Baker-Miller Pink
History, Interior, Fashion + Graphic Design, & Pantone®
If you were to ask me to describe Baker-Miller Pink, I’d say it’s that Pepto-Bismol, detention-center pink.
But before we get into the history, design applications (+ fashion and graphic design this time), as well as Pantone® & color characteristics, I want to know how you feel about this pink color!
A Brief History
And yes, I call it "detention-center” pink for a reason—Baker-Miller pink was used for a psychological experiment in the late 1970s.
U.S. Naval researchers Schauss, Baker, and Miller believed that painting prison walls this specific shade of pink could reduce aggression and even lower heart rates. They tested it on inmates, and for a while, violent behavior actually did decrease.
However, extended exposure started to make people restless, irritable, and more aggressive than before. Some inmates even became obsessed with scratching the color off the walls because it was driving them crazy.
Baker-Miller Pink is kind of both a pacifier and a provocation—a contradiction wrapped in pastel, if you will. And that’s part of why designers love it.
Interior Design
Naturally, this color’s versatility expands beyond prison cell experimentation when it comes to interior design. Let’s talk about some specific interior scenarios where Baker-Miller pink continues to thrive!
Retail: Cafés & Boutiques
This pink is definitely capable of drawing people in. Soft enough to feel welcoming, bold enough to be memorable, and people usually won’t stay long enough in a cafe or boutique to be driven crazy by this pink.
It all depends on the look you're going for, but as you can see in the examples above and below, Baker-Miller Pink effortlessly adapts to different styles—whether it's a cozy café or a bold high-fashion pop-up.
Residential: Homes
In the right lighting, this is a warm, comforting pink that doesn’t feel juvenile; it adds depth and character to a space. It also works best in bedrooms, bathrooms, and as accent walls!
What do you pair it with? Deep browns, mustard yellow, rich olive green to ground it, or balance it with neutrals like warm beige, off-whites, and woods.
And if you’re worried about the color overwhelming your space (because the inspiration images I provided are definitely heavy on the pink), consider soft matte finishes and textured fabrics, rather than high-gloss finishes.
Fashion Design
Baker-Miller Pink has been having a moment in fashion, and not just as a girly-girl color. High-fashion Brands like Prada and Balenciaga have incorporated pinks similar to Baker-Miller into their recent collections.
Prada SS25
Prada's SS (Spring/Summer) 2025 collection reinterprets pink as both utilitarian and romantic, balancing a slightly lighter Baker-Miller Pink type of pink with structured silhouettes and unexpected contrasts.
Balenciaga 2025
Balenciaga’s contrast of hyper-casual silhouettes with this almost clinical shade of pink reinforces the brand’s signature blend of dystopian futurism and everyday wearability.
Acne Studios & Skims 2025
Outside of high-fashion but still in the realm of premium/luxury apparel—below you can see Acne Studios and Skims using this pink with an oversized washed hoodie, and some comfy intimate essentials.
Graphic Design & Branding
In graphic design and branding, this type of pink is great as visual disruptor that draws attention without screaming for it.
Whether it's Jacquemus' clean typography, Acne Studios' understated storefront, or a minimalist café business card, Baker-Miller Pink proves its versatility—it works across a wide range of branding styles without losing its impact.
Pantone® & More
Pantone® is essential for ensuring that color appears exactly as intended across different materials and industries!
On which note, if you’re interested in using this color in a project, the closest Pantone Matching System (PMS) equivalent is Pantone 183 C.
Also known as Schauss pink or Drunk-Tank Pink, the specific shade of pink that is Baker-Miller has the following hex code and RGB values:
Hex: #FF91AF
RGB: (255, 145, 175)
As always, thank you so much for reading. Hopefully you either learned something new today, or are now inspired to work with this spunky pink :)