Weigh In On This Debate: Do Pink And Gold Work Together?
A few days ago, I was sharing my plans for the studio cabinets with my mom. Well, she wasn’t thrilled. 😀 My mom and I have very different taste in decorating. We like different styles and different colors. I like way more pattern and texture than she does, and I like brighter and bolder colors. But even with all of that, I do often ask for her input because she has an artistic eye. So I was surprised when her objection to my plan for my studio cabinets was that pink and gold don’t go together. I couldn’t disagree more. 😀 I think they look perfect together! So weigh in on this debate. Do pink and gold work together?
First, let me remind you about my inspiration for my cabinets in the studio. I was inspired by this bookcase by Kristie McGowan. I especially loved the corner shape on face frame of the upper shelves, the trim on the doors, and those gold accents around the doors and shelves. Oh my…those gold accents!
A lot has changed with my plans since then. I’m no longer using the upper open shelves on the mural wall, and because my cabinets included some very short (5-inch-high) drawers, I had to simplify my trim design so that it’s just a simple rectangle. But I had still planned to add a gold detail to the cabinet doors.
And that’s where the disagreement came in. Now, do I agree that gold looks even better with cool colors like teal, blue, green, etc.? Absolutely. Those colors were made for gold, as you can see by Kristie McGowan’s beautiful bookcase above. And still today, six years after I painted my kitchen teal, I have people tell me that they’re sad that I got rid of my green and gold kitchen.
So, yes, I think cool colors with gold are a natural fit. And do I think that pink and silver tones are a more natural fit? Probably. But I lived with silver tones for so long that I have a natural aversion to them now. I won’t use silver tones in my house. The only place I’ve used silver tones is in the hallway bathroom. I regretted that from the beginning, and I’m swapping them out for warm gold tones now.
And it just so happens that I’m adding those gold tones at the same time I’m adding pink to the room!
So while I do think cool colors go better with gold, and I think that pink and silver tones are a more natural fit, I still love pink and gold together. I think pink and gold together are a very feminine look, which is perfect for a room that’s all mine and that I don’t have to share with Matt.
What I don’t really like is a pale pink with gold. And that’s not really because I think they don’t go together, but more because I saw way too much of that combo over the last few years, and I just got tired of seeing it. But the pink I’ll be using is a much more saturated pink. Here’s the peek I shared a few days ago.
So ever since seeing Kristie McGowan’s bookcases, and seeing that beautiful gold detail on the doors, I’ve had something like that in mind for my studio cabinets. I love that it’s kind of reminiscent of my green and gold kitchen. And I’ve been looking forward to that touch of subtle shimmer on these cabinets, and the feminine saturated pink and gold combo.
But another reason I’ve been looking forward to that touch of gold is because I think it’ll add interest to the two cabinet areas that may otherwise just look like huge masses of pink. The gold will break up that look and add some visual flair to areas that could otherwise look kind of plain, even with the pink paint.
Just imagine all of the cabinets in my office corner of the room painted that dark pink, surrounded by a neutral wall color and ceiling color. In my mind’s eye, it will just look like a huge blob of pink.
The same goes for the cabinets just inside the studio door from the breakfast room. They’ll just be another blob of pink.
And while I don’t think the cabinets on the mural wall really need anything to spice them up because of the mural, I still think that touch of gold would be beautiful, and it would look especially feminine because of the mural.
I know that some people may envision that and think, “It would be too busy!” But y’all know I don’t care about that. While I don’t really consider myself a maximalist, on the spectrum from minimalist to maximalist, I’m definitely more towards the maximalist side. I love a lot of color, pattern, and texture. And there would have to be a whole lot more of it than what I have now for me to consider it too much. Adding a bit of gold, for my taste, would never be too much. It would make it just right.
So I think that pink and gold go beautifully together. My mom disagrees. What do you think?
Honestly, this is probably one of those things I’ll just have to try so that I can see it with my own eyes. I’ve had this vision in my head for so long now that I’ll regret it if I don’t try it. But it might still be a while before I can even try it. I’m still working on trying to get the doors and drawer fronts all trimmed out and ready for paint.
