Color

This \ncolour theory\n guide comes with a warning: pink is one of the most loved-up colours out there, so, expect yourself to fall hard for at least one of our four shades. But how to know if you’re more of a \nPink 01\n or \nPink 03\n person? And what makes \nPink 02\n such a winner for pretty much every room in your home? Here’s the lowdown to help you find ‘the one’.\nLet’s talk undertones\nPeople into their colours love ushering statements like: ‘this pink? Oh it’s got a grey undertone don’t you know.’ Or: tell you what this room needs? A yellow-based pink.’ It sounds a bit fancy-pants but truth be told, they’ll have a point, because undertones are a huge part of what makes a colour, a colour.\nUndertones contribute to what gives a colour its temperature – whether it’s a warm pink like \nPink 02\n or a slightly cooler character like Pink 04. Undertones are what’ll help you figure out which pink will best suit your north- facing room (answer: \nPink 02\n, but more on that in a few paragraphs’ time). And undertones will help you build you entire palette, pointing to which other shades will get along like a house on fire (an odd expression if ever there was one).\nUndertones vary from greens and reds to yellows and blues, but when it comes to the four pinks in our collection, you’ll principally find one of two types of undertone:\nGrey: in the ‘industry’, adding grey is actually called, adding tone darling. It’s going to make your room feel a bit more contemporary and a bit more crisp (depending on how much you add). But there are different shades of grey (don’t we know it), and so it doesn’t mean grey always results in a pink that’s as cool as a cucumber. Look at \nPink 03\n which is still a bit of a softy even with grey bubbling away beneath the surface.\nYellow: get ready, things are about to get cosy and creamy. But, mix a yellow base note with a dash of grey (like we do in \nPink 02\n) and you won’t head into custard cream territory. Think of our yellow base tones as serving things sunny side up.\nDrop a tint. Throw some shade\nIf you’ve dabbled in colour theory at any point, you’ll have come across the terms tint and shade. They’re next up in your paint’s recipe and can change its course completely.\nAdding white to a colour is called adding tint, whereas black is a case of shade. A pink with a yellow base which then has some ‘shade’ added to it will bring about more depth and will result in a totally different character to if it had a pint of white ‘tint’ stirred in.\nColour theory is complex stuff, but know that in our pink palette we’ve played with tints and we’ve spent time in the shade to come up with an edit of colours that tick off pale pinks, mid-pinks, warm pinks, cool pink, sweet pinks and dusky pinks. All you need to do is decide which sets your heart aflutter most.\nColour compatibility and room direction\nBeing totally honest, all of our pinks will suit every point of the compass. So, if you don’t want to get in too deep, just trust your gut and go for the pink that you love the most. But the direction in which your room points really does affect paint colour, and if you’re in the game of perfection, we’ve broken down all four compass points and paired them with their very best pink. Match-making just got easy peasy...\nNorth-facing rooms: warm, yellow-based pink paint\nNorthern light is the coolest of the lot. It casts a blue hue. So if you go for one of our coolest characters like \nPink 01\n, expect its under-the-radar frosty side to come to the fore. To keep things balanced, stick to something a notch warmer – \nPink 02\n, we’re looking at you.

East-facing rooms: mid-tone pink paint\nSee a lot of change. Whatever pink you choose will look very different whether it’s sunset or sunrise. So, think about what time of day you'll be using that room most.\nIf it’s AM, you’ll be getting lots of the morning natural light, so pick out a cooler colour to balance out the warmth of the sun (à la our \nlight Pink 01 paint\n – don’t fret about how grey bases can look flat in an easterly room as the amount in \nPink 01\n won’t let that happen).\nIf it’s PM, and the light is low, you might want to go a bit warmer with our \ndusky Pink 02 paint\n. Or if you’re in there all day long, the safest bet is to go for a middle ground pink like \nPink 04\n that’s muted with just a dash of light grey.

South-facing rooms: muted pink paint\nHave a golden glow going on and the good news is, they pretty much suit all colours – huzzah! Use a cooler pink like \nPink 01\n or \nPink 04\n and they’ll still feel modern – no balmy beams will take away from that. But ask us to pick our all-time favourite two hues for southern rooms? \nPink 03\n, because it basks in the rays and looks at its sunniest and most fun-loving.

