"Barbie" movie trends inspire hot pink home design in Illinois

Expect to see more pops of pink around Chicago as Barbie powers the summer of nostalgia.

Why it matters: Reliving highlights from the past helps us find comfort and joy in the present, says Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute.

Driving the news: Illinois was among the top dozen states searching for "Barbie pink" over the past year, according to Google Trends data from early July.

The big picture: U.S. search interest in “Barbie pink” in the home and garden category more than quadrupled in June 2023 and is currently at a 10-year high, Google Trends tells Axios.

• "Pink" and "Barbie pink" were among the top 10 trending paint colors in June.
• Also, Pinterest saw global searches for "Barbiecore aesthetic room" jump 1,135% from May 2022 to May 2023.

What they're saying: Chicago interior designer Sarah Montgomery says today's clients are more open to maximalism, a look incorporating bold colors and patterns.

• "You need a mix of styles and eras to achieve this look," she says. "Nothing should seem too precious."

Yes, but: Don't expect a deluge of Barbie Dreamhouses to pop up across Chicago.

• Montgomery predicts Barbiecore home designs won’t last long term but she does expect a short-term jump in bright pink home accessories.

Pro tip: Following vintage stores and local dealers on Instagram and perusing Facebook Marketplace are great ways to get familiar with what's out there, Montgomery says.

• Her Chicago shopping picks are Three Stars Resale, Dial M for Modern, Circa Modern, Spot Exclamation Point and Vintage Refined.

The latest: Gig marketplace TaskRabbit tells Axios that ahead of the Barbie movie release, clients are incorporating Barbie-inspired decor into their homes more than ever before.

• We asked AI to show us what a Barbie Dreamhouse might look like in the city and in Wheaton. (It didn't disappoint.)

The bottom line: Post-pandemic, there's a "pent-up desire to just have some fun," Pressman says. And incorporating Barbie's bold, signature shade at home — from countertops to wine glasses — is one way people are leaning into optimism.