It’s taking way longer than I expected to get these doors and drawer fronts done because, quite frankly, I don’t think I realized just how many doors and drawer fronts there were for this room. 😀 In all, there are 50. That’s 50 doors and drawer fronts that have to be sanded, trimmed, caulked, primed, painted, and clear coated. That’s a big job! But I am making progress, and the first batch should be ready for paint today.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
Pink and gold go together just fine, it’s just going to be a very bright look. It seems that the pink cabinets are going to steal your eyes away from the beautiful mural wall. Maybe it’s the pink your mother objects to. I noticed in the bathroom that the pink vanity is all you see it kind of drowns out the beautiful tile.
From my perspective as also an artist, pink and gold absolutely go together! I’d say your having seen “too much” of the pale pink and gold recently is a pretty good testament to that.
All personal taste, regardless 🙂 Personally I think gold goes with pink far more than silver does, even though the warm/cool contrast should work “better” for it. Looking forward to seeing your pink and gold cabinets!
Agree 100%
I also agree 100%.
I like pink colors and gold hardware, and tend to prefer “dustier” colors over “clear” colors. So I would gravitate towards burnished brass / antiqued gold.
I had never thought about pink and gold either. I help my daughter out with her jewelry business and recently ran upon a pinterest page showing a pink blouse with a gold necklace and immediately had to go put a gold necklace on one of my pink blouses. I like it. I paint art but I really dont know much about color rules. Are there any real rules about what metals go best with what colors and why?
There are no hard and fast rules. Just use what you like. But I do think there is some truth to the idea that gold looks better with cool colors, and silver looks better with warm colors. I think it’s the contrast warm + cool in each situation that makes it pleasing to the eye, very much in the way that complementary color schemes are pleasing to the eye. But just because complementary colors work well together, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other great color combos one can decorate with. Same with metals. Use what you think looks the best for your room/home.
I like the gold with your pink. Looks very glamorous!
Personally, I like gold jewelry with warm colors and silver with cool colors so I guess I’m an oddball! LOL
Your not the only oddball, Crystal. I tend to wear gold jewelry with my deep pink, red, and navy clothing and silver with with the aqua, gray, and pale blue.
I think the gold will look good with the pink you’ve chosen, Kristi, and will probably make the yellow-green leaves pop a bit.
The cool colors with gold and warm colors with silver never seems to follow the line of what people actually do, especially in jewelry, for example. I, for one, LOVE turquoise jewelry – and they vary from very light to deep teal — ALWAYS set in silver. They would look so odd in gold!!
I painted a tv cabinet for a friend that was a bright cold pink and it had gold shelves and gold mcm feet. It was beautiful. As long as the gold is the right shade (not super yellow) they will look great together.
I am a bit biased here as I do not like gold. I admit that the new faucet and door handles in your hallway bathroom are beautiful, though, but that is quite a pale gold. But I agree with your mom in that gold and pink don’t work together for me. Bear in mind, though, that I find this a highly subjective pov – if you are tempted by it, go for it (you will do so anyway!!). You always say: it’s only paint; so you alone can judge if doing it over again if you are not happy with the result is ok in terms of work load. And I have often been surprised by your choices so might even end up liking the colour combination, who knows? What I like and admire about you is that you are trying your vision and adjusting it until you are happy with it. This is a very important lesson I’ve been learning from you for more than a decade now and I thank you for it!
I agree with the pink and gold going together!
Go for the gold! We expect nothing less from you. It will be gorgeous!!!
I like pink and gold together quite a bit! I certainly don’t see anything wrong with it.
Pink and Gold work nicely together. You may want to take the time to whip up one door, complete with paint, gold trim and hardware. That should be a good indicator as to whether or not Pink and Gold suits your taste for that room.
Pfffft. Gold goes with every color. Period.
I agree! It needs to be the right tone of gold but I think it’s great with all colors!