West-facing rooms: comforting dusty pink paint\nJust like rooms that look to the east, westerly rooms are the most changeable, so you’d better pay some thought to what time of day you’ll be hanging out in there. On the whole, they tend to look all the better with a warmer hue for company. \nPink 02\n you’re up again.

Feeling more clued up? Go forth and commit to your meant-to-be pink. Or, if you’re still a bit unsure, find your confidence by checking our article on the \ndifferent shades of pink\n.

Pink is hot to trot: fact. The world over has been swooning for the barely-there, ballet pump variety for many a season now, fashion powerhouses aplenty have teamed fuchsia with canary yellow too much applause, and don’t get us started on the global phenomenon that is millennial pink (correction, do get us started in a few paragraphs time). Pink is a paradox. It’s all things sweet and innocent but so too can it be fierce and feminist, punk and powerful.\nTo navigate the different shades of pink is to study their undertones, to appreciate which other colours they’ll get on with best, and to get clued up on what sort of room they’ll come alive in most of all (you can get plenty more of advice on that right \nhere\n). So, without further ado, it’s time to take pink by the horns with the help of our \ncolour conultant Sam Bramley\n…

Picking your perfect pink paint colour\nCalamine? Flamingo? How about baby pink? And how does that differ to pastel pink and blossom? There are more than a few different shades of pink to say the least, many of which have different names for the same thing. To make decision-making ten times less daunting, our resident colourists have edited down the spectrum to just four core tones. All you need to do is figure out which speaks to you and your room-to-be-decorated in the utterly eloquent language of l-o-v-e.

The energising pink: Pink 13 Nashville House\n

The softly spoken pink: Pink 01\nThere’s not really a bad word to say about our \nlight baby Pink 01 paint\n. It’s a people-pleasing pink that’s on the money if one of you fancies pink and the other wants to veto it. It’s a quiet pink, a delicate pink, a setting plaster sort of pink that’ll sit back in your room and behave like a very beautiful wallflower indeed. The hint of grey lends it just enough coolness that it will feel anything but staid and traditional, but it’s anything but cold – think dove grey undertones rather than steel or charcoal grey.\nPut it in an east-facing room that gets most use in the morning when the sun will be flooding through or a south-facing room where it’ll be full of light all day long – just to temper the warmth and tone the room down a notch.\nPair it with \nGreige 02\n – the epitome of elegance when in a room together.

“Pink 01 is the soft guy out of our pinks – understated, calm and complements many colour schemes.”

The neutral pink: Pink 02\nTake our \ndusky Pink 02 paint\n. Its undertones are warm and honeyed making comforting, familiar and easy to live with. Like \nPink 01\n, it’s a jolly good pink if you don’t want your scheme to feel in any way saccharine. If anything, it’s closer to a neutral than it is to a pigmented hue – think beige but prettier. When people say ballet slipper pink, they mean this.\n \nPut it in a west-facing room where the light can be changeable so a warm(ish) pink can be your best bet or an east-facing room that’s most-used in the evening to up the cosy factor.\nPair it with our happy \npaint colour Yellow 01 \nor \nBlue 01\n for modern pastel perfection.

“Pink 02 is full of character, producing a combustion of warm undertones and cheeky peachy notes, partnering beautifully with pastels.”\n

The millennial pink: Pink 03\nThe trendiest pink on the block? Maybe. \nPink 03\n is definitely the pink paint colour that’s closed to \ntrend-led millennial pink\n. It’s got no blue lurking in its undertones but a bit of beige and a drop of yellow so that it’s got a bubblegum pink thing going on – though a duskier version than the strawberry-flavoured stuff you used to pop as a kid. An important distinction because there’s nothing juvenile about this shade – it’s fun and it’s lively for sure, but it’s as composed as it is confident and it’s as timeless as it is of-the-minute.\n \nPut it in north-facing rooms where the warm undertones will counterbalance any cold, blue light.\nPair it with \nRed 01\n (because it’s unexpected but super dynamic and sultry) or \nGreen 03\n for a scheme that’ll feel zen and balancing.

“Pink 03 is an inviting colour with its muted bubblegum charms. It works well in a variety of spaces and light conditions.”

