The Best Pink Paint Colors

The Most Popular, Perfect Shades of Pink

One of the most divisive colors has to be pink. Personally, I believe in the ‘right color for the right space,‘ but some pinks stretch my flexible comfort zone. So, to make both of us feel more confident in the room you’re painting, I’ve pulled together my favorite pink paint colors—more muted hues and those with a bit more pizazz!

Now, I rely on my Online Color Consulting clients and followers for my photos. And because not many of them choose pink, I don’t have a ton of examples. However, I have the info you’ve been looking for, so you can get sampling and comparing. Also, while Benjamin Moore has no shortage of useable, appealing, popular pinks, Sherwin Williams is very…very lacking, so you won’t be seeing a ton of them in this blog post.

But first, let’s talk about the two main types of pink…

WARM PINK PAINT COLORS

While pink itself is usually seen as a warm paint color, pink-orange is warmer looking. If you add ENOUGH orange, you make coral (you’re actually adding yellow, as yellow and pink make orange, but let’s not get in the weeds here, folks). However, with a gentle kiss of orange, pink picks up a perky, warm vibe.

Warm pink paint colors are FAR more popular than cool shades, especially for kids’ rooms, nurseries, and bedrooms.

COOL PINK PAINT COLORS

Pink paint colors that lean into purple are seen as cooler shades of pink. Why? Well, you’re not adding PURPLE to your pink color; you’re adding blue. Blended together, this gives you a pink with a violet hue!

Aside from temperature, you’ll also find different pinks based on their commitment to color…

• BRIGHT, COLORFUL PINKS
• MODERATE, BALANCED PINKS
• MUTED, DUSKY ROSE-INSPIRED PINKS

While I’d like to hit all of the above in one blog post, I’m sticking to the colorful and moderate shades. However, once you’re done reading, check out my blog post re: The Best Pink & Blush (Dusky & Muted) Pink Paint Colors.

THE BEST BRIGHTER, COLORFUL, & MODERATE SHADES OF PINK

Are there pinks brighter and more colorful than the ones listed below? You bet your cute little booty there are! However, those particular shades appeal to the minority, not the masses. My blog is about hitting a range of shades that are likely to appeal to the ‘average person.’ Now, if you’re anything but average and want a little something more, I’ve added a few hot pinks at the end.

1. BENJAMIN MOORE PINK BLISS 2093-70

Pink Bliss is undoubtedly one of the most popular pinks and one of Benjamin Moore’s top sellers. Why this particular shade? Well, some pinks come in HOT and scare the pants off those who are ‘curious but nervous’ about this particular color. Pink Bliss is pink, but it’s more of a polite nod than a full-scale assault – it’s very moderate in its approach.

Pink Bliss is a warm shade of pink, but not by much. It looks more or less like a ‘neutral take on pink—not warm or cool.’ As for LRV, Pink Bliss sits at 81.58, making it a soft shade of off-white.

For my daughter’s room (a few years ago), I chose Pink Bliss for all of the above reasons – it’s light, subtle, and gentle while still doing the job…

My Color Consulting client also chose Pink Bliss for her bedroom, as shown in this next photo…

In the previous two photos, notice how the natural lighting changes Pink Bliss’s appearance. I’m not sure of the exposure in the lower image, but my daughter’s room had northeast light, a cooler light. And while I ALMOST put Pink Bliss in the ‘subtle pink/dusky rose-inspired‘ blog post, it has a touch more color than that.

COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO PINK BLISS

• If you want more warmth, check out Benjamin Moore’s Gentle Butterfly, which has a bit more orange.
• For a slightly more cheerful, cleaner look, check out Benjamin Moore Cream Puff.
• For a pink that’s more genuine and colorful than Pink Bliss, look at Benjamin Moore’s Touch of Pink. It offers WAY MORE than a touch of pink while still being purdy!

2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS COMICAL CORAL SW 6876

For those who want more commitment, look no further than Comical Coral. While it might have the word ‘coral’ in its name, don’t be fooled; this warm color is most definitely pink; it’s just a warm one! Comical Coral picks up on the ‘baby pink’ look with a bit more meat on its bones.

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Comical Coral.

Comical Coral is soft, warm, and gentle – it’s how I like my pinks and my lovin’! While it could be a bit too pink for those tiptoeing into this world, for those who love pink but don’t want to be smacked upside the head with it, it could be the perfect choice. As for depth, Comical Coral has an LRV of 69 (no giggling, you weirdos), making it a light-depth color but on the slightly higher/lighter end of this range.

COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO COMICAL CORAL

I can’t say there are many great comparables to Comical Coral, as its gentleness and warmth are pretty unique. This being said, part of comparing colors is to see shifts between shades and to see which version best suits you and your home, so colors that are a bit more noticeably different can be great for sampling.