YES!!! 100% Gold can go with everything. especially pink.
however, i do think gold and silver are beautiful neutrals that can go with any colour provided the tone is right.
Warm pink with warm gold – yes please!!
Yes pink and gold can go together BUT maybe not in your bathroom. Your countertop reads grey and cool your pink vanity reads something else and I can’t put my finger on it but it’s very dark. (not much difference from the orange you covered) Maybe things will look different when you finish the tile backsplash. In your workroom I think gold will look much better. It’s a large open bright room-dare I say a little girly or feminine and gold is perfect! I think your bathroom pink needs to lighten up a bit-you have your saturated color in the fabric.
I have to agree with Cindy, the vanity is too saturated for the countertop. I was trying to figure out what was off, and I decided to wait until you finished. Maybe you have a better vision that I’m not picking up on yet, as you usually surprise me! But I do love the gold on the pink, just not with the gray counter.
Works for me!
I absolutely love pink and gold! I think your bathroom vanity looks beautiful!
When I think of bold pink and gold together, I think of the sunset. Of course they go together! There’s nothing more beautiful than a brilliant pink and gold (and orange) sunset.
Pink and gold, yes!!!
My iPhone is pink and gold. I believe you will have lots of pink when you finish painting. Maybe more than you realize. The more gold you use the better! Just my opinion. It will all look good as all of your work does. Go for the gold!
I’d use the gold and add a tiny hint of gold rub n buff somewhere on the pendants. I’m not adventurous when it comes to mixing metals so I like it when they tie in 🙂
I plan on painting the pendant lights gold. I decided the room has too much black in it. A little black grounds the room. Too much black looks too heavy. I want light, bright, airy, feminine. The black pendant lights aren’t working with my vision, but I do love the shape.
I think you said it in one of your sentences. “Its my room”, thus put whatever makes you happy in it. You will never please everybody, so put in what you like, then if you don’t like it, you certainly have the ability to change it.
I love the pink and gold in the bathroom, and I’m not a gold person. I’m less sure about the gold detailing on the doors. Like you said, may just be something I need to see…
There are cool pinks and warm pinks. I think cool colors and warm colors should not be together, but warm pink and warm gold could go together very well.
I love pink and gold together! I am with you about the silver toned metals although I do still have some. I have an old French style hutch in my garage/studio (not as snazzy as yours) that I painted Flamingo Pink and trimmed out with a gold pInt pen (that I discovered on your blog.
The gold will be lovely.
I LOVE the idea of the pink and gold combo. That deep pink with the gold accents will look incredible! 💖💖💖
Probably just because I am older than you, by about 20 years, pink and gold screams 60s to me. But that’s just me, as I always say, you go with what you love! I just was not a fan of the 60s decor… Not then, and not now. 😂
Lots of gold in that wall paper, don’t see a problem with it at all.
I think either gold or silver hardware would work with the pink cabinetry. However, I would prefer silver tones with the gray/white countertop. But it’s not my house so not my decision. I’m wondering if you will be raising the wood moulding along the top of the backsplash to accommodate the height of the new tile or if you’ll be cutting down the tile.
I love Pink and Gold! Can’t wait to see it!
Would Rose Gold work?
I’m not really a fan of rose gold, but I do like warm golds, like the color I’m using in the bathroom. That’s actually called Champagne Bronze. It’s very similar to what I’ve always called Antique Brass. What I really don’t like are the bright, shiny, garish golds, and the 1980s brassy brass. Anything that’s overly yellow or bright is a no go for me.
Yes! The pink will work fine with the gold. Your countertop lets the eye rest a bit.
I would go with whatever makes you smile it’s your house personally I would lean towards a bronze since your lights in that room are dark.
I am not a color/designer person. But I think breaking up the blob of pink could be done in various ways. I’m drawn to silvers vs golds. So it’s hard to see what you see well at times.
