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I will admit that I have an unwarranted disdain for most shades of pink. To me (and I'm sure I'm off-base), shades of pink on the lighter side feel too young and too feminine. Granted, adding a hint of coral or a gray makes the sophistication factor jump. But call it bright pink, fuchsia, magenta, amaranth or shocking pink and I change my tune.

When added as an accent color to a room, bright pinks add a sense of whimsy and modernity that isn't found with many other colors. Here are some ideas of ways to incorporate it into your space:

1 - This dining room gets an unexpected pop with classic dining room chairs that were modernized with a coat of gloss white paint for the chair and gloss magenta paint for the legs.

2 - An otherwise masculine bedroom is given a pop of femininity and fun with a bright fuchsia rug.

3 - Bright pink accents in this bathroom add some flirtation to this light, neutral palette.

4 - A bright magenta table adds an eclectic touch to this silver and white vignette that would look great in an entry way.

5 - A fuchsia throw ties in the small pops of pink in the artwork and the duvet cover to unify this bedroom without feeling matchy matchy.

If you are ready to try on some bright pink for size in your own home, here are some accessory options:

1 - Pink Rubber Vase from the Conran Shop Online, $39.

2 - Lima Alpaca Fuchsia Throw, Crate and Barrel, on sale for $99.

3 - Bubble-Up Bedside Table in Bright Pink, PB Teen, $199.

4 - Magenta Jelli Board, Crate and Barrel, $12.95.

5 - Milk Glass Lamp Base in Pink Magenta, PB Teen, on sale for $36.

(Image credits: all images from the top row are from LivingEtc)