It’s one of the things that many homeowners struggle with: deciding on paint colors. That’s why Pantone releases its yearly picks and this year it’s all about colors that exude calmness and romance.
The soft color palette is what Pantone predicts will be popular in 2017. The company’s picks were influenced from current design trends including metallics and black-and-white imagery. Hollywood also had an impact with its bright, trendsetting colors from films like Disney’s Inside Out, The Peanuts movie, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
“Color and design are at a crossroads, Leatrice (Lee) Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, explained.
“We are all familiar with consumers’ constant desire to see something new; yet they still want, in many cases, to have somewhat of a familiar comfort level,” said Eiseman. “We have to assess our customers’ aspirations by using credible forecasts as a guide to invigorated color design palettes that will inform and encourage new color directions. The question is: What can we do to tweak our color palettes to make consumers stop and take notice?”
Pantone says that in 2017 unexpected color combinations that seem a “discordant” but still work together will be rising trends.
Colors that inspire health and wellness like shades of green are becoming very popular.
Here’s a look at the nine distinctive groupings from the 2017 Pantone® View Home + Interiors palettes that were unveiled at the Housewares Show earlier this year.
Day Dreaming – This palette is a continuation of the Color of the Year pastel theme, with colors that evoke thoughts that are light and weightless….in contrast to the heaviness of day-to-day stresses. A key here is that other colors, such as Yellow Iris and a Nile green, are used to expand on the blue and pink.
At Ease – A step from Day Dreaming, At Ease is grayed down for more of a sophisticated feel. A variety of ever popular neutrals, both cool and warm, are blended with muted tones in a way that seems effortless.
Native Instincts – Style-wise, current and future forecasts point to a homogenous mix of design and color where a piece of Native American pottery is compatible with a Turkish kilim carpet and/or a pre-Columbian artifact. Likewise, this palette offers bold colors like a smoky orchid and a Carmine red along with softer Earth tones.
Florabundant – Just like its name implies, Florabundant is filled with the sumptuous beauty of rich floral hues. This palette offers a lot of drama from Pink Yarrow, Chrysanthemum, Red Dahlia and Baton Rouge and includes varying shades of green.
Acquired Taste – In both food and surroundings, an acquired taste means an appreciation for the distinctively different. Such is the case with this palette which offers a mix of colors and/or textures not commonly seen together, yet they combine for a palette that is subtly luxurious. Colors include Orange Chiffon, Pale Gold, Mulberry, Brandied Melon, a dove gray and a muted pink.
Forest Bathing – This stress-reducing palette is inspired by the Japanese practice of “Shinrin-yoku” or forest bathing. Studies have shown that a contemplative walk in the woods reconnects the individual with nature and elevates their mood. Several shades of green and blue-green are enlisted, which are contrasted by Grape Kiss and a refreshing Acid Lime.
Reminiscence – A different kind of walk – a walk down memory lane – is the mood conveyed here. Traditional shades like Maritime Blue, Sepia Tint and Rattan convey a sense of nostalgia and stability, but the mix of new colors like murky Martini Olive and Bird’s Egg Green keep the palette feeling fresh.
Raw Materials – Both the re-use and re-purposing of materials from nature and the health and wellness movement are represented in this palette. Zephyr Pink offers an unexpected pop of color against the many, more natural tones.
Graphic Imprints – Described by Eiseman as “great fun,” this palette starts with a base of black and white but then pulls in a series of strong, vibrant colors with names that tell a story themselves: Blazing Yellow, Dazzling Blue, Prism Pink, Fandango Pink, Opaline Green and Orange Popsicle.
See popular 2017 colors from Sherwin Williams
Courtesy photos: PANTONE & Getty