This detail/perfection will likely take some experimenting. Maybe defer till the room is more done and settled to let thoughts brew. When you do tackle it. I’d start with a not shiny color, and use that on a few places, possibly different ways, like a sample to see if it breaks the pink up…Something tells me you’d have to choose a contrasting vs complementary color to break up the pink…now If that color happens to be close to a gold tone without the shine, then add the gold. You could even try by using colored washi tape temporarily if the paint is set enough.
This is coming from a gal who’s learning a checking process. I’m learning How to defer and delegate parts of a very complicated project right now while being a perfectionist, so it’s from that thinking, Not a “do x 100% this way”
Hi Kristie,
Pink and gold are a definite YES! They are great together!
I think pink REQUIRES gold accents! I can’t visualize silver and pink. The only other thing I would pair with pink would be black, and that, to me, is too harsh. Sorry Mom!
I love pink and gold!
Do whatever makes you happy and I think you already know that😊
I think gold is very trendy and won’t last long. I remember in the late seventies and eighties it was so popular. Personally I don’t like too much of it. Gold always make rooms look too formal or fancy for me. So I guess I stand with your sweet mom on this.
So often Moms’ are right. But, not this time. Gold and Pink look great. Based on her kitchen remodel she likes a more traditional style which is great for her. Go for Gold and pink as it’s what you like as well as your readers.
First of all let me say I first stumbled onto your site viewing a photo of your teal kitchen cabinets with the the gold handles and gold door insets. I stared at that photo for so long. Thinking what a genius idea for someone to be so bold as to try those colors together, and the beautiful woodwork. I would have never thought of doing this. Since then watching all of your ideas come together with you doing the work and all of the color schemes you choose has taught me to try my ideas without being afraid to do so.
The deep pink color you have chosen for your studio cabinets with the gold trim overlay, plus the gold handles sounds so feminine. Your studio will be outstanding. Too busy? Not at all! I can’t wait to see it all after you have finished with the 50 doors. I’m betting your Mom will love it.
Pink & gold work beautifully in AZ sunsets! Have you considered that soft teal color (that’s in one flower in your paper) for the cabinets? Gold accents like Kristie McGowen used would be a noticeable feature. You’re good with digital mockups, so it might give you a better idea. It is your room and it will be a wonderful workspace to keep you inspired!
Go gold!
Gold with your beautiful pink? YES PLEASE!!
Gold is okay as long as it is not shinny gold. I hate shinny, gaudy gold. Yuck.
However the gold on her bookcase doesn’t look bad. It defines the lines quietly.
You have lots of places to paint gold so you don’t want to over do it. But as you said, you have to try it.
Mothers don’t always know! 😊
I agree with Kristi. I think gold is the right choice. A more burnished gold or a brushed gold is what I envision rather than the tacky builder’s grade color.
I don’t see it posted yet, but I was watching HGTV’s Renovation Resort Showdown last night, and one of the designers, Savannah Kokaliares, did a pink and gold kitchen. I thought I wasn’t going to like it, but it was actually very pretty and very feminine. She’s https://www.instagram.com/savannahkaydesigns on IG, so maybe she’ll post the photo’s soon, but I suspect it’s right in your wheelhouse for inspiration. 🙂
Yes to pink and gold together!
Although I have always been a huge fan of brass, and copper, I’m thinking that the perfect knob or pull color for your studio is black. You have black pendants and trim on your desk, and I think it would look great without looking busy. But truly I think gold goes with any color. I use it everywhere in my home.
I think the gold with pink would look GREAT!!
Pink and gold are fantastic together! Especially that saturated pink you’re using. Very Hollywood regency. Of course I think all your colors are terrific! Go for it. A little bling never hurts.
I think about jewelry…the metals go with almost any colorful stone…it’s seems it is more what some people like…gold or silver settings. I love silver more, but I have seen pink/ruby type stones in gold settings that are gorgeous. I absolutely think pink and gold look wonderful together…maybe your mom likes silver more??? I agree though that I dislike the brassy gold color…the champagne gold sounds wonderful anywhere. I think you will love what you are doing, and it IS your space! And after one door if you hate it, you will adjust until you love it! This room is exciting.
