Mauve, a soft purple hue situated between violet and pink, is gaining traction as a significant interior design trend, moving away from the dominance of millennial grey and other neutral tones. Experts suggest this color offers a sophisticated and versatile alternative that feels both contemporary and timeless.
Jordana Ashkenazi, founder and design director of Element One House, noted that mauve has evolved from its 1980s association with floral, pastel interiors. The modern iteration is richer, softer, and can function as a warm, versatile neutral, often used in place of traditional whites, greys, and beiges.
"For years, interiors felt very flat. We saw endless grey, black and white spaces where colour almost disappeared altogether," Ashkenazi told the Daily Mail. "Now there's a real change happening as people are becoming much more confident with colour again, introducing it through upholstery, wallpaper, florals and layered fabrics that make a room feel warm, inviting and full of personality."
Ashkenazi suggests several ways to incorporate mauve into home decor. One approach is to select neutral paint colors with subtle mauve undertones, such as certain greiges, grey-beiges, soft taupes, and pink-greys. Farrow & Ball's Elephant's Breath is cited as an example of a neutral paint that can reveal a gentle mauve undertone depending on lighting conditions.
For those looking to introduce mauve through wallpaper, the trend aligns with a resurgence in decorative prints and floral designs. Ashkenazi recommends using mauve as one element within a pattern rather than a dominant color, especially in smaller spaces like cloakrooms. In larger living areas, kitchens, or dining spaces, she advises a more considered approach, incorporating the color through artwork, rugs, patterned cushions, lampshades, or blinds.
When it comes to furniture, Ashkenazi favors patterns over large, solid blocks of mauve. Colorful upholstery, including floral fabrics, woven stripes, and vintage-inspired prints that feature mauve, pink, and green, can add warmth and personality. She cautions against overly coordinated schemes, suggesting that either committing fully to a color-drenched look or introducing mauve more gently through patterns and textures is more effective.
Regarding materials, Ashkenazi advises avoiding finishes like crushed velvets, shiny synthetics, and overly decorative fabrics, which can make mauve appear dated. Instead, she recommends soft, matte, and tactile materials such as linen, wool, brushed cotton, woven fabrics, and subtle, low-sheen velvets. Patterned fabrics with hints of mauve are considered more elevated than plain, shiny mauve materials.
Ashkenazi's golden rule for using mauve is not to let it overpower a room. While it can be used more generously in spaces like nurseries or feminine bedrooms where its calming feel is suited, in main living areas, it works best as a subtle thread woven into a broader palette of paint, wallpaper, artwork, and textures. This approach allows mauve to feel soft, elegant, and timeless.