The 60-year-old plastic doll made by Mattel, Inc., was first released in March, 1959, with its long blonde hair, tiny waist and fabulous outfits. She was thought up by businesswoman Ruth Handler.
A huge swath of Gen X and millennials grew up dragging their Barbie doll everywhere, changing her dresses and dreaming up entire lives inside her epic dream house. With over $1 billion in doll sales to date, it’s hard to imagine a more iconic plastic woman.
Another fun fact? Bettina Dorfmann claims to owns the most extensive collection of Barbies in the world, with upwards of 15,000 dolls. Some limited-edition Barbies can sell for $1,000 and up.
With that icon status comes a real knack for design and decor — mostly in bubble gum pink. If you’re like Barbie superfan Azusa Sakamoto, who has spent upwards of $80,000 on Barbie paraphernalia, and want to design your real-life Barbie dream house, read on.
We’re walking you through each room in your apartment rental — from the bedroom to bathroom — and giving you ways to add those Barbiecore accents — like Pantone Pink C — that will make it feel like you’re in your own Barbie dream house.
Bedroom
Photo source: Houzz
Who doesn’t want to wake up in a pink, princess-like bedroom, like this example from Houzz? The bubble gum pink will lift your spirits before you’re even out of bed. Start with rental-friendly wallpaper (try Walls Need Love) and use the wall behind your bed for a big statement. Go with tropical Barbie and pink pineapples or a fun pop of pink. Best yet, you can easily remove it when you move out without damaging the paint.
A Barbiecore bed
Start with a white bed frame for your bed and add a patterned comforter to your bed — we suggest a black and white pattern, so it doesn’t disappear against the pink wallpaper. Then layer different hues of pink bed sheets in your bed along with throw pillows — go fuzzy if you can to add different textures.
Pair everything with matching white nightstands and a dresser. The white will make the pink pop everywhere in the room and give you that Barbie aesthetic that you’re looking for. Add a tulle canopy above the bed for extra drama.
Accessories
Photo source: Society6
Pick up accessories for every surface and make sure they’re in the same color palette as the rest of the room. Grab a pink poof, hot pink sheer curtains and various Barbie-centric art prints, like this fun one from Society6. Add a gold metal lamp and a few baskets to introduce different textures to the room.
Living room
Photo source: Oh Joy!
While you went extra in your bedroom, consider a modern take on Barbie’s pink dream house for your living room. You can still use pink (we promise!), but you’ll incorporate lighter pinks, golds and marble to create a calm, welcoming spot with Barbie’s influence, just like this example from Oh Joy!
Grab a coffee table that has gold accents (this one is a good bet) to accentuate the different pinks you’ll be bringing into the room. Add a pretty in pink rug with a Moroccan pattern and trade your boring gray couch for a light pink velvet one. Take a look at this one from Wayfair — it’s fit for a queen.
Then mix and match throw pillows like these over the couch and your accent chairs for a little extra dimension. If your dining room is open to the living room, add some hot pink velvet chairs to create a sense of cohesiveness. Got open shelving? Display your collector edition Barbies for everyone to see.
Kitchen
Photo source: DD Ford Construction
We’re not sure your landlord will let you paint the kitchen cabinets (ask before you move forward — you never know), but there are still easy, rental-friendly ways to update your kitchen, Barbie-style.
Start with accessories — think towels, oven mitts and cutlery. Then trade any new appliances for pink-hued ones to match the rest of your Barbie dream house aesthetic. Check Goodwill, Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace for bargains on those counter appliances. Add a pink magnetic cover to your fridge for a little extra. If you have open shelving, add a few pink plates to it and if you can, switch the knobs on your stove for some fun pink ones, too.
If you need some inspiration, this kitchen from DD Ford Construction is perfect.
Bathroom
Photo source: DecorPad
Most apartment bathrooms are small and lack natural light, unfortunately. But that doesn’t mean you can’t add a little bit of Barbie-inspired decor to make it a bit more cheerful.
The biggest thing that will make a real impact in your bathroom is wallpaper. Choose a wallpaper with a small pink print and place it all around the bathroom — remember to select one that’s rental-friendly. DecorPad has a great example of a bathroom with subtle wallpaper design. A small print won’t look too crazy, given the size of the bathroom.
Ask your landlord if it’s okay to update the lighting and hardware in the bathroom. Once you get their approval, add a new sconce and gold or silver hardware to hang your pale pink towels from. Add a small bathroom rug and you’re done! It’s an easy update, and your bathroom will look more cohesive with the rest of your Barbie dream house.
In a Barbie dream house, you’re in Barbie’s world
With 200 careers and counting, Barbie has been inspiring girls and women around the globe with each iteration and release. She’s been everything from model to TV anchor to astronaut. But this icon has also inspired you to live your dream of a real-life Barbie dream house.
Just because you’re in a rental apartment, it doesn’t mean that you can’t fully enjoy a pink room from floor to ceiling and surrounded by your best plastic friends. You have the option of going full hot pink or move toward a millennial pink and gold combo for a modern take on Barbie.
By adding accents around your apartment, taking on rental-friendly pink wallpaper and changing hardware and lighting where you can, you can reach your Barbie-centric dreams.
