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Pink has an undeserved reputation of being saccharine, weak, or childish. We profoundly disagree. Though it brings to mind bubblegum and tutus, the color also has an agreeable sophistication — and a place in every room. Whether you go for complex coral shades or haughty hot hues, pink is your friend. Here are just a few reasons why we're always thinking pink: 1. Warm, sunset-y tones transport us to a balmy beach getaway. A glimpse of coral brings to mind the technicolor stucco walls you see in tropical destinations. Bjorn Wallander 2. It reminds us of the excitement and optimism of spring. A pristine pink rose in bloom is one of nature's exquisite beauties. Margrethe Myhrer 3. Pink always makes a stylish first impression. Even in a room filled with gorgeous furniture, it's the first thing your eye catches. Victoria Pearson 4. It's a passionate color. Every day is Valentine's Day with a touch of pink. 5. A shade with cooler undertones can be oh-so-soothing. Though ...

Getty Getty For as long as colors have existed (so, you know, forever), humans have assigned meaning to them. We all know that a red rose at Valetine's Day symbolizes love, or that a white dove nods toward hope and purity. But some color choices made throughout history might be lost on you today. Here are some of the most fascinating hidden meanings: 1. Doors painted red aren't always just pretty. Red is often considered a celebratory hue (just try to picture Christmas without it) and signifies good fortune in some cultures. Taking those concepts in stride, generations of people in Scotland painted their homes' front doors red when their mortgage was finally paid off. The door became a symbol of pride — and is a classically good design choice, if we do say so ourselves. Getty 2. Yellow has a mysterious past. The Italian translation of the word "yellow" is "giallo," but you might also hear an Italian utter the word as he's ...

Courtesy of Benjamin Moore Benjamin Moore has officially announced its 2016 Color of the Year, and the paint brand's choice shocked us a bit, to say the least. After a year of research, studying the biggest industry trends in architecture, fashion, home furnishings, and art, Benjamin Moore's experts have decided that this year's ultimate color is ... the absence of color.  Courtesy of Benjamin Moore Yup, the year's top hue is Simply White OC-117.  "The color white is transcendent, powerful and polarizing – it is either taken for granted or obsessed over," said Benjamin Moore creative director Ellen O'Neill, in a press release. "White is not just a design trend, it is a design essential," she continued. "The popularity of white, the necessity of white, the mystique of white is quantifiable in our industry."  And it's not like they phoned it in with this choice: The company offers more than 250 selections of white (!), so their d...

Interior designers spill the shades they're currently crushing on — and now we're all swoony, too. Courtesy of Caitlin Wilson Benjamin Moore: Revere Pewter "Revere Pewter is my go-to for airy, neutral spaces that you don't necessarily want to be traditional gray or tan. It has equal parts warmth and richness, and takes on the properties of its surroundings. I love how it creates a soothing, subtle backdrop, against which you can easily contrast bright white or rich woods, and accent with pops of color throughout the seasons."— Caitlin Wilson, Caitlin Wilson Textiles Courtesy of Karen Vidal Benjamin Moore: Jojoba "I love Jojoba because it's a rich, saturated green that is calming, but not boring. It pairs beautifully with bold colors and crisp white. I've used it as a color accent in handcrafted plaster shelves to offset a collection of white objects, and as a feature exterior color in a beautifully restored craftsman home. I've even found tile...

These places are where technicolor dreams come true. Getty Andrew Watson House of Tan Teng Niah There are plenty of bold buildings in Singapore, but this attraction in Little India might take the cake for most colorful. The house — one of the last standing Chinese villas in Little India — was built in 1900 by a Chinese businessman who had factories nearby. It was restored years later with the colorful palette and now houses many local businesses. Read more at National Heritage Board and Singapore Guide » Getty annhfhung Burano, Italy Who knew a colorful paradise was lying in the Venetian lagoon? Accessible by water bus from Venice and Murano, the charming city is also known for its lacemaking, with visitors flocking to the lace museum and shops. Read more at Isola di Burano » Courtesy of JDV Hotels The Saguaro Palm Springs Tucked in the desert, this bold hotel mixes midcentury style with a modern color palette inspired by indigenous desert flowers. With a ...

Universal Pictures Get ready to bust out your sunglasses. Pantone's newest color is pretty bright — and we're not just talking about its sunshine-yellow shade. The cheery color has megawatt star power: PANTONE Minion Yellow is based off of the kid-famous animated Minions from Despicable Me , Despicable Me 2 , and the upcoming Minions . For their first-ever character-branded color, the Pantone Color Institute collaborated with the animation team at Illumination Entertainment to review the color range to find the "most pure representation of the Minions' iconic yellow color." The result? A vivid, sunny hue. "Color is contextual and right now there is a desire for colors that are more vibrant and uplifting," said Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute. The color will be added to Pantone's Fashion, Home + Interior color palette soon — but while you wait, here are two inspiring ways others have used bright yellow around the hou...