Styled, Staged & Sold

Bringing you the latest home design and staging trends. From REALTOR® Magazine.

A Sophisticated Twist on the ‘Barbiecore’ Craze

This design theme is all about playfulness, but it’s maturing. Check out how Barbie-inspired aesthetics are upgrading the feeling of luxury.

While the much-anticipated “Barbie” movie hits theaters this weekend, the iconic doll has become a muse in home design, inspiring real-life versions of a Barbie Dream Home. Labeled “Barbiecore,” interior designers and even home stagers are taking note of this design theme’s use of pink, frills and wavy, playful designs. It has sparked a movement, inspiring today’s interiors at all price points. 

Barbie loves to splash everything in pink, and the hue has become such a “hot” color that a global shortage of pink paint occurred earlier this year. Industry experts say the movie has sparked increased some of that demand for pink, which contributed to the supply shortage. The film’s production designer, Sarah Greenwood, declared to the media: “The world ran out of pink.”

For more on the Barbiecore trend, listen to the below "Hot or Not" segment from NAR's Real Estate Today podcast.

Many of the 2023 colors of the year, chosen by leading paint firms, are tints of pink, lending even more buzz to the Barbiecore trend. But while pink can feel childish to some, designers are winning over fans by rising above the bubble-gum pinks. They’re using the style to showcase greater personality and memorable interiors that move beyond simple, all-white, straight-edged silhouettes. That’s brought new interpretations to Barbie’s playful, child-like designs that are being channeled into sophisticated, luxury interiors (still with lots of pink). Check out these examples from leading interior designers.

Getting Fancy

Barbiecore bathroom
Designed by: Living With Lolo, Livingwithlolo.com. Photo by: LifeCreated.

Playful Patterns

Barbiecore living room
Designed by: Living With Lolo, Livingwithlolo.com. Photo by: LifeCreated.

Curvy Furniture

Barbiecore furniture
Designed by: Maestri Studio, maestristudio.com. Photo by: Jenifer McNeil Baker.

Blushed

Barbiecore bedroom
Designed by: Living With Lolo, Livingwithlolo.com. Photo by: LifeCreated.

Play Place

Barbiecore nursery
Designed by: Malka Helft, Think Chic Interiors, thinkchicinteriors.com. Photo by: Hulya Kolabas.

Jazzin’ Pinks and Whites

Barbiecore bedroom
Designed by: Kern & Co., kerncodesigns.com. Photo courtesy: Kern & Co.

In Barbie Fashion

Barbiecore bathroom mirror
Designed by: Maestri Studio, maestristudio.com. Photo by: Jenifer McNeil Baker.

Something to Swing About

Barbiecore bedroom
Designed by: Living With Lolo, Livingwithlolo.com. Photo by: LifeCreated.

A Sassy Tone

Barbiecore bathroom
Designed by: Joshua Smith Inc., joshuasmithinc.com. Photo by: Read McKendree.

Colorful Imagination Station

Barbiecore study
Designed by: Joshua Smith Inc., joshuasmithinc.com. Photo by: Tim Lenz.

Outside Vibes

Barbicore outdoors
Designed by: Living With Lolo, Livingwithlolo.com. Photo by: LifeCreated.

All That Brass

Barbiecore bedroom
Designed by: Living With Lolo, Livingwithlolo.com. Photo by: LifeCreated.

A Pattern Mash

Barbiecore bedroom
Designed by: Joshua Smith Inc., joshuasmithinc.com. Photo by: Tim Lenz.

Understated Elegance

Barbiecore bedroom
Designed by: Living With Lolo, Livingwithlolo.com. Photo by: LifeCreated.

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