Skip to content
  • Proudly presenting Dunns Paints
  • Find a store
  • Contact
  • Find a store
  • Account log in
    • Web Account
    • Shop Account
    • My Account

    • Color-Ark Pro

    • Log Out

Dunn-Edwards Paints and Stores
Dunn-Edwards Paints and Stores
  • Shop
  • Colors
      Explore our colors
      • With 2,006 Perfect Palette® colors from which to choose, you're sure to find more than a few that spark your imagination! Dunn-Edwards

        See All Colors

      • With 2,006 Perfect Palette® colors from which to choose, you're sure to find more than a few that spark your imagination! Dunn-Edwards

        Perfect Palette®

      • A close up of a person

        Multi-Family

      • Designer Collection Circle

        Ready, Set, Beautiful

      • New Neutrals Collection

        New Neutrals

      Color Resources
      • Order Color Samples
      • Professional Color Consultation
      • Color Of The Year
      • Color Of The Century
      • Colors Of The Decades
      • Color Trends
      • Download Digital Color Swatches
      Color Tools
      • Paint Calculator
      • Specs+Spaces® Design Blog
      • Dunn-Edwards InstaColor®
      • Color Visualization Tool
      • Color-Ark® Pro
      • Color-Ark® Home
  • Products
      Discover our products
      • Exquisite Dunn-Edwards Paints

        Interior paints & coatings

      • Evershield Dunn-Edwards Paints

        Exterior paints & coatings

      • Enduracoat Dunn-Edwards Paints

        Industrial & high-performance coatings

      • Decoglo Dunn-Edwards Paints

        Specialty paints & coatings

      • Supplies Sundries Dunn-Edwards Paints

        Supplies

      Learn More
      • Product List
      • Paint & Sundries Catalog
      • Coatings Reference Guide
      • Case Studies
      • Specification Guides
      • Technical Bulletins
      • Certifications and Conformance
      • Lifetime Limited Warranty
      Porch and Floor Dunn-Edwards Paints
  • Environment
      What makes Dunn-Edwards paint greener?

      It's not only the performance we put into our paint, but also what we leave out. Dunn-Edwards constantly seeks to reduce or avoid the use of harmful ingredients.

      Our Green Legacy

      Learn more
      • Why Dunn-Edwards?
      • Case Studies
      • Painting Green Articles
      • Certifications And Conformance
  • Explore
      Start Exploring
      • Dream It
      • How-To Do It
      • Share It
      Get Inspired
      • Inspiration Image Galleries
      • How-To Videos
      • Color Trends
      • How-To Brochures
      • Color Of The Year
      • Choosing A Painting Contractor
      • Events
      Need Kitchen Color Inspiration?

      The classic white kitchen aesthetic remains a perennial favorite but - inspired by a new-found optimism, the heart of the home is ready for color!

      Check out our gallery

      A kitchen with a table in a room
  • Professionals
      Explore by profession
      • Architects & Specifiers
      • Education
      • Builders & Developers
      • Government Agencies
      • Commercial Contractors
      • Interior Designers
      • Dealers
      • Property & Community Managers
      • Design Student
      • Residential Contractors
      Learn More
      • Professional Blog
      • Case Studies
      • Credit Services
      • Account Application
      • Find A Store
      Contact A Rep

      As your paint partner, our priority is to ensure you have every tool, product, and service for all your paint projects. Search for a Dunn-Edwards representative if you would like to be contacted.

      Get Started

      A woman sitting in front of a window
favorite icon
user icon
  • Web Account For contractors and professionals
  • Shop Account For retailers and homeowners.
  • My Account

  • Color-Ark Pro

  • Log Out

search icon
Popular searches
  • Exquisite
  • Skipping Stones
  • Terra Rosa
  • Swiss Coffee
  • Everest
  • Decoglo
  • Classic White
  • Aristoshield
Products
View all results
Trending colors
  • Skipping Stones | DET567
  • Terra Rosa | DE5096
  • Art and Craft | DET682
  • Big Sur Blue Jade | DET577
  • Rose de Mai | DET432
  • Pink Punch | DE5048
  • Mahogany Cherry | DE5020
  • Reclaimed Wood | DET625
  • Golden Appeal | DE5382
  • Even Growth | DE5494
  • Trail Dust | DE6123
  • Blue Tapestry | DET545
Products
  • Exquisite Dunn-Edwards Paints

