Pastel Perfection

With pale tints and soft hues, pastel colours are emotive yet subdued, striking but simple. In the home, they're an extraordinary way of expressing your personal style in a timeless way  

- EDWAIN STEENKAMP

Pastels seem to have a timeless appeal. From the Renaissance period, with artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo and the Pastel Movement in the early 20th century, to the boom of modern graphic design in the 1980s, pastel colours have been a cornerstone of artistic expression for countless generations.

In interior design, it's no different. Over the decades, we've seen an ebb and flow of pastels in various hues. More recently, in the wake of the Mid-century Modern interior design movement, pastels once again reached the peak of modern design. Often hailed as the 'Millennial aesthetic', everything from fabric and walls to glassware and ceramics have been adorned with these subtle yet calming hues. And there's no sign of it going away any time soon.

Pastel Power

So what is a pastel exactly? It's any colour with just enough white mixed into it, for it to appear soft and subtle. Don't dismiss the effects of these white-washed hues - they may be understated, but still pack a punch.

Pastels have a particularly powerful effect on the brain and eyes. On walls, these hues evoke feelings of calmness and can help reinvigorate dark spaces. With regards to decor and furniture, pastels boast immense versatility, blending with other colours and textures just as well as they highlight and accentuate them.