Dusky Pinks and Plaster Tones

Pink has a reputation it does not deserve. Taken out of the nursery and drawn towards plaster, clay and faded rose, it becomes one of the most sophisticated colours a home can hold. It is warm without being loud, and remarkably kind to the faces it surrounds.

This palette gathers the pinks of raw plaster and old brick, soft, dusty and faintly grey, and sets them against gentle neutrals.

Raw Plaster is the kind of pink that barely announces itself as pink at all. It carries enough grey and clay to read as a warm neutral in daylight, then blooms gently rosy under lamplight, which makes it an exceptional colour for a bedroom.

Keep the ceiling in Powder Blush, a near-white tinted with the faintest breath of the wall colour. This continuity overhead is what makes plaster schemes feel so enveloping; a cold white ceiling would break the spell entirely.

Soft Taupe on the woodwork adds a grounding warmth and keeps the scheme from feeling too sweet. It is a quiet, greyed brown that lets the pink stay centre stage while giving the edges of the room some definition.

For depth, bring in Dusty Rose and Deep Mulberry. Dusty Rose is lovely on an upholstered headboard or a painted chest; Deep Mulberry, used on a single door or inside a wardrobe, adds a note of drama that keeps the softness from tipping into blandness. A little of the darker tone goes a long way.

Best for: A bedroom, dressing room or a drawing room where you want a soft, flattering warmth.