    Interior paints & coatings

  • Evershield Dunn-Edwards Paints

    Exterior paints & coatings

  • Enduracoat Dunn-Edwards Paints

    Industrial & high-performance coatings

SHOP
  • Colors
    Color Family
    • High Hide Whites
    • Whites
    • Magentas, Reds, Pinks
    • Oranges, Tans
    • Orange Yellows, Yellows, Green Yellows
    • Lime Greens, Greens
    • Green Blues, Blues
    • Blue Violets, Red Violets, Purples
    • Accents
    • Warm Neutrals
    • Cool Neutrals
    • Classics
    • Historically Accurate
    • Trending Today
    Collections
    • Perfect Palette
    • Multi-Family
    • Ready, Set, Beautiful
    • New Neutrals
    • Front Door
    • Then, Now & Forever
    • High Hide Whites
    • Curated Colors
  • Paint
    Paint
    • Interior
    • Ceiling
    • Exterior
    • Sample
    • Primers
    • Stains
  • Supplies
    Supplies
    • Abrasives
    • Applicators
    • Cleaning
    • Clothing
    • Masks & Respirators
    • Masking & Surface Protection
    • Patch & Caulking
    • Spray Equipment
    • Tools & Buckets
  • Color Advice
    Color Advice
    • Color Tools
    • Online Color Consultations
A man wearing a hat
Professional Paint Contractors

If you are a professional paint contractor with a Dunn-Edwards account, please log in to shop and view your paint and supplies pricing. If you do not have an account, click below to create an account.

Get Started
  • Shop

    Shop

    • Colors

      Shop

      Colors

      • Color Family

        Shop

        Color Family

        • High Hide Whites
        • Whites
        • Magentas, Reds, Pinks
        • Oranges, Tans
        • Orange Yellows, Yellows, Green Yellows
        • Lime Greens, Greens
        • Green Blues, Blues
        • Blue Violets, Red Violets, Purples
        • Accents
        • Warm Neutrals
        • Cool Neutrals
        • Classics
        • Historically Accurate
        • Trending Today
      • Collections

        Shop

        Collections

        • Perfect Palette
        • Multi-Family
        • Ready, Set, Beautiful
        • New Neutrals
        • Front Door
        • Then, Now & Forever
        • High Hide Whites
        • Curated Colors
    • Paint

      Shop

      Paint

      • Paint

        Shop

        Paint

        • Interior
        • Exterior
        • Primers
        • Ceiling
        • Sample
        • Stains
    • Supplies

      Shop

      Supplies

      • Abrasives
      • Applicators
      • Cleaning
      • Clothing
      • Masks & Respirators
      • Masking & Surface Protection
      • Patch & Caulking
      • Spray Equipment
      • Tools & Buckets
    • Color Advice

      Shop

      Color Advice

      • Color Advice

        Shop

        Color Advice

        • Color Tools
        • Online Color Consultations
  • Colors

    Colors

    • Explore our colors
      • See All Colors
      • Perfect Palette®
      • Multi-Family
      • Ready, Set, Beautiful
      • New Neutrals
    • Color Resources
      • Order Color Samples
      • Professional Color Consultation
      • Color Of The Year
      • Color Of The Century
      • Colors Of The Decades
      • Color Trends
      • Download Digital Color Swatches
    • Color Tools
      • Paint Calculator
      • Specs+Spaces® Design Blog
      • Dunn-Edwards InstaColor®
      • Color Visualization Tool
      • Color-Ark® Pro
      • Color-Ark® Home
  • Products

    Products

    • Discover our products
      • Interior paints & coatings
      • Exterior paints & coatings
      • Industrial & high-performance coatings
      • Specialty paints & coatings
      • Supplies
    • Learn More
      • Product List
      • Paint & Sundries Catalog
      • Coatings Reference Guide
      • Case Studies
      • Specification Guides
      • Technical Bulletins
      • Certifications and Conformance
      • Lifetime Limited Warranty
  • Environment

    Environment

    • Our Green Legacy
    • Why Dunn-Edwards?
    • Case Studies
    • Painting Green Articles
    • Certifications And Conformance
  • Explore

