Close
Don’t be fooled by its name — millennial pink is a color that crosses age, gender and application boundaries.
By Megan Swoyer
Millennials continue to make a mark in the world by questioning norms. They are redefining what it means to work, live and play: Eschewing cubicles in favor of collaborative spaces, using phone apps for almost any task imaginable and inventing entirely new hobbies and activities. Their trailblazing qualities cross over into the design world, too.
When it comes to design choices, millennials are turning away from traditional neutral colors like beiges, creams and whites, and are blurring the line between what’s considered feminine or masculine on the color wheel. This is where “millennial pink” comes into play. From lipsticks to shoes, and bed linens to cellphones, millennial pink is a versatile color that gives a modern vibe to any application.
But despite its name, millennial pink can bridge age, gender, and application boundaries. Often described as light salmon, peach or Scandi pink, millennial pink is becoming “a new neutral,” Houston-based designer Meg Lonergan says. And because, unlike a more saturated pink, it’s not too bubble gum or Barbie, this almost-neutral “goes with everything,” she says.
Sherwin-Williams Director of Color Marketing Sue Wadden agrees. “Millennial pink is so useful in so many applications. It’s taking the concept of what beige was 10 years ago. Now this pinky neutral has snuck in.”
Residential revamp
The color pervades in Lonergan’s client projects, including a recent set of reupholstered dining room chairs. “They’re antique and we used a Schumacher fabric in the palest pink wool with a darker pink piping,” Lonergan says.
Millennial pink is a great color that can be incorporated in both contemporary and traditional interiors — or when clients want to mix old and new pieces. For another project, Lonergan refurbished her client’s grandmother’s armoire with a coat of the light pink paint. The client now showcases her heirloom pieces in the updated armoire.
If a client isn’t ready to go all in on millennial pink as a focal point on a wall, it pairs great with “safer” neutrals including grays, creams, and pale greens and blues. Try a warm cream or gray on the walls, complemented by pops of pink in textured pillows, a small piece of furniture or an accessory. Pairing millennial pink with soft neutrals, instead of poppier jewel tones, will help retain a mature, contemporary look, without making a space feel like a kid’s room.
If opting for millennial pink on residential walls, use a matte finish in Duration Home® Interior Acrylic Latex paint, which preserve the color’s modern edge, while still allowing the walls to be easily washable. Matte finish and pink color is a match made for millennials’ design preferences.
And, don’t be afraid to take risks for millennials — like adding a pop of pink to an exterior front door or trim. “It seems millennials strive to be different and take more risks, so they’re open to a lot,” Lonergan says, even if that means trying something that may be “out” in a few years.
Commercial cool
With this age group’s increased use of and familiarity with communications, media and digital technology, designers are being challenged to come up with things their clients haven’t seen before. “Social media is all-consuming and everyone is seeing design all the time, so my role as a designer is more difficult now because of the challenge to come up with ideas they can’t find on the internet, even if it’s a color combination,” Lonergan says.
Coming up with an inventive space is especially important in offices where millennials make up a large portion of the workforce. Floor plans are opening up, collaborative places are replacing closed layouts, and design is reflecting the high-quality, cutting-edge environments that millennials crave. This pink is the perfect avenue to test out their preferences.
Opt for high-gloss — almost reflective — pink flooring for a high-tech feel. Or take a cue from pink, and pick another color pop for a statement wall — teals, lime green or chartreuse are great alternates. “I’ve seen millennial pink paired with concrete floors, dark couches and brick walls in office spaces,” Wadden says. “What to really remember is that there are no rules with this color and it transcends gender.”
And when millennials tire of pink, what might they be willing to try? It’s hard to predict, Wadden says. “I just read a color report from the UK that says the next color might be lilac.”
