Pastel colours do not belong to any colour group, but are shades of colours obtained by adding white to selected colours; for example, adding white to the primary colour blue produces a light blue. As a result, pastel colours are diverse and add new dimensions to the colours from which they are created. For example, while red traditionally represents energy or danger, pastel pink - created by mixing white and red - is soft and tender.

Many pastel colours offer a sense of calm and tranquillity, as well as freshness, and are therefore extremely suitable for interior design, whether for walls, furniture or home accessories. They are also versatile; on the one hand they can give a space its character; and on the other, they can create a pleasant balance.

Suitable for all spaces

Light pastel shades are elegant, gentle and unobtrusive and therefore suitable for all rooms in the home. While intense, strong colours can make a space appear smaller, pastel shades do the opposite and open it up. It is therefore impossible to make a mistake by painting with pastel shades, whether you cover all the walls, one wall, or just paint a pattern.

It is still worth considering the bigger picture before you start painting. Before dipping the roller in your favourite paint, consider the furniture in that room. If you are keeping the furniture, sofa, chairs, table, bed or wardrobe, consider which shade would match it all. Pastel pink may be your favourite colour, but it might not be the best choice if it doesn’t match the interior. 

The most popular pastel shades

The most popular pastel shades are light pink, light blue, lavender and light green. Many more are available in the HGMIX Colour Collection colour card. If this is the first time you are using a pastel shade, light green is a safe bet. It is fresh and soft, and works particularly well in rooms with less natural light. It goes well with natural, earthy tones, with wooden elements, and also with black, which when combined with a gentle pastel shade creates drama and contrast.

Another colour that was once really popular in children's rooms is soft pink; it eventually found its place in modern interiors. When combined with modern furniture, it looks chic and minimalist, and goes very well with black and yellow. 

Light blue is a classic colour that is considered a safe and obvious choice for both the living room and the kitchen. It complements various interior design styles and adapts just as well to a modern style with a touch of the 1920s, as to a more rustic style. It is an excellent choice for the kitchen with white or colourful accessories to give the room a lively vibe.

The calming and relaxing shade of lavender is perfect for the bedroom that looks modern, sophisticated and extremely comfortable in combination with the furniture you choose. It also works really well in other rooms.   

Step by step

If you are used to white walls, making the leap to pastel shades, despite not being eye-catching, can be a big step. You could start with one wall in the room or part of the wall and bring the colour into the room gradually. A benefit of this is that it allows you to use up leftover paint, from previous paintings. You might have some leftover white paint in the corner of the garage to use for tinting and create your own pastel shade.   

Pastels on furniture

If you prefer not to paint the walls, you can refresh the furniture and transform the space with just a touch of colour. A lovely pastel can refresh the kitchen cabinets, giving the space a new look, the legs of the dining chairs, the corner sideboard, the desk… The ideas and possibilities are endless if you let your imagination run wild.   

For the best possible paint application

Good preparation will help produce the best possible result on the painted surfaces. Avoid drafts or very high temperatures when painting to ensure the paint does not dry too quickly; follow the dilution as prescribed on the packaging; and use the correct roller.

Foam rollers are not suitable for interior wall paints (the application is too thin), so use fibre rollers of different lengths. When painting wooden furniture, use a roller for water-based paints and a felt roller for solvent-based paints. Before use, wet and dry the roller, and roll it over the wood to squeeze out the water and open the fibres, as this achieves a better paint application.

From dark to light

If your walls are painted dark but you want to cover them in a pastel shade, use ordinary wall paint in your chosen shade, and apply it in two layers: SPEKTRA Classic Plus, SPEKTRA Extra, SPEKTRA Super, SPEKTRA Fresh&Easy or SPEKTRA Perfect White.

If painting a high wear wall surface, use SPEKTRA Latex Matt or Semi-matt dispersion paint. But first, it is necessary to apply the interior wall paint SPEKTRA Extra to ensure good coverage, as SPEKTRA Latex Semi-matt has a very thin colour film. And then the fun can begin!