What Is Pink Beige Paint, And Is It Making A Comeback In 2024?
"Pink-beige" typically refers to a neutral paint color that has a warm undertone, combining elements of both pink and beige. It's a soft and subtle hue that can vary in intensity. For the most part, pink beige shades can read as cream or off-white. Cultured Pearl by Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore's Pristine are both prime examples of the hue.
At first glance, it might not seem all that notable or far off from a basic ecru or warm cream tone, but the undertone is distinctly pink. This color group was enormously popular in the early 2000s. It provided a bit more character than a true white but was a break from Tuscan home decor and its staple warm browns. And now, much to the chagrin of some interior designers, pink beige is back.
This is potentially because of the nature of trends, which of course cycle. For years the top home designers like Joanna Gaines and Leanne Ford have pushed pure white paint tones, beloved for how clean and airy they look. Now that we all have white shiplap-covered walls and colorless kitchens, many folks are wondering where the warmth in their homes has gone. To correct the trend, it makes sense that warmer beige tones would make a comeback. However, some design experts are not looking forward to a rosy trend renaissance.
The cons of pink beige
To be clear, there's nothing inherently offensive about pink-beige colors, and if styled right, they can look lovely, fresh, and elegant. But that's the drawback, they can be tough to style well due to a few factors. One of the most apparent is that the hue's appearance can vary drastically in different lighting, often appearing as a more intense pink than a neutral. Color temperature changes depending on the time of day. Sunny morning light will look different than cloudy afternoons and winter evenings. So, it's important to know how your paint color looks in all of these conditions rather than just ordering based on paint chips.
Color expert, TheHomeNarrative, comments on her TikTok, "A pink undertone has very few complimentary colors that don't make it look MORE pink." This can limit your options in terms of fixtures and décor if you want a more neutral home. And like any color trend, the popularity of pink-beige is very likely to go in and out fairly frequently. It's not far off from the muted pinks of the '80s home design trends either, so longevity is another aspect to keep in mind.
How to style pink-beige
Despite all of these concerns over how to style pink-beige, it's still is rising in popularity. Maybe you don't want to bother repainting considering most colors funnel in and out of style. However, you may decide to embrace the pink-beige trend.
If so, there are some key tips for doing pink-beige right. For one, avoid using yellow accents and furniture. Color guru, Maria Killam, explains on her blog, "...yellows make them look dirty by comparison". Instead, try to balance the hue with blue and green tones. This can vary greatly from navy blue to muted teal, or sage green to emerald. You can also lean into more neutral wood tones. Go for cooler finishes such as white ash or oak if you want the pink-beige paint to read pinker by contrast. On the other hand, warmer and darker wood finishes can play up the paint's neutrality while adding a grounding contrast.