Pink prep sorted, \nfind your meant-to-be pink pairing in our palette of three\n. But if you’re still um-ing and ah-ing between pinks, give them a whirl with a tester following \nthis advice \nfrom the Lick pros.\n\n\nShop our paint colours\n

It’s that time of year when we share our 2022 colour trend predictions. Considering \nthe paint trends for 2020\n and \nthe colour trends of 2021\n, we cast our gaze towards the year ahead. Over the last year and a half, we have asked more of our homes than ever before. In response to the pandemic, they became home offices, home bars, home schools, and much more. With so much going on in our homes, it became more important than ever to find sanctuary within them and to create a calming environment through our colour choices.\n\nFrom \nbeating the winter blues\n to \ninspiring positivity and wellness\n, \ncolour psychology\n plays an important role in our lives. So, with that in mind, here are our 2022 colour trend predictions.

2022 colour trend: nurturing pinks and beiges\nThere is no denying that post-pandemic society is in need of healing. We predict that in 2022, people will be gravitating towards a colour scheme of nurturing \npinks\n and warming \nterracotta reds\n, paired with grounding \nbeiges\n and delicate neutral hues, for its calming and comforting qualities. According to Tash Bradley, our Lead Colour Specialist, “These colours are all about the idea of slowing down and looking after ourselves. Their warm tones will give any room a feeling of calm”. \n\nOur favourite pink and beige paint picks for 2022: \ngrey Pink 01\n, \nPink 02\n, \nRed 03\n, and \nBeige 02\n.

“Pink is like a hug in a paint tin”, says Tash, “It’s what we all need right now”. Pink’s red undertones are warming whilst the white creates a soothing effect, preventing it from being overpowering. \n\nAnd beige? It’s your easygoing best mate. Easy on the eye, easy to use in any room, easy to pair with almost any colour. Together they’re a winning combination. Just look at @newflatproject’s tranquil \nPink 01\n bedroom or @athomewiththeraines’ comforting \nRed 03\n office. We love this use of terracotta in a home office. They can be quite anxiety-inducing spaces, but terracotta’s earthy, grounding elements can help combat this and soothe inbox related stresses. As you can see, these colours will work in any room, from your bedroom to your home office.

2022 colour trend: sustainable greens and earthy neutrals\nGreen connects us to nature, simple. For those of us living in cities, especially, with travel becoming more difficult and escaping to the great outdoors a little harder, many of us are trying to create our own ecosystems at home. “The 2022 sustainable colour trend is a direct reaction to the highly digitalised world we now live in”, explains Tash. “Far more than just watching TV and staring at our phones, now life is made up of Zoom calls and online learning. Embracing nature by embracing green feels like an act of rebellion”. \n\nOur favourite green paint colours for 2022: \nGreen 09\n, \nGreen 02\n, and \nGreen 05\n.

“The 2022 sustainable colour trend is a direct reaction to the highly digitalised world we now live in.”

By incorporating elements of \nbiophilic design\n into our homes, we can bring the outdoors in. Be that indoor plants, natural materials or painting your homes in luscious \ngreens\n and earthy neutrals. We also love the idea of bringing the outdoors in by leaving the windows bare, allowing maximum light and verdant views.

This is a great way to add colour to your home without it feeling dominating. Green is very gentle on the eye. You can even go dark and it won’t overpower. It’s a great option for a kitchen or bedroom (just look @flocoeinteriors’s \nGreen 04\n kitchen or @we_are_the_russells’ \nGreen 02\n \nshiplap cladding\n) but green will work in any room in the home. Nature, the environment, and sustainability is on everyone’s minds right now. That’s why we’re predicting that in 2022 people will be surrounding themselves with yet more greens and more greenery.

“Embracing nature by embracing green feels like an act of rebellion.”

2022 colour trend: soothing blues and stable neutrals\n“During the past year and a half we’ve all been going inwards a bit”, says Tash, “Whether that’s literally, being in our homes or mentally being more reflective”. That’s why Tash predicts \nblues\n being a huge colour trend in 2022: “After the pandemic, all we want is trust and loyalty. Soft, grey-based blues like our \nBlue 04\n and \nBlue 05\n, paired with stable neutrals like \nBeige 02\n, \nBeige 03 paint\n and warming \nWhite 03\n, form a colour scheme that you can rely on.” They’re dependable, they’re trustworthy, they won’t let you down.\nOur favourite blue paint colours for 2022: \nBlue 04\n and \nBlue 05\n.

