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    7 Grown-Up Ways to Decorate with Pink

    By | Work + Money – Fri, Mar 4, 2011 8:10 PM EST

    It's not just for little girls, and it goes with way more than frills and lace. The color of the moment is cheery, sophisticated, and even sexy. Here are tips on how to get the hue right - whether you're eighteen or eighty.

    1. Use Pink as an Unexpected Surprise
    Adding pink in a small space, like on the wall of the foyer, makes a statement without too much investment. "You can go this intense in an entryway, where you don't spend that much time," explains designer Jonathan Berger who chose Razzle Dazzle by Benjamin Moore for a Brooklyn townhouse. "It's a 'Wow!' moment that says, 'We're brave, we're bold,'" he says.

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    2. Choose a Pink with Purple Tones
    Select a rich hue in high gloss for a seductive bedroom like this one by designer Jamie Drake. "Orchid pink is wildly lush and not at all juvenile," he says, "This room feels almost aromatic, redolent of complex perfume."

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    3. Try Deep Pink in the Dining Room
    Do you love to entertain? Then choose a color that complements your guests. Designer Suzanne Kasler advises picking a deep pink like Checker-Berry by Glidden for the walls of your dining room. "This has undertones of raspberry and rose, and it makes people look good, which gives everyone a good feeling," she explains.

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    4. Try Vintage Red Furniture
    "Pink here is really faded red. It's pink with a past," says designer Ellen O'Neill of the timeworn vintage and antique furniture in the living room of her Hamptons home. Their colors have been softened over the years, which gives the room a mature, wise air.

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    5. Pair Pink with a Metallic
    Gold or silver makes pink look more sophisticated. The gold-leaf ceiling in the dining room of interior designer Ruthie Sommers's L.A. home counterbalances the cotton candy chairs.

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    6. Try a Pink Accessory
    Even one pink accessory can break up a monotone room. This coral lampshade livens up the all blues in Ruthie Sommers's home office.

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    7. Choose it for the Kitchen
    Interior designer Krista Ewart went for a fun summer vibe in her sister's California cottage. In the kitchen, the pink refrigerator, curtains, and wall art add life and a warm glow to the white walls.

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    How are you using pink in your home?


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