Pantone Colour Of The Year: 2018

New year, new colour!

The Pantone Colour Of The Year is an amazing tool for design. Whether its interiors or fashion or beyond, industries around the world use the colour of the year as their reference.

The Pantone Colour Of The Year has been around since 2000, but Pantone itself has been around since 1963. The process to determine the Colour of the Year is still a mystery to many, but as the Pantone senior vice president Ron Potesky has said, “The complexity of the logic behind Color of the Year is greater than interior design or fashion—it’s a forecast, a reflection of what’s happening in the world.”

Coming up with the Colour of the Year is a complex process, taking up most of the second half of the year. The team, consisting of around 20 people, attend important cultural and lifestyle events, including runways, decorator shows and car shows. Taking bits and pieces from all of these different industries, they interpret everything that's happening around us into a colour that represents societal changes and upcoming trends.

That brings us to the 2018 Colour Of The Year.

Ultra Violet.

This year will be a year for bold colour and blending it with exciting accents. From using a bright violet with gold accents to mixing Pantone Colours with the 2017 colour to create a beautiful balance of purple and green, 2018 will be an exciting year for design. In recent years the Pantone Colours have been refined and soft, with soft pinks and blues, to a notable marsala. Back in 2014 there was a captivating purple; 'Radiant Orchid'. We're now seeing its more mature counterpart, a deeper purple which can be used to create lush, inviting spaces. I'm thinking a rich velvet and a nice hot tea, makes you feel cosy and warm.

Colour can be daunting for anyone with little experience in decor or design. If you're worried about overdoing it, start small. A throw rug, a cushion, maybe even some mood lighting if you're into that. You could even get some flowers or potpourri in a glass vase. Starting small is easy, think of something interchangeable, for instance a quilt cover, and try those pieces.

If you're feeling a bit more adventurous you could get an armchair, some drapes or maybe even reupholster some dining chairs. Giving your space a bit more 'oomph' with colour this year could be exactly what your space needs. A lot of people worry about a space feeling too clinical, that there's not enough personality and using colour is a way to show that. This year is not only a colour of deep violet, it's a year for bold colour choices. It's the beginning of a colour revolution! Gone are the days of grey, white, and soft pinks. Bring on the new year with deep, rich colour and bright, joyful hues!

#decor #interiordesign #pantone #ultraviolet