I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but I've been sort of feeling pastel lately. Like for the home. Normally it's a set of hues I stay far away from, but lately I've been craving their soft selection of colors to help cool off on a hot day. But I've been craving very specific pastel pairings that might help you, if you normally steer clear of these hues, too.

Here are a few ideas for pastels that I've been playing around with lately that I think makes them much more palatable: Pair them with earthy colors. Pair them with neons. Use sparingly. Ombre is a great way to add a little pastel naturally, as the light, faded-out tones of a rich, deep color usually have a pastel feel. Use with pattern and texture. Incorporate in an odd or unexpected item, like muffin pans. Use pastel with a purpose, literally, by getting functional items like lamps in pastel.

How do you rock pastels? Loud and proud, or paired with some other element so they're a little more digestible?

TOP ROW:
1. Vintage Pastel Muffin Pans $30
2. Found Moroccan Rug in Pink Pastels
3. Cushion $80
4. Crewel Abstraction Rug $78-$1,298
5. Dip Dye Throw $49

BOTTOM ROW:
6. Cushion Cover Landscape 2 $54
7. Pressed Pizzo Soap Dish $18
8. Vase "Pineapple" Pink $98
9. Table Lamp $107
10. Watercolor Peony Wallpaper $148

(Images: as credited above)