8 Pretty Pastel Paint Colors That Will Fill Your Home With Light

Certain paint tones can make your home feel cozy or even make your home look clean. But if you want to make a small room feel light, bright, and beautiful, it's time to break out the pastel paint colors.

On the spectrum of colors—from the boldness of dark paint to the subtlety of neutral paint—pastels offer some of the benefits of both ends. They can make a room feel playful, sophisticated, or sunny, depending on what décor and furnishings they're paired with. And they always look refreshing—likely because they're a decisive departure from the all-white interiors popular in the recent past.

A bold wall or striking paint color might get more surprised (and intrigued) reactions from visitors, but a softer pastel will get practically the same reaction—while being a little easier to incorporate. Depending on how light the pastel is, it can blend seamlessly into an existing room's décor, even if that room is oriented around a more neutral color. If anything, pastels are oxymoronic colorful neutrals: pretty enough to pop but not bold enough to clash. (While that's true for most pastels, it's not a universal rule—don't go too crazy with these shades.)

Take these pastel paint colors as inspiration, then pick your own perfect shade—whether you want to use these colors on your kitchen cabinets or as distinctive accents, there's one for you.

Pastel Pink

Pastel pink is more versatile than you think and can bring an otherwise-dreary space to life. A go-to for nurseries, this light shade is also great for any room where you want to introduce a tropical or playful tone.

Try the look: Rose Quartz; Jolie Paint.

Pastel Blue

Blue paint can be everything from super soothing to a little funky. The right pastel shade has the same power—just pick carefully to ensure you're striking the tone you want. Pastel blues work well in bedrooms because of their calming, tranquil effect.

Try the look: Cumulus Cotton; Benjamin Moore.

Pastel Purple

Most pastel purples lean in a near-gray direction, which often blends nicely with the décor already in the room. Go in a more purple direction for something more energetic, or find a paint color with more gray tones for a more sophisticated feel.

Try the look: Not So Delicate; Backdrop.

Pastel Green

Few colors are as refreshing (minty fresh!) as pastel green. Applied correctly, it fills any room with character—and unbeatable individuality. Lighter shades are calming and create a sense of gentleness and balance.

Try the look: Oh Pistachio; Sherwin-Williams.

Pastel Yellow

The wall pictured above is a shade or two darker than true pastel yellow, but it gets the point across: Pale yellow is hard to ignore. Its impossibly sunny vibe will make any room feel happier, more upbeat, and positive—great for rooms that don't get a ton of natural light. Avoid mustard tones, and you'll be able to use pastel yellow however (and wherever) you want.

Try the look: Versailles; Annie Sloan.

Pastel Orange

Call it pastel orange or tangerine, but this citrusy shade pops. It carries a particularly tropical feel that is best suited for warm environments—or rooms where you want to feel warm. Reminiscent of sunsets, a paler shade can also bring a sense of vibrancy that's nonetheless muted.

Try the look: Gumdrops; Behr.

Pastel wallpaper

Wallpaper, too, can put pastels to work to fill a room with light. Pastel wallpapers can incorporate several different colors or just one or two. You can choose a busier print with pastel colors without overwhelming the room.

Try the look: Bubble; Chasing Paper.

Spray Paint

We don't recommend using pastel spray paint on a wall, necessarily, but for furniture (especially the outdoor kind), few coverings work quite as well. Try a pastel spray paint for complete coverage that doesn't look too bold or bright—just enough to draw the eye.

Try the look: Matte Wild Honey; Krylon.