So Pantone have announced the Colour Of The Year for 2014. If you haven’t already heard, it’s Radiant Orchid – a mix between purple and pink.
Pantone Colour of the Year 2014 – Radiant Orchid
Pantone describe it as a captivating, magical and enigmatic. It is intriguing and will spark the imagination encouraging expanded creativity and originality. Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.
Radiant Orchid in the home
The colour is, what I call, “knocked back”, meaning it has some black in it making it a bit muddy. Not a fresh clean colour.
Yet look at the colours from the past years.
Emerald, a lively, radiant, lush green, was the Color of the Year for 2013. This vivid, verdant green, was intended to enhance our sense of well-being and promote balance and harmony. When you think of Emerald you often think of the precious gemstone and therefore the colour has a sophistication about it. It’s a bright, clear, clean colour.
Emerald
In 2012, it was all about Tangerine Tango, a vibrant orange giving us the energy boost we all needed, apparently. It was dramatic yet seductive and emanated heat and energy. Again, a bright, clear, clean colour.
Tangerine Tango
In 2011 we were asked to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor and Honeysuckle was just the colour to help us. It was a captivating, stimulating colour that instilled confidence and courage. It’s bright and clean with no added black.
Honeysuckle
And who could forget the gorgeous Colour of The Year in 2010, Turquoise. We all needed to take things a bit easy and the combination of serene blue and invigorating green helped us escape from the everyday. There’s nothing dirty or muddy about Turquoise.
Turquoise
Mimosa, a warm, engaging yellow, was the Colour of the Year in 2009. As we were starting to emerge from the depths of the GFC, yellow as a good colour to give hope and reassurance.
Mimosa
In 2008 we had Blue Iris and 2007 – pre Global Financial Crisis we had Chilli Pepper. This is the last time we had a colour that was dirty. Chilli Pepper is red with a touch of black giving it that more stable, lived in feel.
Blue Iris
Chilli Pepper
So does that mean our troubles are over for now and we can get back to some solid colours that are a little bit grubby, a little bit lived in, rather than surrounding ourselves with bright shiny things?
What do you think? Will you be throwing some Radiant Orchid around your home?
Radiant Orchid in the bedroom
If you would like assistance choosing a colour palette that suits you and your home, contact us for a consultation.