I think it will look great with gold trim. You will know for sure as soon as you try it. Several days ago I was watching something on You tube and an ad came on about having your bathroom remodeled and up popped a picture of your hall bath. I don’t remember the company name and did not write it down, but I did want to let you know.
I think gold will go great with that color pink. There’s a touch of mustard yellow in the wallpaper as well, so it all definitely goes together.
Pink and gold go together 100%!!!
Kristi, it just doesn’t matter who disagrees or agrees with your choices. You have very definition needs & opinions and that’s all that matters. If you had to have rusty faucets/accents then you’d have them.
I think what you have looks just fine, but then then the silver ones looked good too. I’m enjoying your journey since I’m a retiree on a tight budget and can’t afford to change anything in my house. I live vicariously through you.
Yes! Go for the gold. They work wonderful together. Think of beautiful sunsets.
I wore only gold for years, then went to silver, but still wear gold a lot. I also mix and match both gold and silver, but not in a studio!
Sorry mom, i disagree this time.
Seriously? Pink and gold is a classic combination! Metals should be considered neutral anyway, there is no rule about warm or cool tone colors with metal, it’s all personal preference. If you love gold, use it! Go nuts! Who cares what anyone who doesn’t live there thinks!
Just finished decorating my new office. Pink, gold, black. Go for it! It totally works 🙂
I think it’s all about how you feel about the colors together and if it pleases your eye.
I have never stuck to traditional colours that go together–I think if I put the right shades together, I will like them.
For example, I started painting with gray and white more than 20 years ago, before it was trendy. People thought I was nuts. But I felt calm when I looked at the colors together. And while I still like the combination, lately I have been thinking about a different color combination that I want to try in the future. And it includes gold, something I never thought I would like.
So I say, paint whatever makes you happy. If you don’t try it, you will always wonder.
Take a look at the last episode of HGTV Renovation Resort for a great example of Pink and Gold !!
I saw that episode of the renovation and absolutely loved the pink kitchen with gold hardware. Stunning! i liked the mint green on one couple’s cabinets also.
Personally, I love gold with cooler-toned pinks. Not so much when the pinks are warmer-toned, approaching coral. The closer you get to coral, the more I prefer silver. But that’s just me. I think you gotta try it and see what you think.
Pink and gold go together. Especially since you arent useing a baby pink.
I think on the cabinets close to the breakfast room door it would be cool to put some of your mural print inside of the trim. It would add a punch of energy there.
I LOVE pink and gold together! I wear it all the time!
I think pink and gold would go together very well. Until I read this, it never occurred to me they couldn’t
The hardware metal color choice depends also on how it will look with the wallpaper as well as the cabinet color. That is a major factor. Silver is a no go.
The right gold will be the better choice if it complements the wallpaper as well. Many gold tones would not be good. So, please take a sample of the wallpaper with you when you purchase the hardware.
Looking forward to the final result.
I think YOUR pink and champagne gold is beautiful. I think the pink you chose is a warm pink.
I do get a bit confused in how people use the terms cool and warm colors if they think a particular color is always cool say all blues are cool or all reds are warm. I was trained that there are warm and cool shades/tints/tones of every color. Example: I have warm blues in my house but once accidentally chose a furniture paint that ended up being a more cool indigo blue. The light in the store messed me up. If a person just thinks of the enormous spread of blues the sky can be …… the chilly misty day or a sunny clear day of azure blue. I might put one of those blues with a silver metal and the other with a gold.
Even when working with neutrals like whites, tans, grays I can put together groups of each that are warm, another that would be cool. Even metals can be so different depending on composition.
Pick what you enjoy.
YES! YES! YES! Pink and gold look lovely together. Sophisticated, feminine, relaxing! Anywhere. I had mauve paint on my kitchen walls for years and a border wallpaper at ceiling height, with white cabinets. The flooring was the desired Armstrong no wax vinyl with white background and a blue and pink/mauve print on it (sort of squares with the blue and mauve in the center and corner). I was happy with that for at least 10 years! Light pink cabinets look so sophisticated with brushed gold handles/knobs. I’ve had pink in my bathrrom, and my daughter’s bedroom with her French provincial furniture (back in the 80s!) So, yes, pink can go EVERYWHERE!