    Explore

    • Start Exploring
      • Dream It
      • How-To Do It
      • Share It
    • Get Inspired
      • Inspiration Image Galleries
      • How-To Videos
      • Color Trends
      • How-To Brochures
      • Color Of The Year
      • Choosing A Painting Contractor
      • Events
      • Check out our gallery
  • Professionals

    Professionals

    • Explore by profession
    • Create an account
  • My Account

  • Color-Ark Pro

  • Log Out

favorite icon user
phone Contact
Proudly presenting Dunns Paints
Specs+Spaces®
Specs+Spaces® Design Trends

Visions of Springtime Tranquility: 20 Calming Shades of Pink and Ideas for the Perfect Pink Pairings

05/15/2022 | Sara McLean |

What are these softly-colored expressions of romance, the tranquil rosy hues with peaceful blushing tones we see everywhere? These ever-present calming shades of pink are stylish, versatile, and grown-up shades that can work in almost any design style. As it seems the color pink continues its reign in popularity and is here to stay, here are some of our favorite calming shades of pink, along with tips on colors to pair with for strong, cohesive color palettes.

20 Calming Shades of Pink

Alabaster | DEW310
Glimpse of Pink | DE5098
Light Carob | DE5183
Rosy Cloud | DE5182
Pink Glow | DE5168
Translucent Silk | DE5147
Canyonville | DE6100
Tan Whirl | DE6086
Blushing Bride | DE6093
Faded Light | DE6078
Rosy Tan | DE6085
White Russian | DE6050
Marshmallow Rose | DE6022
Dogwood | DEW303
Vanilla Blush | DE6099
Mother of Pearl | DE6029
Spun Sugar | DE5014
Fairy Wings | DE5028
Early Blossom | DE5049
Pink Theory | DE5119

Colors to Pair with These On-Trend Rosy Hues

What are some of the best colors to pair with pink? These softer pinks are stylish, versatile, grown-up shades that pair well with many colors.

Soft Pink with Concrete Grays

This pairing balances the sugary notes of pink with an edgier, industrial touch.

AdobeStock_367142051-720x400.jpg

Pink and Green

This is a trendy combination with high contrast, complementary colors. Look to pair soft, sage green with subtle pinks or vibrant emerald with deeper pinks.

iStock-1312349489-720x900.jpg

Pink and Orange

These joyful hues sit next to each other on the color wheel. Hot pinks and vivid oranges spark up contemporary designs, while softer shades of tinted pinks and peaches are reminiscent of an English garden. Pair with soft blue for a balancing touch. Try playing with values once you get comfortable with the combination. As an example, pair softer pinks with vivid, Vitamin C oranges for retro or modern interiors.

AdobeStock_306260856__1_-720x400.jpg

Muted Pinks and Blues

This pastel pairing creates a serene palette. Add off-white for final balancing touch. Want more punch? Add a pop of yellow to create a triad scheme (where 3 colors sit together on the color wheel).

AdobeStock_293598588-720x400.jpg

Pink and White

A simple combination with maximum impact in rooms, pink and white highlights crisp, fresh interior spaces.

AdobeStock_366686235-720x400.jpg

Pink and Black

The addition of the color black balances out the playfulness of pink with a grounding influence.

AdobeStock_241619868-720x400.jpg

Pink and Yellow

This cheerful combination is perfect for summertime vibes.

AdobeStock_342653656-720x400.jpg

Pink and Red

Influenced from the fashion runways, this hot combination has permeated the interior design industry.

AdobeStock_235928544-720x400.jpg

Pink and Gold

For an iconic color pairing, think of the past few years obsession with rose gold, and while rose gold is down trending we still continue to see variations of pink and gold palettes.

AdobeStock_482682268-720x400.jpg

Colors that Pair Well with Light, Sweet Pinks

Lighter, sweeter pinks pair well with grounding shades like grays and blacks for an uplifted, fresh approach with an edge. For more colorful combinations, look to navy blues or deep, jewel tones for glamorous aesthetic.

AdobeStock_196453411-720x400.jpg

Colors that Pair Well with Blush Pink

These more earthy, less sweet pinks and more popular as these shades can act as neutrals. Pair with a range of greens and blues, as well as reds and oranges for the strongest palette choices.

