Mauve Is the Unexpected Color That Designers Want to See More of in 2026 – Here's How to Use This '80s-Coded Color Tastefully

You'd be forgiven for ruling out mauve as a color for your next home decorating project, quickly conjuring images of '80s interiors for many of us – from floral upholstery and carpets to matching bathroom suites.

But, don't let its outdated past put you off, mauve is very much due for a comeback in 2026, and it's a lot more chic than you'd first think. When used thoughtfully with richer and contemporary details: think warm woods, modern silhouettes, and fresh color palettes, mauve feels moody and refined, while pairing equally well with warm and cool schemes.

Here, interior designers reveal all you need to know about this color trend, from the best rooms to use it in to the most flattering mauve paints that make for unexpected yet endlessly stylish rooms.

Why Color Is Mauve Exactly?

'Mauve is a dusty lilac with a hint of pink that can usher a lighthearted charm into any space,' says Helen Shaw, color expert at Benjamin Moore. 'Its gentle warmth creates a serene and quietly comforting atmosphere, perfect for a bedroom.'

If you're going to be using a mauve paint shade on the walls, Helen advises pairing it with certain hues for a cohesive look. 'Look to group color families together, combining a lighter shade such as Iced Mauve 2115-50 with cooler grays and blues for a harmonious and whimsical palette,' says Helen. 'Alternatively, add depth by color-blocking a wall in a dusty pink to complement the mauve and keep ceilings off-white for a classic, heritage feel.'

5 Ways to Use Mauve in Your Home in 2026

From painting the walls to decorating with mauve furniture, there are endless ways to bring this nostalgic shade into the present day, and below, we've rounded up our favorite examples.

1. Create a Calming Bedroom With Mauve Walls

When thinking of the most calming bedroom colors, it's easy to turn to warm whites, earth tones, and pale greens. But mauve is another contender, and the right soft shade can make a bedroom feel soothing and cozy.

Here, the designer Jessica Bennett of Alice Lane Interior Design opted for Benjamin Moore's Cougar Brown, color-drenched to include the ceiling, which she describes as 'a mauve-infused neutral that reads soft and romantic while still feeling refined.'

'To build on the tonal story, we layered in coordinating drapery and a vintage rug that echoes the room’s palette,' says Jessica. 'The furnishings and window trim remained light and neutral, creating balance and preventing the color from overwhelming the space.'

2. Add Warmth to a Living Room With a Mauve Sofa

Think beyond mauve paint ideas and bring this trending shade to your furniture. In this living room, the vintage curved sofa in a soft shade of mauve adds warmth and an element of contrast to the neutral walls.

'Its soft, sculptural presence not only grounds the room, but also connects the darker elements like the rug and coffee table in the design with effortless cohesion,' says the interior designer Jessica Reynaud. 'Paired with the rose-toned marble, the combination feels intentional and balanced.'

3. Choose a Moody Shade of Mauve For Dining Rooms

While mauve often reads light and soft, a moodier version makes a stylish choice for dining rooms where you may want a bit more richness and depth from your color palette. 'Mauve pairs beautifully with a wide range of colors, so it can feel both classic and unexpected at the same time,' says the interior designer Jess Ebert of Four Story Interiors.

In this elegant yet cozy dining room, Farrow & Ball's Sulking Room Pink was used. 'This moody mauve has a layer of sophistication that almost feels vintage, which adds a nice patina to the dining room,' says Jess.

4. Pair Mauve With Soft Greens

When it comes to creating the most stylish color combinations for mauve, soft green makes a go-to choice, especially if you want to lean into a soothing look. And since green and purple are complementary colors, meaning they sit opposite one another on the color wheel, they bring harmony to a space.

In this living room, the mauve sofa is balanced with the light green decor, from the wallpaper to the curtains. 'We treated this color like a neutral; it doesn't have to feel overly feminine or sweet,' says the interior designer Alexandra Kaehler. 'By pairing it with the green, it balanced out the softness and added a more natural, organic feel to the palate.'

5. Use Mauve to Complement Traditional Decor

Mauve lends a softness to rooms and feels at home alongside traditional decorating ideas. Unlike bolder hues that can feel too contemporary in certain rooms, mauve offers balance and a nod to vintage charm.

'This powder room is part of a 100-year-old lakeside cottage that was fully restored in 2024,' says the interior designer Michael Abrams of Abrams Valenti. 'Mauve, a popular tile color a century ago, became the perfect starting point for this space. Muted neutrals are used throughout the house to honor the period, and the mauve fits right in – adding a subtle pop of color.'

Shop Mauve Home Decor

Feeling inspired to bring trending mauve into your home? We've rounded up some of the most stylish mauve decor buys for you to shop – which prove this color is far from dated.

From mauve paints, which add softness to walls and are a more interesting step away from neutrals, to mauve-colored furniture, this once-forgotten color is actually incredibly versatile. Used thoughtfully and teamed with dark woods to stop it from looking too sweet, it subtly warms rooms and adds an element of surprise.