffee table, I used a warm copper tray, corralling an assortment of items that hint at entertaining in style. The white marble coasters have a lovely glam vibe, as do the gold honeycomb stemless goblets that are resting nearby.
And when it comes to setting a mood, nothing comes close to candlelight and the selection here includes a mercury glass candle and a gold trimmed frosted glass piece, the very picture of glam.
Candle holders come in a wide array of styles and can add atmosphere to your room within the design style of your choice.
As long as your furniture pieces are neutral and classic, there’s quite a lot you can easily change to make things look remarkably different.
And adding bits of pink and gold for a glam decor effect is a whole lot smarter than spending thousands of dollars on a turquoise armoire that you can’t stand looking at after a mere few weeks!
Resource Guide
To get the look, click on the items below for direct links to the products. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options. If an item is out of stock but may be restocked, I left it on the list.
(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)
Please be sure to visit all of the other posts for today’s “20 Minute Decorating”:
Shabbyfufu | Unique Ways to Display Flowers
Thistlewood Farms | Decorate with Things You Already Have
French Country Cottage | 5 Easy Room Updates in 5 Minutes
On Sutton Place | Sunflower Season: An Easy Arrangement
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I love what you’ve done with the accessories in order to make the pink and gold decor shine – but in my opinion, the rug is THE major leader in this pink/gold experiment and for most followers, changing the rug is not something we could afford to do to create this lovely decor.
You’ve done it beautifully in your home – thank you for your post.
Thank you, Pat! The idea I’m trying to bring across is how to work with what you already have in *your* home and play with accessories to bring out one new decor style or other. The aubusson rug in my home would normally be paired with more sedate old world items, but if I want a trendier look, I can “throw it” with glam accessories. To be honest, this is easier to do when all of your decor is more neutral, but I already have the rug, so I had no choice… 😉 In someone else’s home they might be working around a different type of piece, like a print sofa or a Persian rug, but the idea is the same.
All of these accessories are so beautiful…I would have never guessed they were from Wal-Mart. What a great and inexpensive way to have a little fun in your home decor. Guess I’ll have to give Wal-Mart another look.
It’s an amazing thing, isn’t it? I just love what these big box stores are doing, bringing great style at affordable prices… 🙂
Great tips! I love all the glamour! You are amazing friend!
karianne
What better person to appreciate the glamour than the fabulous KariAnne! Thanks, friend!!
the accessories look great, they make the room look softer. Really like what you did.
Thank you, Diane! I like having a wardrobe of things that are easy to change so I can move them around as the mood strikes… 🙂
Absolutely love your glam! That is how I have decorated my pink spaces and I love it. I have been trying to find an Aubusson rug like yours and cannot find anything any where like it. Any suggestions?
Absolutely love your glam pieces, that is how I have decorated my pink and white home. I have not had any luck finding a rug similar to yours though, I have tried your suggestions but nothing will come up. And I have been looking for a while now. I would appreciate any suggestions you have as I am very determined to buy one!
I was looking earlier after the other woman’s comment. Is it more important to you that it’s an aubusson, or that it has the pink coloration? I saw some pretty inexpensive one which great pink color, but they were not aubusson or needlepoint. They were more like Persian rugs.
Oh it can be made out of anything! I just love the hot pink in it and the lovely antique style. If you can send me a link to something that would be fantastic. I have looked on the Internet for ages.
Here are some options to get you started. Only one is a real aubusson and you’ll be able to tell that by price. But it’s stunning… 😉
https://rstyle.me/+vmG46UoGq023vejkgQWbIw
https://rstyle.me/+kLfUDpQJMMKbEWCrc03Orw
https://rstyle.me/+eH6Lz-RsAO8xiiPimWlRKw
https://rstyle.me/+-9aClQUyIR-GjIxoMgmMvw
https://rstyle.me/+L5arhyIsaKO0zhlWAo66RQ
https://rstyle.me/+_WEQRdVKpAtcGGPlAKdXAw
Well you KNOW that I love pink. Will have to give Walmart another look!
Ha! Yes, we pink girls must stick together!!
Look beautiful!! Years ago, pink amd gold were part of the renewal of Victorian style..
Hugs
Deb
So true! I’m a pink girl through and through… 😉
Your room is so pretty! I love the pink and neutral – so classy!! 💗
Thanks for the kind words!!
So very pretty! I do like the way you toned down the traditional look. I waver between styles too. 🙂 You did a nice job of transitioning and your choices were great! Wal Mart is offering some great options.
Thank you! And they truly are… 🙂
Gosh, I missed this post! Glad I was looking back over my emails! I love cloches and you have a big one hidding under that end table! What are you planning for it? Love it! I think the copper tray gives an almost rose gold appearance and looks splendid with the gold tray along side of it. You have put together a great combination of old world and new. XOXO
Haha, I just put it there to move it out of the way… lol! Haven’t decided yet… 😉 I think it’s one of those things that will move around the house every so often.
If you got the couch from Wayfair, what cover is that? Is it matlaise was it a special order? I love it but can I order it?
The couch was from Ethan Allen many years ago. It is a matelassé indeed.
Lory — Have you seen the latest issue of Milieu Magazine? The cover is oh so pink and there’s more inside.
I have not. Thanks for the heads up!! 🙂
I’m a pink girl, too! These are great tips. I have a question. I’ve been a subscriber for a long time and am curious about what type of house you live in. I live in a MC ranch, but don’t like mid-century style so I’ve leaned into ranch, French, and Swedish design.
We live in a very garden-variety newish townhouse. It’s spacious and comfortable, but not at all “special”. We had to add the character in ourselves. You can see the outside on my house tour page: https://designthusiasm.com/new-townhouse-tour-part-1/
What a wonderful array of colors.
Your decorating skills are the best!
Thank you for sharing.
Bette
Thank you so much for the kind words!!
So pretty~! Love your photos 🙂
Thank you so much!
Your room is so pretty! I like the pink and white decor!
Hi Laurie,
I’m in the market for a new sofa. Can you tell me where you purchased the sofa that’s pictured with the white vase of tulips which is entitled Stay Connected?
I’m still loving my kitchen where I used yours for inspiration.
Yes, sure. That’s the PB comfort sectional from Pottery Barn. It’s linked in all of my posts in the family room, or just look under my home tour… 🙂
Do you remember where you bought the small pink roses that are in the photo with the framed family photos? They are so pretty!
I’m pretty sure it was locally. Thanks for the kind words!
I love pink. Changes my living room with pink accents last year as well. Just bought new pink throws. Thanks for sharing!
Isn’t it such a warm and happy color?