Kristi, if YOU like pink and gold together, that’s all that matters. I personally love it too, but I won’t be living in your house. This from a woman who painted her hall bathroom and vanity lipstick red, with gold hardware. It’s been this color for 20 years, and I still love it. So, go for it! If you don’t like it, you can change it.
I can see that bright gold might not be for everyone in that room. It depends on the handle. Brushed gold would look softer. It would tie in with the wallpaper leaves, one of which is ‘gold’. I get where your Mom is coming from. I also think gold and pink is fine, in general. Tho’ with 50 in that space it will make a statement whatever you choose. Good luck 🙂
I wouldn’t worry if something “goes together.” If you love it- go for it! Design style is so subjective. One person may absolutely LOVE something and another person may detest it. You can’t please everyone!
Kristi, I don’t really think it matters what anyone else thinks about whether pink and gold go together… no offense to your mom intended. If you love it, you should do it! It is your own personal space and it should be exactly the way you want and love it. Having said that, however, I personally think pink and gold are beautiful together!
If it makes you smile, and it appears it does, then do it.
Graphic Artist here – I think the deep pink and gold look great together! However, with so many handles in gold, maybe hold off on the gold cabinet accents to see when it’s all done (painted and handles in place). I would probably not want the extra gold, but this is your studio, not mine! You can always add it in later if you decide! 🙂
I love pink and gold together. I follow @barij on IG and she has some gorgeous examples. I’d choose gold before silver.
I am 100% team gold. I think it will be great with the pink you are using, but it is also cohesive with the rest of your house.
I would like the gold on the pink cabinets a lot. Especially if you use a gold that pulls green like the gold/green in the wallpaper.
I’m for the gold hardware and some gold metal trim! It’ll look awesome with the pink cabinets!
Definitely team pink and gold – love them together.
I mean…rose gold is a thing. 😁
I think it can work, but I agree that you just might have to see it to really decide.
You are certainly one of the most creative people I’ve ever encountered and I’m sure whatever you choose will be terrific….or you will just change it, lol!!! I happen to love the pink and gold. A Beautiful combination.
Do the gold! From years of following you I KNOW you will regret it if you don’t. I also know if you hate it, you will tell us then you will change it.
Pink and gold go well together – I think you are indulging some overthinking on that.
I’m not a gold girl myself under any circumstances. I always prefer silver and in my experience pink and silver are far less common.
Regardless – go with what you like. You will end up changing anything you do because it’s “right” and not what you prefer.
Well do it if that is what you like. If you don’t like it after a time, you know how to change it! I say go for it!
I am not a frilly type and prefer more rugged/western type things, and I don’t do pink anything, but you love it so you do what it right for you!
I think you will love it.
ABSOLUTEY! PINK AND GOLD FOREVER! I liked your hall bath before, and I still like it now. But I love pink and don’t use it much in my home. Oh well…
Huh? Pink and gold go great together. Especially if the gold is more brass than copper. I honestly prefer gold to silver when it’s with pink. I love light pink and brad gold together. 🙂 but a deeper pink will look great as well.
I love the idea of that deep pink with gold accents. I lovely metalic accents. Go with what you love. You are the one who has to live with it. And if you wind up hating it, you can always do over.
There is a recent decorating article at The Washington Post that has pink and gold. It’s called “There’s an order to decorating a space. Designers share their 9 steps.” A photo of Janie Molster Designs. It’s gorgeous.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2023/08/09/9-steps-decorate-like-designer/
Pink and gold go together. No doubt about it. Even if it didn’t, you want it, so you should do it. I did silver hardware in my dining room last fall and I’m still regretting it. I might just spray paint it all. I’m not a gold person AT ALL, but my gorgeous new bright navy sideboard WANTED gold! Do what makes you happy! Change it when it doesn’t any more!