by Rose McClement

When Beatrice Moore-Nöthnagel of Media24’s Tuis / Home Magazine recently approached me for a quotation as an “Expert Opinion” on the topic of “why pink remains ever popular in decor“, I was thrilled. Especially since the colour pink has been on my decor radar in recent times. This is for a few reasons, one of which being, that we had only recently completed the interior design and decor of a Nail & Beauty Spa which featured the colour. We selected a soft, silky tone of pink for some of the seating. Furthermore, it was upholstered in a velvet fabric – yummy! – another one of my favourite decor elements right now.

I’ve always been a lover of pink – no matter what the shade or tone. Way back in the late 80’s our main bedroom had walls painted in a very bold “shocking” pink.

Furthermore, I’ve never really been afraid of using it in our interior projects. There is one particular project that springs to mind. We installed two bold pink sofas in the lounge of Galway’s The House Hotel back in 2006. The Irish folk were delightfully gob-smacked! It actually became the talk of the town for a while.

Here is what I had to say on the undying popularity of pink:

Over the last few decades, the global psyche has slowly been undergoing a shift from a purely male dominated world order towards the inclusion of the feminine energy. As women have slowly moved out of the shadows towards the centre stage, so too has the colour pink.

Like a woman, what can the colour pink bring to a space? It can melt and softens linear lines. It brings with it a sense of deliciousness. It has the capacity to lift the vitality of a space, to make it light and frivolous if need be.   Yet it can also raise its voice to make that big, bright and bold statement.

As women continue revealing their intrinsic value, so too will the colour pink continue revelling in the limelight. 

Who said pink is a little girl’s colour?

I’ve been around for a few decades now and as a result, I have both witnessed and experienced many societal changes. I witnessed my mom as a lady of the 50’s. I witnessed how the music of the people moved from Rock ‘n Roll into Pop as well as Heavy Metal. I witnessed the “burning of the bra” era as the rise of Feminism began to gain ground. I’ve also witnessed interior trends come, go, and come back again. 

In more recent decades I’ve seen men wanting to wear pink shirts and T-Shirts amongst other things as the rise of the Metro Male took shape. And, thankfully, with that movement “Old Spice” & “Brut for Men” were finally ditched as the go-to Men’s fragrances!

But astoundingly, what I’m witnessing just of late, are public spaces – hotels and restaurants – that are all about the colour pink. Contemporary high-style international restaurants interiors – all decked out in PINK! As I sat looking at those images, I realised just how comfortable society has become with the application and use of the colour pink in decor. No longer is it just a “girlie colour” for little girls’ bedrooms (or Libras). It seems that the days of it being used as only a decor accessory colour are over.

Pink has found its place in the sun. Pink has truly gone public. Pink has stepped outta the wings and onto the centre stage. I attribute this shift to the ever increasing evolution of the global psyche towards the inclusion, full acceptance and equality of the feminine.

Be sure to pick up the May 2018 issue of Tuis / Home Magazine to take a gander at my quote, aka “Expert Opinion”, and to read the full article on pink (it can be found on page 65).

So, question! Why do you think the colour pink is still a prevailing decor element and has found such public acceptance?