Pastels have had a makeover. No longer the colour equivalent of a sickly sweet cupcake best-suited to the nursery, the new shades are soft, dusty and a little bit dirty – striding confidently into grown-up spaces where they bring calmness, elegance and a pleasing amount of swagger.
What I love most is how these gentler hues encourage us to rest. In a world where most of us would happily go for a lie-down at four o’clock, that feels like a gift. If you usually reach for brights, pastels can act like a soothing tea break...for the eyes.
When colours are less intense and the contrast is dialled down, it’s as if the room itself has taken a deep breath, dropped its shoulders and invited you to kick off your shoes. Here are some ways to bring that easier-going vibe to your home…
1. Choose modern shapes
To stop pastels drifting into cutesy nostalgia, pair them with contemporary shapes. Think sculptural lamps, assertive geometrics and curvy furniture rather than anything twee and twiddly. The bold forms bring attitude, which makes the softness feel intentional rather than timid. You can also strive for this style in your patterns and prints; avoid anything overly fussy or feminine.
2. Mix materials for texture and depth
Pastels adore texture. They practically glow when contrasted with rustic surfaces such as timber, rattan or slubby linens. Similarly, teaming them with patinated finishes, like ribbed glass, foxed mirror or tarnished brass, will elevate the whole look. You get calm but you also get character, which is the sweet spot.
3. Layer shades with a grounding note
It’s easy to layer with pastels. To keep it calm, stick with tonal families – for example, build a gentle gradient of blush, plaster and rose, or misty blues with sea-foam greens. But the real magic lies in adding one darker grounding note such as walnut or charcoal to stop the whole thing floating away in a soft, puffy cloud of niceness.
Modern pastels are all about how they make you feel. They soothe, settle and invite us to slow down. Use them with intention and they will bring quiet joy to any room – and they’re far more intriguing than their neutral cousins, too!
The Modern Pastel Edit
Pela Coupe Glass
Sophie Robinson Rope Floor Lamp
Patchwork Pastel Multicolour Velvet Cushion
