Pink Living Room Reveal - Calming Decor Ideas
It’s been two and a half years since I started on the design of the North Wales coastal home and I finally have a room reveal to show you! This house used to belong to my nanan and grandad. You can read all about its history and the interior design plans here. The living room was previously a cold, depressing space that was never used - it had basically become a storage area. Such a shame because the natural light in this room is beautiful. I'm going to show you how we transformed it into a light-filled space full of personality, together with my tips on how to create a relaxing pink living room.
Interior Design Plans
Before
This house was built in the 1950s. Although it doesn't have the original features of a period house, like a feature fireplace or lovely cornices, we were lucky that there were a couple of elements worth celebrating: the original floorboards were in great condition; and the fantastic original steel double doors let in so much natural light - they'd cost a small fortune these days.
Before
All the dark oak and stone made this room feel so oppressive. My parents were really keen for this living room remodel to add personality and create a comfortable living space with a coastal feel where they could enjoy spending time.
And now here's the finished room and my top tips on how to create a calming pink living room!
Find the perfect pink shade
Pink interiors have become really popular in recent years and the shade you choose will really affect the mood you're trying to create. Whereas a vibrant shade will feel more lively, soft pale shades are perfect for living room walls if you want a relaxing feel. I knew I wanted a pale pink colour scheme for a light look and as a contrast to the rest of the house which is mainly blue and green.
Of all paint colours, pink tones are some of the most difficult to get right because the natural light affects them so much. In a north facing room, pale pink walls can feel lilac so choose one with a yellow base. My favourite pale pinks for north facing rooms are Threadneedle by Mylands and Light Beauvois by Little Greene. It's much easier to choose a pink paint for a south facing room - warm and cooler tones work well depending on whether you want a peachy glow or a cooler feel. Experiment with different tones and always try samples in the space.
This room has both east and west facing windows so it gets lovely natural light that changes throughout the day. The walls are painted in Pink Ground by Farrow and Ball - it’s a blush pink that has a warm feel because it’s got lots of yellow pigment.
Choose a blue sofa for contrast
A blue and pink colour palette is the perfect combination for a soothing coastal scheme. The darker blue adds depth which, along with the black in the accessories, helps to ground the space.
Adding dark colours like this is especially important when using pastel pink hues on the walls - without them, the whole room could have felt wishy-washy.
Lighten the floor
We sanded the floorboards and then painted them in Pointing by Farrow and Ball. Painting it a light colour has made a massive difference because lots of light gets bounced around the room. For advice on how to restore floorboards, including the best finishes, read my blog post here.
I can’t tell you how light the space feels. It makes me feel happy every time I walk in.
Include accent colours
We kept the old electric fire for the chimney breast and added the lovely painting above it as a focal point. It was painted by my very talented mum (I’m trying to get her to start selling them!). As well as relaxing accent colours, it includes dark and paler pinks to tie in with the room's colour scheme. For affordable coastal art, take a look at Abstract House’s new beach inspired art collection that I talk about in my Design Discoveries blog post.
Adding various shades of pink in the accessories or in pink furniture items will add depth to your scheme. We chose a pink velvet sofa in a tone that's cooler than the walls. We also made sure we included plenty of shelves for displaying personal items and coastal inspired accessories.
Add texture in the accessories
I used lots of texture - tufted materials, bamboo, rattan and linen - to add interest and warmth. The beaded chandeliers were a £20 bargain in the Homebase sale and fit perfectly with the coastal setting.
The rug is the Afaw from La Redoute and it’s super cosy.
Create a lived in look with vintage furniture
We incorporated a variety of different furniture pieces to add interest and to create a relaxed feel. I found the coffee table for £25 - yes, TWENTY FIVE POUNDS! - at local vintage shop, Al’s Emporium. The ‘70s bamboo stool which we've used as a side table was an eBay buy.
We kept one piece of the existing dark oak furniture. Mixing wood tones helps to create a layered look. Although most of the wood in this room is pale, the dark wood here ties in with the walnut veneer of the mid-century coffee table.
The painting here is another of my mum’s - it’s been very easy to source perfect coastal artwork for this house!
Create personality with a gallery wall
We included a black and white photograph of my nanan which was taken at Rhos-on-Sea outdoor pool in the ‘40s - it’s my favourite photo of all time. The whiskey glass print is in honour of my grandad who could often be found with a glass. I always like a gallery wall to tell a story - it really makes a space feel like home. I found the ‘70s string art at Moonbow Vintage - the gold really gives the scheme a lift.
And there it is! A beautiful soft pink living room design with a calming feel. I hope I’ve given you lots of pink living room decor inspiration for your own project!
I’m a Halifax based interior designer and I cover surrounding areas, including Leeds and Manchester. I also provide a remote design service. If you’re starting a project and need some help, please get in touch.
