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Bring a Barbie touch into your home with pops of bright pink. The bench is in Resene Pompadour and the plant pot is Resene Scrumptious add a splash of fun to this largely black and white room with the back wall in Resene Half Gull Grey, side wall in Resene Element and floor in Resene Colorwood Whitewash. The DIY artwork and the plinth table are in Resene Eighth Black White and Resene Element. Sofa from Dawson & Co, cushions from Kip & Co. Rug and lamp stylist’s own. Project Kate Alexander, image Bryce Carleton.
The combination of wine red and soft pink is stunning and sophisticated. A floor in the antique white Resene Double Rice Cake balances the richness of the wall colours. Walls in Resene Pohutukawa, dresser in Resene Sakura, pot in Resene Double Rice Cake , chair, tall vase, mirror and hook in Resene Sauvignon, tray in Resene Pohutukawa. Hat, shoes and necklace from Shut The Front Door, roses from Freedom Furniture. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Melanie Jenkins.
Architraves and trims in Resene Nero save this room from being too feminine, even when hot pink accents are used. The walls and front peg stool are in Resene Dawn Chorus, the coffee table base and second peg stool are in Resene Irresistible. The slim vases are Resene Nero. The sofa is from The Mood Store and other accessories are from Collected. Project by LeeAnn Yare, image by Melanie Jenkins.
This quaint pastel desk set-up would definitely get Barbiecore fanatics’ nod of approval – it looks fit for Barbie herself. Walls in Resene Gelato, Resene Half Black White and Resene Moonbeam, floor in Resene Half Black White and Resene Geyser, skirting in Resene Half Black White. Coat stand in Resene Onahau, chair in Resene Vanilla Ice, basket half painted in Resene Moonbeam. Desk from Freedom Furniture, lamp from Citta, jacket from Father Rabbit, r Round hooks, camera, various books and pencils from Shut the Front Door, various stationery from Kikki K, bag and shoes from Country Road, art from Wall Flower Posters. Project by Emily Somerville-Ryan, image by Wendy Fenwick.
Bring runway style to your home with pops of bright pink. The bench is in Resene Pompadour and the plant pot is Resene Scrumptious add a splash of fun to this largely black and white room with the back wall in Resene Half Gull Grey, side wall in Resene Element and floor in Resene Colorwood Whitewash. The DIY artwork and the plinth table are in Resene Eighth Black White and Resene Element. Sofa from Dawson & Co, cushions from Kip & Co. Rug and lamp stylist’s own. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.
Get the Barbiecore interior look and think pink
Missing a little boldness and fun in your home? The Barbiecore interior trend has arrived. Barbie-inspired looks embrace all that is pink and takes a maximalist approach. Go glam and pair hot pink walls (try Resene Scrumptious) with bold, bubble-gum statement pieces. Or channel an understated Barbiecore look and pair light pink hues like Resene Sakura with gold accents and textured white pillows.
Barbiecore can be as outrageous or subtle as you like, it’s all about injecting a sense of youth and playfulness into your home. You can personalise a look so it’s cohesive with an existing space, Resene colours have you covered. Come on Barbie, let’s go party.
Where did the Barbiecore trend come from?
As with plenty of interior trends, it started with fashion. Hot pink shades made a statement in Valentino’s Pink PP Collection this year for Fall/Winter. Stripping his palette down to a single hue, Valentino presented head-to-pink looks against a deep pink backdrop (a ‘pink out’, as the brand called it). The shade was created specifically for Valentino by the Pantone Colour Institute, designed as a ‘visual shock’. For Valentino, pink encompasses all that is delicate, sensual, hedonistic and irreverent - and a “perfect metaphor of poetry: gentleness and disruptiveness”.
A Barbie movie is also in the works from Greta Gerwig, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. It’s no wonder the trend is now sweeping the interior world. Celebrities like Kylie Jenner have famously kitted out their homes with Barbie artwork, shag carpet and bold pink chairs. Here’s how to get the Barbiecore look with Resene in your home:
Start small
Bring a Barbie touch into your home with pops of bright pink. The bench is in Resene Pompadour and the plant pot is Resene Scrumptious add a splash of fun to this largely black and white room with the back wall in Resene Half Gull Grey, side wall in Resene Element and floor in Resene Colorwood Whitewash. The DIY artwork and the plinth table are in Resene Eighth Black White and Resene Element. Sofa from Dawson & Co, cushions from Kip & Co. Rug and lamp stylist’s own. Project Kate Alexander, image Bryce Carleton.
Don’t let the boldness of Barbiecore put you off, you can dabble in the world of pink without completely re-doing a room in shocking pink. Think about adding pink accents to a space and softening the look with soothing grey-blue, cream or white walls. Hues like Resene Scrumptious, Resene Colour Me Pink and Resene Rouge are indelibly bright and impossible to ignore. Try these hot pinks with grey-blues like Resene Hammerhead, Resene Rhino and Resene New Denim Blue.
To dip your toes into the Barbiecore look, try it out in one room first, maybe a nursery or kid’s room, or a craft room or office. Who said a workspace had to be neutral? You can have a little more fun in these rooms – be daring and add colour to the walls. The great thing about paint is you can always change it in years to come.
Perfect pairings
The combination of wine red and soft pink is stunning and sophisticated. A floor in the antique white Resene Double Rice Cake balances the richness of the wall colours. Walls in Resene Pohutukawa, dresser in Resene Sakura, pot in Resene Double Rice Cake , chair, tall vase, mirror and hook in Resene Sauvignon, tray in Resene Pohutukawa. Hat, shoes and necklace from Shut The Front Door, roses from Freedom Furniture. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Melanie Jenkins.
