9 Pastel Wall Color Ideas to Brighten Your Home

Pastels provide a happy medium between pure white and full-on color. These pale tints offer just a touch of color, bringing depth and personality to your walls without going too bold. Where deep, saturated shades might feel too overwhelming, pastel paint colors deliver softness and subtlety. They're especially popular in bedrooms and bathrooms, where the intended mood is typically one of rest and relaxation, but pastel color schemes can work all over the house.

In any room, pastel wall colors are a cheery alternative to basic neutrals that offers similar brightness and versatility. Lean into their soothing qualities with a palette of soft hues, or juxtapose delicate pastels with more intense shades for a colorful, high-contrast look. Let these pastel rooms inspire you to look at the lighter side of the paint swatch.

1. Lavender Dining Room

Lavender walls bring an unexpected hint of color to this dining room. While a cooler shade might have clashed, the warm pastel wall color beautifully complements the red undertones of the wood floors. Black appears on the doors, trim, and picture frames to inject a modern edge to the soft palette.

Suggested paint color: Inspired Lilac SW 6820, Sherwin-Williams

2. Pink Pastel Office

This home office sports a warm glow thanks to blush pink walls. The pastel paint color pairs with crisp white on the ceiling and trim to brighten and visually expand the low-ceilinged space. Black and gold accents juxtapose the pink to create a polished, feminine look.

Suggested paint color: Warm Blush 892, Benjamin Moore

3. Mint Green Bathroom

Pastel wall colors feel especially calm in bathrooms. This spa-like bathroom uses mint green walls for a subtle dose of color amid all-white surfaces. The simple palette allows the eye to rest for a soothing effect. Polished nickel fixtures and a crystal chandelier introduce shine and a sense of luxury to the space.

Suggested paint color: Icy Mint 6001-7A, Valspar

4. Pastel Bedroom Walls

Although rendered in a much lighter shade, the walls in this bedroom echo the rich indigo color of the bed. The effect is a soothing, monochromatic scheme that encourages rest and relaxation. To re-create this look, find a paint strip that matches your inspiration color, then choose one of the lighter shades for your wall color.

Suggested paint color: Courtesy S560-1, Behr

5. Pastel Pink Bathroom

Pastel pink walls harmonize with the vintage-style fixtures in this bathroom. To offset the sweetness, black adds a punch to the framed mirrors and the tiled floor, which sports a statement-making plaid pattern. A mix of polished nickel and brass hardware reinforces the timeless look.

Suggested paint color: Ballerina PPG1183-1, PPG

6. Pastel Blue-Green Living Room

A pale shade of blue-green establishes a light and airy atmosphere in this living room. The wall color repeats on furniture and accessories throughout the space to achieve a peaceful look. Breaking up the cool tones, bright coral accent pillows introduce a jolt of color that keeps the scheme from feeling stale.

Suggested paint color: Farraway Blue SW 7133, Sherwin-Williams

7. Pastel Purple Living Room

Using bold accent colors prevents pastel palettes from looking too sappy. In this colorful living room, hits of hot pink, yellow, and orange serve as energizing complements to the pastel purple walls. The large painting above the cabinet ties the various vibrant colors together.

Suggested paint color: French Lilac 1403, Benjamin Moore

8. Pastel Yellow Bathroom

Buttery yellow walls bring a happy disposition to this bathroom. The pastel paint color, which appears only on the strip of wall above the board-and-batten paneling, is a toned-down version of the bright yellow floor tiles. Warm white is used elsewhere for a bright, balanced look.

Suggested paint color: Firefly P310-3, Behr

9. Peach Pastel Bedroom

Just a step away from beige, pale peach wall paint lends a warm, cozy feel to this bedroom. It's used as an accent alongside a warm gray paint color, which coats the rest of the walls. Offering subtle contrast, the soft, earthy tones create a soothing combination and help this small bedroom feel more spacious.

Suggested paint color: Inner Peach 1150, Benjamin Moore