The Little Color That Could: A Soft Pastel with Surprising Staying Power

published Feb 28, 2018
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(Image credit: Eden Locke Scotland)

When we first wrote about mint, it was 2009. Other trends from that era — think chevron and faux taxidermy — seem not so trendy now. And I think pastels in general are starting to feel a little clichéd; a bit too precious for these times. And yet, mint soldiers on. I see it everywhere. Sometimes it leans a bit in the sagey direction, but still, it is there. It is the color that just won’t quit.

Above: Here’s that oddly persistent color, gracing the very stylish hotel Eden Locke Scotland. Instead of other pastels, mint keeps company with blonde wood and gold accents, which give it a more grownup feel.

(Image credit: The D Pages)

In this kitchen by Hans Verstuyft from The D Pages, we see the leaning-towards-sage mint I mentioned earlier. This is like the mint green counterpart to Millennial Pink: making a color less saturated automatically gives it a more sophisticated feel.

(Image credit: Hotel Bienvenue)

The green on green on green scheme is really working for this room from the Hotel Bienvenue (via Poppytalk). The fact that all the greens are quite light keeps the scheme from becoming overwhelming: the hints of red and black are a nice touch.

In this space by Ana Strumpf in collaboration with RSRG Architects featured on Yatzer, mint green makes a lovely and unexpected backdrop for a gallery wall. In this room, which has quite a lot going on, the mint almost functions as a neutral.

(Image credit: Nlights on Behance)

Mint-colored DTile makes a strong statement in this bathroom by Nlights on Behance. (I feel obliged to point out that this is not a real room, but a rendering — however it’s an incredibly convincing one.) The mint tile definitely recalls bathrooms from the ’40s and ’50s, but the minimal detailing and black accents make this very modern.

(Image credit: 55 Kvadrat)

Mint is a lovely addition to a black-and-white color palette in this bedroom from 55 Kvadrat. Doesn’t this space just look so soothing?

(Image credit: Skona Hem)

A light, barely-there mint gives this hallway from Skona Hem an ethereal feel.

(Image credit: Coco Lapine Design)

And finally we have a very light, desaturated mint making a sophisticated statement in a kitchen from Coco Lapine Design.

What do you think? Are you tired of mint yet? Or are you happy that this color is here to stay?