Style your own Barbie Dreamhouse this summer

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Don’t let reports of a global pink paint shortage curb your enthusiasm for embracing all things Barbie this season, in advance of the highly anticipated movie. According to celebrity designer Jo Alcorn, there’s more than one way to invite the cheerfulness of ‘Barbiecore’ into your home.

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“It’s a throwback to our childhood – a replica of our Barbie houses which were very pink and colourful, with florals and stripes,” said Alcorn, founder and CEO of Alcorn Home. “It was when we started to feel that magical whimsy, when there were so many mixtures of cheerful, happy colours all in one central area.”

The look is all about combining brighter pastel colours, including blue, yellow, mauve and pink, in everything from throw rugs, towels, bed linens and pillows, to accent chairs, vases and dishware, and even small kitchen appliances. Inspired by the Barbie Dreamhouse toy mansion, it also incorporates patterned wallpaper, polka dot fabrics, textured or glossy finishes, and tassels, pom-poms and ruffles. Alcorn is also in love with the wide array of tiles currently available in pink hues and if she had her way, would use “pink tiles everywhere.”

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To start small, follow the 70/20/10 rule, bringing in pink for 10 percent of a room’s décor, and using more neutral colours for the remaining 70 and 20 percent. If you want to really embrace self-expression and make a more powerful Barbie statement, go with 70 percent pink and make sure the colour takes centre stage.

“We’re feeling like we’re kids again and that always creates a very happy atmosphere in the space you’re in,” said Alcorn.

Many of the brighter pinks and jewel tones highlighted by the trend were already emerging on the design scene in recent years, she added. “They were stuck in the back and now people are appreciating them and want them back in the front again,” she said.

Look for colourful outdoor dishware and accessories and bright, floral or striped sun umbrellas trimmed in a fringe to bring Barbiecore to your yard. Kitchen brands like Smeg offer toasters, kettles, blenders and mixers in glossy pastel pink to cheer up a kitchen. And velvet furniture, popular in the 1970s, is widely available now in brighter colours to add a retro vibe to any room.

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A recent bedroom design by Alcorn illustrates how to elevate the trend by mixing a patterned throw rug with a textured vertical stripe wall treatment, highlighted by a pink upholstered headboard, a whimsical lampshade and a collection of hats mounted as art. If you’re hesitant to go all out, try adding a few subtle elements to your outdoor entertaining space, like fun pink wall art, pastel cushions in multiple colours and patterns, and Acapulco accent chairs.

“People are slowly venturing into it until they feel comfortable,” said Alcorn. “You can bring in little pieces and then you’ll start adding to it and it will all come together. I smile thinking about it – just bring the happiness in with the fun Barbie colours this year.”

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