Classic Blue – Pantone Colour of the Year 2020
Has it really been a year since Pantone said Living Coral was the color for 2019? How many people used this color in their homes? Or bought a coral-coloured dress?
I think the color of 2019 practically shouted its existence but not many of us could integrate it into our lives so it quietly slipped away, a bit like my 21st birthday. Loud, bright, and fun but best forgotten! :)
Why Classic Blue?
Classic blue, however, is just as loud but in a subtle way. It’s not as aggressive as its predecessor and, as Pantone has put it, “a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on”.
As living coral was such a strong color, I couldn’t see it being the centerpiece of a room and more of a color of accents and cushions.
Classic blue however is so versatile it can be used on walls, floors, large pieces of furniture, and soft furnishings. But hasn’t it all been done before? I’ve had Stiffkey Blue in my bedroom for three years and I find myself increasingly turning my back on blue and going for more adventurous colors.
Blue is still a decor favorite
Blue is already such a popular colour within the home and perhaps we’ll see more of it next year on the catwalks. It is probably safe to say that most homes have blue in their décor from seaside-inspired bathrooms to dark inky tones in the kitchen.
Dark blues have been extremely popular over the last couple of years with Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue appearing in living rooms and kitchens, dark blue kitchen units, and painted woodwork.
After painting the kitchen white when we finished the renovation, I soon realized it needed more drama and we went for Hague Blue throughout the space. To see how it looked before, read my blog about our kitchen update here.
I think Classic Blue is neither navy nor cobalt, it sits happily in the middle, and for that reason, I believe it will continue to be a popular color choice for many home enthusiasts.
It is such a wonderfully versatile color that you can use it with a huge range of shades in every room. Pair it with canary yellow, tone it down with a dusky pink, or match it with forest green.
It can either be the centerpiece of a room or the piece that pulls a color scheme together. Who on Instagram is already using Classic Blue to fabulous results?
How can you use Classic Blue?
How can you integrate this into your home? Classic Blue is such an easy color to use, you can pretty much do anything with it.
Try painting a whole room this color, including the woodwork, or gradually add it as an accent wall. Get a blue velvet sofa and match it with abstract pieces of art. Jazz up your plain white kitchen with pops of blue from the kitchenware to lampshades and plant pots. The possibilities are endless!
- Brompton Midnight Blue Bed – Happy Beds
- Indigo Marvel II Framed Print – Beaumonde
- Velvet Cushion in Blue – Cox and Cox
- Fitzroy Lacquered Table Lamp with Terrazzo Shade – Cotterell & Co
- Once Upon Our Time Wallpaper – Minehart
- Hogan Blue Woven Basket – Habitat
- Branagh Sofa Bed in Electric Blue Velvet – Made.com
- Jordan Blue Rattan Pendant – Beaumonde
- Nashville Armchair in royal blue – Cult Furniture
- Studio Indigo Blue Tiles – Elobina
- Dip Dye Navy Rug – The Design Hunter Pty Ltd
- Plushious Velvet Dusky Pink Bedspread – French Bedroom
- Wish Poster – Juniqe
- As above
- As above
- Mid-century Media Console – West Elm
- Karlsson Mr Blue Clock – Ebay UK
- Blush Pink & Navy Geometric Cushion – Red Bubble
- As above
- As above
- Nashville Armchair in Pink – Cult Furniture
- Mid-century Storage Coffee Table in Acorn – West Elm
- Ankara Wool Kilim Rug – La Redoute
So, with a new decade upon us as we say goodbye to 2019, do you think you’ll use Classic Blue? Apparently blue is the world’s favorite color and I can see why.
We are consistently looking to nature and the great outdoors to help us reconnect with the world and blue instantly gives us a feeling of calm and well-being from the aqua of the seas to the azures of the skies.
As Leatrice Eiseman, executive Director of the Pantone Institute says, “We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on”.
Compared to recent Pantone colors of the year including Living Coral, Ultra Violet, and Radiant Orchid, I can see an abundance of this color in our homes, in fashion, and even down to the nail polish that we wear.
I like the color, but I really feel Pantone has played it too safe with the next COTY and although it is an easier color to use in the home than Ultra Violet or Living Coral, this will be forgotten for being too underwhelming.