• For a slightly muted take on Comical Coral with a bit more of a peach/coral approach, look at Benjamin Moore’s East Lake Rose.
• Benjamin Moore’s Orchid Pink is another muted shot at Comical Coral.

3. BENJAMIN MOORE GENTLE BLUSH 2084-70

If you’re looking for a cooler shade of pink, you want one that leans into purple. Gentle Blush does exactly this without tipping the scales too far. This means your walls will be pink, but they will have a slightly noticeable violet backdrop.

Gentle Blush has an LRV of 79.69, making it an off-white color. It also has a reasonable commitment to pink but has a soft, neutral backdrop, calming it down a bit so that it’s not overwhelming (that is very open to perception based on your pink tolerance level).

Get your Peel & Stick Sample of Gentle Blush

COOL PINK COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO GENTLE BLUSH

• For more depth and interest, check out the Sherbert-inspired glow of Benjamin Moore’s Early Sunrise.
• If you want to see a bit more violet mixed in with your pink, Benjamin Moore’s Baby Pink should hit the spot. But don’t judge it by its name, as it’s cooler than ‘baby pink’ usually looks.
• Benjamin Moore’s Elephant Pink is another one that hits the spot and is a great comparison for Gentle Blush. What’s funny is that the name of this color takes me IMMEDIATELY back to those little boxes of popcorn with the elephant on them and pink-tinged popcorn – do you remember those? DAMN, did those ever taste bad!

4. BENJAMIN MOORE PEACH KISS 2089-60

I LOVE this shade of pink, and I don’t even love pink for my own home! Peach Kiss is a warm pink with a light touch of coral and a reasonable neutral base to calm it down, making it a more moderate shade of pink.

Peach Kiss has an LRV of 72.38, between the light and off-white ranges. However, with its degree of color, it reads more like a light-depth color in most rooms.

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Peach Kiss

COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO PEACH KISS

• If you want pink with a bit more warmth/orange, check out Benjamin Moore’s Fond Memory.
• for a touch less warmth than Peach Kiss offers, check out Benjamin Moore’s Playful Pink.

5. BENJAMIN MOORE PINK PARFAIT 2004-60

If you’re looking for a REAL commitment to pink and aren’t afraid of a color with a bit of personality, check out Pink Parfait.

As sweet as it sounds, Pink Parfait offers up pink on a platter. With a slightly cool but still decidedly pink look, this color is for those who want to go pink or go home…or both.

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Pink Parfait

Pink Parfait has an LRV of 66.32, which makes it the darkest shade of pink on this page, but one that’s still useable for the average bedroom without looking too weighted or heavy.

COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR & COMPARABLE TO PINK PARFAIT

• If you like this IDEA but want it lighter, you must check out Benjamin Moore’s Romantic Pink, which boosts you to the off-white range.
• Sherwin Williams’s In the Pink has similar intentions but takes things up a notch in depth.
• For a pink with a touch more warmth but similar intensity, check out Benjamin Moore’s Sweet 16 Pink.

6. BENJAMIN MOORE FIRST LIGHT 2102-70

While choosing pink as a ‘color of the year’ was a questionable choice, Benjamin Moore chose a good one when they landed on First Light.

First Light is a very…very moderate shade of pink. Like Pink Bliss, I almost included it in my other pink blog post but decided to keep it here because I love colors that are flexible and on the fringe (which are also reasons why Tim chose me as his wife).

First Light is a dusky, feather-light shade of pink with a violet backdrop that calms it down. With its LRV of 75.86, It is an off-white, offering a gentle contrast with white trim.

Get your Peel & Stick sample of First Light

COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO FIRST LIGHT

• Benjamin Moore’s Strawberry-n-Cream is a touch more colorful/pinker in its approach.
• Compare First Light to Mellow Pink and see how much purple there is in First Light. This is because Mellow Pink is warmer but equally as tempting!

Ooo, winking at me at the last second is Sherwin Williams’s Rachel Pink. Check it out for a moderate approach to pink, both in depth and degree of color (chroma).

The Best Muted Pink & Blush Paint Colors

THE BEST HOT PINK PAINT COLORS

Did I save the best for last? Maybe, if you love roarin’ hot shades of pink! Keep in mind, most brands don’t offer super colorful pinks (e.g., fluorescent); they only go so far. All the same, these pinks pack a lot of punch.

• Benjamin Moore Pink Popsicle 2001-40
• Sherwin Williams Dragon Fruit SW 6855
• Benjamin Moore True Pink 2003-40 for a legit shot at the title
• Sherwin Williams Eros Pink SW 6860
• Benjamin Moore Pink Popsicle 2001-40
• Benjamin Moore Rosy Blush 2086-30

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – let me choose your colors FOR YOU!