Is there any colour combination more satisfying and fun than a pale pink and deep red? Barbie would most certainly approve. Barbiecore boasts versatility when it comes to colour choice – from pale pinks to deep berry hues, to outrageous fuchsias and bright pink-reds, there is a tone for everyone. And the best thing about pink? There are so many other colours that pair well with it. Some of the best choices are blues, greens, browns (in all its shades) and greys. Try Resene Smitten with Resene High Tide, deep charcoal blue. Or peach blossom pink Resene Sakura with Resene Abbey Road.
Pink also works with analogous pairings like red and orange, which add plenty of character and pack a cheerful punch. Pink and orange in particular work well as a colour clash because they are so close together on the colour wheel. From vivid oranges (try Resene West Side ) to terracotta tones (try Resene Korma), this is a warm colour pairing you can’t go wrong with.
Top tip: If classic Barbie hot pink feels too dark for you, try a light shade of pink that will act as a neutral tone on a wall (like Resene Ebb, Resene Vanilla Ice or Resene Cest La Vie).
Add contrast
Architraves and trims in Resene Nero (black) save this room from being too feminine, even when hot pink accents are used. The walls and front peg stool are in Resene Dawn Chorus, the coffee table base and second peg stool are in Resene Irresistible. The slim vases are Resene Nero. The sofa is from The Mood Store and other accessories are from Collected. Project by LeeAnn Yare, image by Melanie Jenkins.
Bring sophistication to your Barbiecore look by adding black. Adding a darker shade like Resene Black to your room ensures your space has a contemporary edge. Black adds a touch of masculinity to a room injected with pink. The pairing strengthens the look and is the perfect balance between softness and edginess.
You could also think about incorporating pink in your space as a block colour in the form of furnishings, rather than on your walls. Even an accent of pink in a contemporary monochromatic black and white colour scheme is enough to give the room a facelift. Use pink as a statement piece, like a big velvet blush sofa, and pair it with fresh Resene Black White walls, with doors in the room in Resene Black (try in a gloss finish for an ultra-luxe look). Pink hues look fantastic with a black and white colour scheme. The splash of pink in your furniture will balance out the monochromatic paint look. If you remove your splash of pink from the room, you risk the space looking too flat.
Top tip: Think about adding some lush greenery in your styling, houseplants contrast beautifully with pink hues.
Any aesthetic
This quaint pastel desk set-up would definitely get Barbiecore fanatics’ nod of approval – it looks fit for Barbie herself. Walls in Resene Gelato, Resene Half Black White and Resene Moonbeam, floor in Resene Half Black White and Resene Geyser, skirting in Resene Half Black White. Coat stand in Resene Onahau, chair in Resene Vanilla Ice, basket half painted in Resene Moonbeam. Desk from Freedom Furniture, lamp from Citta, jacket from Father Rabbit, r Round hooks, camera, various books and pencils from Shut the Front Door, various stationery from Kikki K, bag and shoes from Country Road, art from Wall Flower Posters. Project by Emily Somerville-Ryan, image by Wendy Fenwick.
Barbie has famously had every job there is, she’s played every sport, and is at home in a formal ball gown just as she is in loungewear. Like Barbie, there is a Barbiecore interior look for everyone! From the original Malibu Barbie to her hundreds of collector looks, there’s plenty of inspiration to draw on to incorporate the iconic Barbie aesthetic in your home.
Play with pastels and create a soft, beachy vibe with hues like Resene Vanilla Ice and Resene Dust Storm on the walls, and pair them with whitewashed wooden floors. Go chic and modern and pair a Resene Glamour Puss feature wall with Resene Rice Cake on opposite walls, and window frames in Resene Black. You could even create a Tuscany-chic look with walls in Resene Florentine Pink, Resene Half Scotch Mist and Resene Chamois. Whether you are creating a pared back, neutral look in a bedroom or an eye-catching glamourous dining room, the best thing about Barbie is her versatility.
Get creative
Bring runway style to your home with pops of bright pink. The bench is in Resene Pompadour and the plant pot is Resene Scrumptious add a splash of fun to this largely black and white room with the back wall in Resene Half Gull Grey, side wall in Resene Element and floor in Resene Colorwood Whitewash. The DIY artwork and the plinth table are in Resene Eighth Black White and Resene Element. Sofa from Dawson & Co, cushions from Kip & Co. Rug and lamp stylist’s own. Project Kate Alexander, image Bryce Carleton.
Barbiecore is the perfect interior excuse to let your imagination run wild. Where and how else could you splash pops of pink around your home? According to colour psychologists, pink is the most comforting of the colours in the spectrum. The lush hue is apparently aggression inhibiting, and has no shortage of positive associations. It is a calming, non-threatening colour linked to innocence, hope and optimism. Why not create your own Barbie dream home and decorate an outdoor area with a fun shade like Resene Smitten, Resene Lipstick or Resene Geronimo? Summer barbeques have never looked better.
Or explore the Resene Wallpaper Collection. There are plenty of beautiful Barbie-chic to channel your feminine and fun side at home. Peacocks are pretty in pink in Resene Wallpaper Collection 539141, or the floral and delicate Resene Wallpaper Collection 220453.
Get decorating! Barbiecore is a playful trend you can incorporate into your home in a multitude of ways. Whether you opt for a maximalist approach, or for subtle pink touches that complement your existing aesthetic, the Barbiecore trend is a perfect way to embrace nostalgia and the zest of life.
Published: 18 Aug 2022
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing editor@habitatbyresene.co.nz.
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