05 Dec 15

Colour Crush: Pantone Colour of the Year 2016

I always get a little flutter of excitement when a new colour trend is announced. I’m always thrilled to learn why it has been chosen and how that interprets our world view. So for the first time ever colour forecast experts, Pantone have announced a duo as their ‘Colour of the Year’ and they are Rose Quartz and Serenity . Both are a striking move away from the 2015 colour  which was deep and dramatic Marsala (dark blood red). One of Pantones reasons behind the choice of two opposing colours (baby pink and powder blue to the rest of us!) is a comment on the fluidity of gender, and the topic of transgender, which is prevalent in the press and fashion right now. Colour trend forecasts filter throughout art and design, fashion, music videos, product design as well as commenting on our present psyche. So these watery pastels are an interesting choice don’t you think? Any home decorating ideas springing to mind yet ? Here’s what pantone have to say:

“As consumers seek mindfulness and well-being as an antidote to modern day stresses, welcoming colours that psychologically fulfill our yearning for reassurance and security are becoming more prominent.”

So it appears in such troubling times, we are going to see the world painted in a rainbow of unicorn pastels! I can’t argue with that, everyone loves a unicorn right? As a decorating scheme these two pastel tones are a winning combination. You have the warm rose tones in the pink balancing out the cooler tranquil blue. Overall the combination is soft and soothing and so would work well for your home, if that’s the vibe you’re trying to create. And we could probably all welcome some peace in our homes as well as in the world at large.

Image source: Living Etc at Housetohome.co.uk

So how to incorporate the hot new trends into your home decorating ideas? Well I think as paint colours they’d both be a really successful choice- probably not together unless it’s the unicorn look you’re after! The worry with pastels is they can look childish, so consider balancing the look with some grown up greys. If I was styling this room up I’d mix it up with some concrete, scrubbed greyed wood, tarnished mirror and antique glass. I’d also err towards mineral tones of rose quartz and smokey grey blue and avoid the sugary shades altogether. I also think these pastel hues would look swell with an existing neutral scheme, or you could take them in their palest quality, a barely-there-pink or a whisper-of-smokey-blue to create your own almost neutral scheme.

Image source Nuevo-estilo

Its true to say that the latest hues also look delish with the other current trend for gold slipping into everyones home decorating ideas. Team with brass and smokey glass and your onto some serious retro glam lounge loving. If the overall pastel look is not your thang you could consider some well chosen accessories to bring your home up to date. Stick to the chalkier hues of pastels and I think the pastel trend stays on the right side of sophisticated

KitchenAid in guava Glaze, Kitchen Aid.

Urban Collective striped wool throw, £129, Lexington Company.

November Gorse matt emulsin, £36 for 2 ltrs, Paint by Conran.

Stay in Bed COY print, from £17.99 unframed, Art.co.uk 

Dillon small sofa in Cloud, £1159, Sofaworkshop.

Twig Barncoose candy cushion, £49, Persora.

Pantone universe mug, £9.95, OneStopColourShop.

[Featured image source: Ideal Home at www.housetohome.co.uk]