How to Make Your Own Barbie Dreamhouse
I don’t know about you, but I am pumped for this Summer’s hottest movie to be released later this month, Barbie! The cast is amazing, the soundtrack is amazing, but let’s talk about the set design, shall we? It is not at all my personal go-to style, but as an interior designer, I can appreciate it and I’m even quite excited about the trends coming from this soon-to-be blockbuster. Let’s discuss.
The Walls. Clearly some of my favorite colors are being used across this set - turquoise, yellow, black and pink, lots of shades of pink. This movie has even caused some pink paint shortages around the world, crazy, right? But how do we implement pink into our homes without it looking quite as pink as the set.
Option 1: Paint
What colors, what application, you ask? I get it, there are a ton of options. So. Many. Pinks. And, it is a risky and bold choice, not for the faint of heart. Personally, I love it when my clients are all in for something like this - it’s playful and fun and should certainly brighten a dark day. The good thing about paint, besides the plethora of options, is the plethora of applications. In the movie you’ll see that they have used multiple shades of pink in a single space. For example, the walls are in one pink with trim in a lighter, similar shade and the furniture and decor are staying in those same hues.
That might be too much pink for you, so consider an accent wall or maybe paint the ceiling a pop of pink (I’m all in on this design trend). You could also add some dimension by using trim boards to create a design or frame out some art.
If you are trying to achieve Barbie status, here are some great offerings from my favorite suppliers, Sherwin-Williams & Benjamin Moore. I’d be remiss not to mention the Mylands color of the Year, Shocking Pink - leading the “Barbiecore,” trend in the design world.
Option 2: Wallpaper
This is a girl who loves wallpaper. It can be removeable, it can be pasted, it can be textured, it can be flat…it can be busy, it can be simple, it can be abstract or grandmillenial. I DO NOT CARE. Furthermore, like paint, the application options are wide open. When it comes to a Barbiecore print, I feel like you can’t go wrong and you could find something in just about any style, but let’s be real, this is a Maximalist dream come true.
So, figure out your style and let’s pair it up.
The FurnishingsAs with all design, this is so subjective, and it is ok to make it all your own - which you should always do when designing your house! I have conversations like this all of the time, a client really likes midcentury modern pieces, but has an antique piece that belonged to her great-grandmother… and she thinks she can’t use it because it doesn’t “fit,” with the style. It is my favorite thing about design, there are no rules, even though there is a right way and a wrong way. Make sense? If it doesn’t, call me and I can help you piece it all together…
For now, here are some pieces that I can’t get enough of in the Barbiecore vein:
The DecorThis is the opportunity for those of you who aren’t ready to dive into full blown Barbie mode a happy little medium. And for those of you who are going both feet into the Malibu Dreamhouse pool, here is the icing on the cake.
A lot of companies have jumped on this Barbie situation for some banging collaborations, like the Joybird sofa featured above, another example, Ruggable:
In ClosingThis is supposed to be fun - designing or redesigning your house - remember that! The “Barbiecore,” style is the epitome of fun and the options, like all design, are endless. If this is a style that speaks to you, I say go for it.
“Love and imagination can change the world.”