Pastel shades tend to add a light touch and freshness to any room in which they’re featured – and which, right at this moment in time, would be a perfect antidote to these early dark, gloomy evenings we’re stuck with until spring comes along.

The pastel colors achieve this light diffusing effect by literally reflecting daylight and making the room seem larger than it is – which is the reason pastel shades work so well in small spaces.

They’re also great with other color ranges such as dramatic and dark shades (think pastel blue against a feature wall of teal) as this can really add depth to a room’s color scheme.

Image via: Pawleys Island Posh

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Summer Days

Don’t know about you but pastel – mint green, strawberry pink, buttercup yellow – always makes me think about ice cream and the seaside. It brings with it a sense of freedom and long, happy, dreamy summer days. Just how summer-like does the following photo make you feel? The zebra striped cushions aren’t a pastel shade and co-ordinate well against the light blue upholstery.

Sheer curtains look great with a pastel colored room. It’s also good fun to bring in bits of the outdoors too such as driftwood or a collection of painted or varnished seashells (if I’m looking for that seaside theme).

Shabby Chic

Pastels and shabby chic are a perfect match – as you can see by both the previous and the following two photographs:

Image via: Dreamy Whites

Image via: Dreamy Whites

Bright pastels

It’s not necessary to stick to just one pastel shade and the same rather muted hue. Here’s a combination of very different and bright pastel shades which work well together well to lend a cheery atmosphere which isn’t too over-powered by color – despite the fact there’s plenty of it in this photograph:

Image via: Houzz

So how would you decorate with pastels?

For more home decor and color ideas on Stagetecture, click here.