The Best Paint Colours to Update a PINK or Dusty Rose Room

Paint Colours to Update Pink or Dusty Rose Carpet

Carpet, countertop, tile, fixtures, toilet, tub, flooring, furniture

If you’re reading this blog post, then it’s quite likely that you have something pink in your home that you are DESPERATELY wanting to update. Or maybe you just like to hang out with me. Either way, this is a HOT topic that you’ll want to stick around for!

In a previous blog post, I talked about how you can update pink or dusty rose with decor and artwork. That was the FUN stuff. Today, we’re gettin’ down n’ dirty and will be working on the FOUNDATION of your room – your walls.

The Best Neutral Paint Colours to Camouflage Pink

When choosing a paint colour to calm down your ‘pink thing’, you need to think neutral. Neutrals are colours such as black, white, gray, charcoal, and brown. Notice that I didn’t include beige in the mix. Beige is a tough one as it can look a bit unhealthy with pink as it’s often too warm-toned (yellow/orange) to complement the specific needs of pink.

Now if you LOVE your pink room, then this info STILL applies as these are paint colours that will complement without contrasting. Let’s leave the contrasting to the accents and decor.

Pink and Brown

Brown can look gorgeous with pink or dusty rose, but it has to be the RIGHT brown. Browns that are MORE warm-toned, in other words, browns that have a strong yellow or orange undertone can look pretty darned fugly when paired with pink – I call these ‘fudgy browns’, which is super technical. I mean, I suppose these warm browns can give a slightly more vintage vibe, but we’re trying to UPDATE things here people, not back-date them.

A few good browns

• Sherwin Williams Tony Taupe SW 7038. This is a pretty greige that leans a bit more brown than it does gray
• Benjamin Moore Ashley Gray HC 87. A soft greige that leans brown with a taupe undertone
• Benjamin Moore Willow CC 542. A super-rich dark (supa dark) chocolate brown with an almost grayish cast
• Middlebury Brown HC 68. Dark brown that isn’t too warm
• Whitall Brown HC 69. A beautiful brown with a soft gray undertone, so it’s not too ‘fudgy’

Pink & Taupe (or some grays)

Taupe is undoubtedly THE best paint colours to update pink. However, you have to be careful with gray and taupe/greige colours as they often have sneaky undertones like green, blue, and yellow, which can be pretty bad when paired with pink.

The key is to find a nice WARM gray or taupe that’s a bit more subtle in its approach and if anything, has a slightly noticeable violet-pink undertone, such as Benjamin Moore Pale Oak. If you go AGAINST your pink-toned item and opt for an opposite like green or blue (undertones or actual COLOURS) you risk highlighting your pink, making it look stronger. 

A few good light grays and taupes

Benjamin Moore Pale Oak

Benjamin Moore Classic Gray

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist

Sherwin Williams Popular Gray

Pink & Black or Dark Charcoal Gray

Black or DARK gray looks amazing with pink when used as an accent. It would be too overwhelming to use as a majority colour in your room (like the walls), so consider it in smaller touches like picture frames, trim, doors, and other decorative details (or maybe a feature wall!).

A few good blacks and grays

Starting bottom left

• SW Cyberspace SW 7076. Really, this is like a charcoal with a stunning navy blue undercurrent
• SW Black Fox SW 7020. This is like a brown/gray blend, super wicked
• Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal HC 166. A dark charcoal with very little undertone
• Benjamin Moore Gray 2121-10. Along the same lines as Cyberspace, a dark charcoal with a navy blue undertone
• Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black SW 6258 / Benjamin Moore Black 2132-10

Of the above, I have to say that navy, either natural or softened with gray, is one of my FAVOURITE ways to work with pink. There’s something classic and crisp about it that makes it appear more modern, timeless and dare I say – cool!

Now, of course, there’s a lot more to consider other than pink, things like exposure, flooring, furnishings and personal tastes, but hopefully, these ideas get you well on your way to YOUR perfect paint colour!

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