Happy New Year, friends!

I decided to start off the year talking about the annual Pantone Color of the Year – Classic Blue.

It’s one of my personal favorite colors because it’s so versatile while still being so timeless.

From the Pantone release: “Instilling calm, confidence, and connection, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.”

Leatrice Eiseman, the Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, goes on to say: “…Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking; challenging us to think more deeply, increase our perspective and open the flow of communication.”

Whooooo I do love some goooood color communication copy! You can read more about how these colors are chosen here, where I talk about the years I was involved in the annual color selection for Color Marketing Group.

So let’s take a look at some ways you can add a dose of calm, confident connection to your paint, interior or wedding planning.

Pantone Color of the Year – Classic Blue Paint Colors

More than one paint company picked a classic blue as their own Color of the Year, Sherwin-Williams’ choice of ‘Naval’ being a particularly strong selection. Here’s some inspiration to get us started:

This color as paint can be a little tricky. It’s pretty susceptible to light conditions, which is one of the reasons it’s filled with such depth. However, this can make it hard to get just the color you want. Even more important than usual, SWATCH SWATCH SWATCH! Don’t trust your computer screen or even the paint chip. Paint actual paint on a piece of poster board or right on the surface you are changing. Be sure before you by the full gallon!

01 top left: Formentera by Backdrop
02 – top center: Stiffkey Blue No. 281 by Farrow & Ball; NOTE: F&B’s archival color Drawing Room Blue is really a better match to Pantone’s Classic Blue, but unfortunately F&B’s archive colors cannot be sampled – however, if you’re up for the $$$ risk, it’s a truly phenomenal blue
03 – top right: Indi Go-Go CSP-565 by Benjamin Moore
04 – bottom left: Very Navy M500-7 by Behr
05 – bottom center: Chinese Porcelain PPG1160-6, PPG’s 2020 Color of the Year
06 – bottom right: SW6244 Naval, Sherwin-Williams’ 2020 Color of the Year

You’ll also notice there is a quite bit of a swing in tone between each of these colors. That’s because much like the sky or the ocean, blue shifts depending on the brightness and color of the light. There’s a blue for every situation – you just have to be willing to try a couple before you choose.

If you need some help figuring out which of these colors is just the right one for your home, let me know!

Pantone Color of the Year – Classic Blue Interior Design

This shade of blue is the least risky ‘risky’ shade you can add to your home. There are so many great products on the market right now – search ‘Indigo’, ‘Shibori’, ‘Blue Willow’, or even just ‘Navy’ to get all kinds of Classic Blue in your home.

And here are some products currently on the market to add a little Classic Blue to your home:

01 – top left: Karlanda 3 Seater Sofa Cover, regular fit, long skirt, Brera Lino / Indigo – Bemz
02 – top right: Shibori Stitches wallpaper by twigged – Spoonflower
03 – center right: Eva Tassel Pillow Cover, 20×20 Midnight & 12×21 Harbor; Pryce Pillow Cover, 22×22 Navy & 12×21 French Blue – all Serena & Lily
04 – center right: Cremieux Cotton Denim Comforter – Dillards
05 – bottom left: Sandford Handwoven Flatweave Leather / Cotton Blue Area Rug – Wayfair
06 – bottom right: Tyronza Button Tufted Cube Ottoman – AllModern

And there you have it! So many ways to add a little, or a lot, of Pantone’s Classic Blue to your life.

May you have a very Happy and Healthy 2020, and if you EVER need help figuring it all out, just give me a holler! I’m here to help!