What Does Pantone's Color Of The Year Have To Do With Me?

If you follow color forecasts in the interior design industry, you would have seen Pantone's 2019 color of the year color pick - Living Coral

Pantone's Color Of The Year - Living Coral. Image Via Pantone's Website

But, if you are not an industry insider, what does color of the year really mean to you?

"What does it have to do with me?" is a very valid question you might ask. Well, the answer is something and nothing. Haha. Maybe not the answer you were hoping for, but Pantone's colors of the year do affect us in some way each year.

The fact is that this color will likely show up in a lot of household goods and fashion. In fact, runway fashion sometimes influences the color choices. Take a look at what inspired the choice for 2019. This is a quote taken directly from Pantone's website

"Vibrant, yet mellow PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment.

In reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media increasingly embedding into daily life, we are seeking authentic and immersive experiences that enable connection and intimacy. Sociable and spirited, the engaging nature of PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity. Symbolizing our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression.

Representing the fusion of modern life, PANTONE Living Coral is a nurturing color that appears in our natural surroundings and at the same time, displays a lively presence within social media."

Image Via Wix Media Gallery

I think that is such a great approach to choosing the color that will influence a lot of consumer goods, which will ultimately end up in your home. I love taking my color cues from nature, and coral is actually one of my favorite colors. If color works great in nature, chances are, they will work in your home too. It is how you apply the color that matters.

Image Via Wix Media Library

Whether you set out to infuse this trend into your home or not, you may end up with it in some form or another, simply by going shopping for clothing or household goods. Decorating with it is a whole other matter. There is a right way, and a not-so-right way.

The thing to avoid, is making the trend too dominant in your home, unless that is the intention. If coral is not your color, don't even give it a second thought. The danger however, is that homeowners will go shopping for furnishings without the help of an interior designer, and will end up purchasing what retailers have chosen for you as the trend. And before long, you have an entire room full of the latest trend. This doesn't just apply to color, but to furniture styles and motifs. Remember mirrored furniture? I have seen homeowners go to zGallerie and fill a whole bedroom with mirrored furniture - mirrored dresser, mirrored nightstands, mirrored canopy bed, mirrored mirror. Lol. That is a successful sale by a retailer, but unfortunately, not successful decorating. That is trend overload and your home will not look authentic.

If you are into the color coral and you would like to incorporate it into your home, then there are ways to do it where it does not feel overly trendy.

Living Room Designed By Veronica Solomon | Photographed By Miro Dvorscak. The coral pillows add just the right amount of color without over-committing to it

Living Room Designed By Veronica Solomon | The coral pillow is a great contrast to the blue. The color intensity was kept similar for both the blue and coral

Vignette Designed By Veronica Solomon | Art does not have to be selected to match the rest of the room

Here are a few ideas of how to incorporate the color trend into your home without being trendy

**Use the color in accessories and pillows.

**Avoid painting walls or one accent wall. It is ok to paint walls with the color if you really love it, but you have to be very intentional about that and balance it in the rest of the room.

**Layer several shades of the color into the space. If you look at the photo above with the goldfish; notice how there are several shades of the color? This is a great way to create some dimension with the color

** Layer other colors that contrast.This will create a bit more drama in the space

**Bring it in through nature - like fresh flowers and fruits. That way it does not even have to match anything else

**If it is a fun color, use it in a kid's bedroom or playroom. It is ok to go a bit more daring and bold in these areas without appearing trendy

**Use a more sophisticated version of the color. There is no rule that you have to use the color exactly as it comes out of the paint can. Below, the leather chairs are an off-spring of orange, which is the base color of coral.

**Incorporate the color into artwork. Art is very personal, and should be chosen because it speaks to you, and not necessarily because it matches the room.

**Incorporate into larger upholstery pieces

Foyer Designed By Veronica Solomon | Fresh flowers are a great way to bring color into a space

Girls' Nursery Designed By Veronica Solomon | In a kid's space, you have more freedom to go bold with color without it feeling trendy

Vignette Designed By Veronica Solomon | The butterscotch shade of the leather chairs gives a nod to the color trend, but are still very classic and timeless

Hopefully I have answered the question, "what does Pantone's color of the year have to do with me?" You can definitely incorporate it in your home without over-committing, or you follow the trend to a tee if the color is your jam. Chances are it will end up in your home somehow through shopping. But you can simply ignore it altogether if it really has nothing to do with you.

School Room Designed By Veronica Solomon | Use color in larger upholstered pieces if you really love the color and not just following a trend

If you would love to incorporate this or any other colors of the year in your home, but not sure how, book a color consultation with me HERE

You can also check out my color resources page HERE. I share tips on how to incorporate color into your home without fear. You can also snag my curated list of 12 colors of the year at the same link.

Thanks for stopping by!

Veronica

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