The Princess of Wales' BAFTAs Dress is a Dreamy Decor Shade

Prince and Princess of Wales at the BAFTAs and a lilac living room — (Image credit: Getty Images / Future)

The Princess of Wales is such a sartorial icon, leaning into elegant silhouettes, beautifully sculpted suits, and classic tailoring for her usual public appearances. However, for the 2026 BAFTA Awards, her stunning Gucci gown took a far more ethereal turn. With layers of flowing chiffon in an ombre palette of soft mauve, and a deep plum velvet bandeau around the waist to echo the Prince of Wales' tuxedo jacket, she looked so chic and effortlessly stylish.

The way she wore this unexpected and 80s-coded color with such grace and elegance got me thinking how it might just be the perfect hue for my home, all thanks to the clever layering.

Charlotte Olby, Homes & Gardens' Style and Trends Editor, says: 'I think mauve is one of those shades people underestimate, but it’s actually incredibly versatile once you understand the undertones. Red-based mauves feel warm and relaxed, which makes them great for bedrooms or anywhere you want softness, while bluer mauves read cooler and more tailored – ideal for living rooms or spaces with darker woods and metal finishes.'

Princess and Prince of Wales at the BAFTAs 2026

Mauve Decor Inspired by Catherine, Princess of Wales' BAFTAs Dress

Light filtering

Pleated European Flax Linen Curtain

With a subtle, sheer effect like the Princess of Wales' dress, these light-filtering drapes in a soft Mulberry linen will add a touch of whimsical elegance to a bedroom, living room or dining room.

Tactile fabric

Bacho Cozy Wingback Chair

An accent chair in a soft velvet, whether in a bedroom or living room is a wonderful way to bring in this shade in a subtle way. Team it with tonal rugs, throw pillows, and blankets or quilts to hand the look together.

Set of 5

Botanical Pastel Dandelion Stems

Soft, delicate florals are a wonderful way to lean into the ethereal feel with this shade, but for a more permanent display opt for something beautifully tactile like these dyed dandelion stems placed in a vase.

All-season

Signature Comforter Set

Made from organic cotton with a 100% recycled polyester fill for the feel of a duvet without the hassle of changing the covers. Boll & Branch makes some of the best duvet inserts and comforters, according to our expert testers.

Vintage look

Ziva Vintage Rug

A vintage-style mauve rug says 'faded glamor' as opposed to sickly sweet, and this one with its delicate border and barely-there shade, is ideal for setting the tone in a bedroom or living room.

Sleek Silhouette

Tov Furniture Graham Velvet Table Lamp

This velvet lamp base and shade is in such a striking contemporary silhouette, and echoes the dark velvet belt on the Princess of Wales' dress creating a visual punctuation mark in a paler scheme.

Mauve can be a beautiful choice for a bedroom color scheme as it's soothing without being too saccharine. One way to keep the scheme feeling grown-up as opposed to girly, is to introduce variations in the shade from softest lilac, to a dusty rose and deep plum – darker accent shade, like the Princess of Wales' belt, in a heavier fabric, like rich velvet really helps to anchor the scheme in a chic palette.

Keep things light and ethereal with sheer drapes – West Elm's pleated linen flax curtains are a more structured alternative to floaty organza and allow some light to shine through. Making the most of the natural light brings a warmth to a mauve scheme as the sunlight will play on tone with materials that have natural sheen and shimmer, such as velvet or silks.

Another tip is to layer textures such as luxe bedspreads, throw pillows in shimmering or embellished fabrics, or vintage-style rugs, like this Ziva Rug from Rugs USA. Keep the base color light, add in a few mid-range pieces, then just a scattering of darker accents, so as not to overwhelm the room.

'Personally, I like to treat mauve like a neutral, just one with a bit more personality,' adds Charlotte. 'Pair it with grounding or contrasting elements in the scheme so it feels chic rather than overly sweet.'

For a variation on this look, consider decorating with purple for a richer scheme, or decorating a room pink for a lighter touch.

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Katrina is Head of Living at Homes & Gardens, covering hosting and entertaining, seasonal styling ideas, sleep and wellbeing, along with a highly experienced team of writers and reviewers. With more than 15 years' experience in lifestyle content, Katrina was previously an editor at luxury lifestyle platform, Muddy Stilettos, has been a features writer at Sainsbury's magazine and has also written for a wealth of other food and lifestyle titles including Ideal Home, Waitrose Food, John Lewis' Edition and The Home Page. Katrina is passionate about heritage style and lives in a 100-year old cottage in rural Hertfordshire, where she enjoys finding creative ways to live and host stylishly.