As with picking the right colour for any room, you want to think about what sort of light it gets at what time of day. A tranquil, blue-sky thinking \nBlue 04\n is beautiful in a bedroom, but it needs to be one that gets a lot of natural light, as the grey-base in a dark bedroom could be too cold. \nBlue 05\n on the other hand is warming and energising. Ideal in a kitchen or home office. If you’re not sure what the orientation of your room is, take a look at our helpful guide on \nhow to find out if your room is north, east, south or west facing\n.

We think we’ll start seeing ‘trends’ hanging around for a lot longer. Everyone is trying to be more eco-conscious and that means reduced consumption. People aren’t chopping and changing their decor to fit in with the latest trends. They’re investing in vintage pieces, items that last, and high-quality products. \n\nThe main 2022 trend? A more sustainable approach to decorating. Take a look at our \nsustainability mission\n to find out how we’re aiming to do just that. 

The most misunderstood of all, the monochromatic colour scheme is \ncolour theory\n 101 It uses one colour in a variety of tones, tints, and shades—rather than just black and white (though a monochrome colour scheme \ncan \nbe black and white. More on that later). It comes from the Greek 'mono' meaning one and 'khroma' meaning colour. It's an easy-to-use option as you're only working with one segment of the \ncolour wheel\n, so it's difficult to get it wrong, yet the effect is cohesive and harmonious.

Let's take \nred\n as an example, working our way along each of its iterations. By adding white, you get pink, a 'tint' of red. Add black, and you get maroon, a 'shade' of red. And there you have it: a monochromatic colour scheme of pink, red, and maroon. The terminology is not important; you've simply got to use your eyes. Told you it was simple.\nShop our \nlight to dark pink paint\n

Monochromatic colour schemes we love\nRed monochromatic scheme\n\nAnother example of a red monochromatic scheme, this one transitions from a darker shade of red, \ndark Purple 03 paint\n, to a tonal \nRed 03\n, incorporating the lighter \nPink 03\n and \nWhite 06\n tints. It's a very sensual combination, ripe for a boudoir.

Blue monochromatic scheme \nBlue can be a very mentally soothing colour, and this pairing of \nBlue 02\n, \nBlue 04\n, \ndusky Blue 10 paint\n, with \nBlue 111\n is no exception. It would work well in a bedroom, living room or even a study... Just make sure to check your room's orientation so it doesn't appear too cold. Ideal for a south-facing room. \nLearn how to tell your room's direction in our handy guide\n

Black & white monochromatic scheme\nAnd so onto monochrome as many of us know it. A top tip for avoiding looking like you live in Cruella de Vil’s lair: if you decide to opt for a monochrome scheme then texture and pattern are everything. Think big fluffy rugs and tactile cushions. Avoid trying to be too ‘matchy’ by using the same tone and colour on your walls and furnishings and you’ll prevent your scheme looking bland. We think \nBlack 02 wall paint\n and \nWhite 01\n go together like peas and carrots.

A monochromatic colour scheme is a great option if you're a novice decorator or you're not too sure on your design style yet.  If you are looking to add multiple colours into your space, then a \ncomplementary colour scheme\n (involving \ncolours that are complementary on the colour wheel\n ) or \nanalogous colour scheme\n might be a better match. 

pink 08

pink 02

pink 03

pink 13

pink 01

Pink paint to make your walls wink. From dusty pinks to muted bubblegums to pinks with hazy, earthy undertones. We've got a shade to suit any space. Available in your choice of matt and eggshell finishes, in a water-based, eco-friendly formula.

Pink paint

Light tone

Pink 01

Pink 04

Pink 02

Mid tone

Pink 07

Pink 08

Pink 13

Pink 03

Pink 05

Dark tone

Pink 09

Pink 12

Need some help getting started?

Colour explained: everything you need to know about pink paint

Understanding the different shades of pink

Our 2022 colour trend predictions

Understanding monochromatic colour schemes