Combined with a modern twist on new-retro styling, the design world has been using pastels and tints to transform environments through a candy-coated filter, and we’re spotlighting some of our favorite spaces featuring dusted pastels and the gentlest layers of luminous, light-as-air colors.

Pastels and tints have had notable moments of prominence throughout history, from the Rococo period in the 1700s to the Victorian era, through to the cheerful midcentury moments of recent memory and into today’s sugary-hued styles and aesthetics—from coastal to cottagecore and beyond. The trending hues in this evolving color group are even featured in the Delicate Tints palette of the 2024 Colormix^® Forecast, Anthology: Volume One.

These dreamy colors are beloved for their innate ability to create soothing scenes and for how versatile and approachable they can be, says designer Kevin O’Gara of Kevin Francis Design. “This versatility makes pastels an accessible way to incorporate color into a space without overwhelming the room,” he says.

But a love for pastels has also arisen because of what these colors inspire us to remember. “There is a happy, nostalgic feel to pastels,” says Liz Hoekzema of KLH Custom Homes + TEN Design Studio. “That feeling goes back to the design of children’s spaces, to the myriad hues of flower petals in nature, to materials like terrazzo that harken back to a playful midcentury period.”

Following the rise of pristine whites and grays at the turn of the 21st century, more colorful interiors are making a comeback, and pastels offer a way of suffusing spaces with subtle color that can still make a significant impact.

Pastels and tints are key colors associated with healing and positive feelings, and these hues are adding their soft whisper to the ongoing conversation about dopamine decorating, or designing spaces that bring a sense of wonder and joy to the people within them.

“You might think of really bold, saturated colors when it comes to dopamine decorating,” acknowledges Kevin O’Gara, “but the right combination of pastels and tints can achieve the same playful, energetic quality, with perhaps a more timeless look.”

Maureen Stevens of Maureen Stevens Design believes that delicate, painterly shades are synonymous with all the joyful feelings dopamine decor is known for. “Happiness is pastel hues and vice versa,” she says. “Dopamine is all about positive emotions, and drenching a room with pastels delivers excitement, joy, and playfulness.” She goes on to say that in a room filled with natural light, “pastels make it feel like the first day of spring all year round.”

And Katie Sneed, K. Sneed Design, agrees, seeing pastels and tints as a pathway to bringing more mood-boosting color into her projects. “Color makes everyone happy! In recent years I think we’ve lost some of that warmth and character that color provides. Pastels are such a good way to evolve neutral spaces instead of completely overhauling them.”

With their near-neutral quality, tinted colors find an easy harmony in a candy-filter environment, even when multiple delicate tones are used. “Pastels are much easier to flow from room to room than bold, saturated colors,” says the owner and namesake of Nicole Arnold Interiors. “By nature, since they are soft and light, color changes from room to room don’t feel as jarring or apparent as they do with stronger colors.”

Whether with a single unifying color carried through in walls, artwork, and accent pieces, or with a multitude of pastels layered within the space, designers are letting these cotton-candy hues stand in for neutrals, and the results are inspiring.

Liz Hoekzema sees pastels as opportunities for gently pushing the boundaries. “I think whenever you choose to go further from the common road, it is so satisfying!” she says. “Neutrals will always have a place and create beautiful environments, but daring to go a little different with a hint of color—like a barely-there lavender or a soft melon hue—makes a space instantly intriguing.” 

“We’ve found that a lot of our clients gravitate toward spaces that have at least some color,” the co-founders and principal designers of Kindred Interior Studios, Sydney Foley and Emma Legg, share with us. “Even clients who request a layered neutral look end up calling us back and asking us to sprinkle in a little color once they’ve had a chance to live in the space.”

“As far as choosing the right pastel shade,” adds Maureen Stevens, “I often start with inspiration—a flower, an objet trouvé from a recent trip, or a magazine clipping, then I use Sherwin-Williams ColorSnap^® Visualizer to determine the colors of my inspiration. Believe it or not, pastels seem to be in everything!”

You’ll find pastels in commercial environments as well, from retail to hospitality, workplaces, healthcare, and education. Sherwin-Williams Color Marketing Manager Emily Kantz gives us some examples.

“As an interior designer and color forecaster, I am constantly inspired by how designers are thinking outside the box, like using a soft blue paired with a bold red. I’ve seen a delicate lilac with pastel green and a deep red curtain in a retail environment. In another project, I saw bolder terracotta flooring with a soft green wall. That’s the beauty of it—the surprise and delight in the unexpected.”

Emily Kantz also notes the all-pastel color drenching trend will flood the workplace design world, especially for nooks or group meeting spaces that stimulate creativity and conversation. And in healthcare spaces, such as a skin care clinic, a fresh use of pastels paired with trendy, undulating curved motifs can capture a unique, feel-good vibe.

Kevin O’Gara said it best when we asked for his predictions for the future of pastels: “Pastels are a great example of timeless colors that you can find throughout the art and design world over time! I love looking at historic homes and artwork for color inspiration, because this really speaks to the timeless quality of a palette.”

So while pastels have proven their timelessness, Liz Hoekzema likes to keep in mind that, just as tastes and trends evolve, so do our lives and spaces. “I think often people can put a lot of pressure on themselves to get a color ‘just right,’” she feels. “We definitely have the goal of using the best colors for each project and space, but no one should feel like they have to be married to a choice for ever and ever. If we’ve been thorough with our thought processes, at a certain point we need to jump in fearlessly without overthinking! Make choices that excite you.”

To help you make the most exciting color choices, your Account Executive is always here to assist, and you can use your Pro+ account to order complimentary color samples of the perfect pastels.