AdobeStock_115582926-720x900.jpg

Did You Know? Surprising History Behind the Notion of Pink as a Calming Color

Many of us remember in our color theory courses a well-known 1980s psychological experiment using the paint color pink in prisons. The basic premise was to see if the color pink would calm male prisoners as the color was noted with more feminine attributes. The shade of pink used in the experiments was actually a brighter pink, not a calming neutral pink.

Carnation | DE5046
Rock ‘n’ Rose | DE5060
Charming Cherry | DE5074
Posy Petal | DE5067

Pink colors similar to Baker-Miller Pink

The wardens were inspired by a series of experiments for a study by a research scientist named Alexander Schauss. He created a pink that he stated would reduce the aggressions of male prisoners. This study was set up where he had male prisoners look at a piece of paper with this color pink along with a blue color with their arms stretched out. When looking at this shade of pink, he could easily push the arms down, yet with the blue color, their strength returned. He called this pink "Baker-Miller Pink" after two naval officers, Gene Baker and Ron Miller, his two co-experimentors. The naval officers, impressed with the findings, painted their holding cells pink and continued to widely praise the results and the color gained global notariety. However, several years later, Schauss conducted the experiments again and didn't find the same outcome. Rather, Baker-Miller Pink provided no positive results, the color actually didn't reduce aggression.

GettyImages-96312328-720x400.jpg

Decades later the debate over pink's calming effects continues. Several other experiments studying the effects of the color pink have been conducted including those by psychologist Oliver Genschow and Swiss psychologist Daniela Späth who used a cooler shade of pink in her experiments. She called her shade "Cool Down Pink" and painted cell walls in ten prisons across Switzerland for the study with mixed results.

giullianna-balza-O94l6m26M1c-unsplash-720x400.jpg

Photo Credit: GIULLIANNA BALZA ON UNSPLASH
So whether pink actually calms or invigorates, it still retains its popularity across a wide spectrum of design disciplines.

Featured Articles

  • Colors of the Decade 1965
  • Colors of the Decade 2025
  • Colors of the Decade 1925
  • Announcing the Colors of the Decades
  • Announcing the Color of the Century - Viridian Odyssey (DE1925)
  • Introducing the Multifamily Color Collection

Color Tools

  • Home InstaColor
  • Order color samples
  • Download color swatches

Stay Updated

  • Get specs+spaces email updates

More stories

A man standing in front of a building
Dunn-Edwards Portraits: California Designer Shines on the Small Screen and Soars into Interior Design
A building with a toy
Colors of the Decade 1985
A kitchen with a stove and a sink
Colors of the Decade 1955

You've Been Logged Out

For security reasons, your session has ended due to inactivity. To continue where you left off, please sign in again.

SIGN BACK IN

Not ready to sign in?

Continue browsing as a guest

Need assistance? Contact Customer Service at 1-888-337-2468 or send us a message

Sign up for our newsletter

Get the latest color trends, product updates, and design inspiration. Unsubscribe at any time.

Follow us

Colors
  • Colors
  • Order Color Samples
  • Professional Color Consultation
  • Color Trends
  • specs+spaces® Design Blog
  • Dunn-Edwards InstaColor®
  • Download Color Swatches
  • Color Archives
Products
  • Interior Paints & Primers
  • Exterior Paints & Primers
  • Industrial & High Performance
  • Documents & Certificates
  • Coatings Reference Guide
  • Paints & Sundries Catalog
  • Specification Guide
  • Technical Bulletins
  • Our Suppliers
  • Certifications & Conformance
  • Lifetime Warranty
How To
  • Choosing Color
  • Selecting Gloss
  • Paint Calculator
  • Paint Problem Solver
  • Videos
About Us
  • History
  • Made in the U.S.A.
  • Why Dunn-Edwards
  • Environment
  • Case Studies
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Donations
  • Contact Us
Directory
  • Find a Store
  • Store List
  • Find a Dealer
  • Find a Paint Pro
  • Contact a Pro Rep
  • Sitemap
  • Vendor Information
  • Privacy Policy
  • CA Privacy Notice
  • Terms of Use
  • Social Media Policy
  • Mobile Messaging
  • Web Accessibility
  • CA Supply Chains Act

© 2025 Dunn-Edwards Corporation. All rights reserved.

Please log in

To save and access favorites, please login.

Share to social networks

Share this link via:

Or copy link: