Tobi Fairley is back with the first 2012 installment of Color Confidential! Today, she takes a cue from a Bentonville reader, and fills you in on decorating with the girliest of colors: pink! Read on to see how to incorporate it into your home, without going over the top.

Q:

Dear Tobi,

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it seems that everywhere I look I see pink – and I love it! Do you have any suggestions for using pink in my home without going too over the top? Thanks!

Kathy, Bentonville

A:

Hi Kathy,

Thanks for writing in to Color Confidential! I, too, love pink and try to incorporate it in my projects whenever possible. A girl’s room, whether she’s a newborn or a teen, is one of my favorite places to bring in this color. By using it sparingly in patterns and on solid accessories, you can create a fun feel that’s anything but over the top.

Here’s a project that was recently featured in At Home in Arkansas, where we grounded the different shades of pink with a range of neutrals including white, cream, and chocolate. Solid traditional wood floors, as well as neutrals for both the furniture and bedding, gave us plenty of room to add touches of pink in other places, including the wallpaper, drapery panels, rug and lamps.

If you want to use a bold color on a larger piece, such as this built-in seating area, consider a neutral framework or wall color. The wood base and cream-colored storage bins used here help to keep the bright pink cushions from becoming overpowering.

Girls’ rooms aren’t the only place you can use pops of pink.

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The white walls and sofa are the perfect backdrop to bring in this bold shade.

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If you already have a lot of patterns and textures in a space, consider adding one single piece, like this low sofa, to create a bright focal point.

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If softer pinks are more your style, gray can be a great pairing. The drapery panels here really lighten this space and give it an elegant feel.

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Finally, if you’ve experimented and you’re ready to go all in, paint your walls in your favorite shade of pink and accessorize with black and white and maybe a pop of something sassy like chartreuse!

Here are a few of my favorite pinks and some great neutral pairings for any space.

Mix it up with a navy and creamy white.

Sherwin-Williams, Amaryllis SW6591

Sherwin-Williams, Regatta SW6517

Sherwin-Williams, Summer White SW7557

Go for a lighter, more airy feel with a softer shade of pink and gray.

Sherwin-Williams, Priscilla SW6575

Sherwin-Williams, Mink SW6004

Sherwin-Williams, Ibis White SW7000

Go all out and mix two shades of pink with a light neutral.

Sherwin-Williams, Bella Pink SW6596

Sherwin-Williams, Haute Pink SW6570

Sherwin-Williams, Crème SW7556

Follow my “In the Pink” board on Pinterest to see more of my favorite ways to incorporate pink in to your home.

I hope you find the perfect pink for you!

Happy Decorating!

Tobi