Looks We Love: 2020 Color of the Year: Classic Blue
Each year the world looks forward to the Pantone Color Institute's Color of the Year announcement. It informs trends in design for the next 12 months, with a variety of complementary palettes as well as the hue itself taking center stage. For 2020, that chosen color is Classic Blue—a dusky, cool shade that recalls the sky just after sunset.
The 2019 Color of the Year, Living Coral, was effervescent and bright but with a touch of warmth and comfort. Classic Blue for 2020 expands on the comfort quotient with a steadfast, grounding effect that inspires relaxation, protection and faith in the future.
While a deep shade like Classic Blue can seem a daunting choice to incorporate into your home's design, this stable and traditional color can be applied in so many ways. Here are some of our favorite ideas on how to use Classic Blue to keep your interior or exterior updated and on trend for the year ahead.
Go for Glass
Blue glass, especially in front of a window, brings the freshness of the outdoors inside in an unobtrusive way. Transparent glass mini pendants offer a decorative look without detracting from the rest of the room and can become a centerpiece when installed in a cluster. The shade of blue also shifts as light from the window pours through, deepening the colors at dusk as the sky darkens behind the glass. It’s this play of light that makes glass an almost living entity among your décor.
Outdoor Accents
An abundant natural color like blue (think: the sky) is a natural choice for any outdoor scene as just about any shade will complement other naturally occurring outdoor hues. Even if your outdoor space or furniture has an altogether different color scheme, Classic Blue will be hard pressed to look out of place under a wide-open sky. Try it in a small portable or go super bold with unexpected scale.
Upholstery Options
Blue can be a bold choice when applied in large doses. If you'd like to include this trend but your aesthetic is somewhat more neutral, consider a Classic Blue touch as an upholstery accent. A single blue line through an otherwise more sedate palette underscores your dedication to the fashion-forward while remaining refined. If you're more inclined to a loud statement, however, there are bright blue options available that are no less chic than their more understated counterparts.
Textile Touches
A less permanent (and potentially less costly) option for incorporating a new color into your décor is with textiles, like pillows and area rugs. These can be replaced or changed around with more ease than large pieces of furniture, but the impact they have as a bold stroke of color is undeniable. Whether you swap these around seasonally or just whenever the mood strikes, textiles let you play with colors like the Color of the Year without too much commitment.
As trends change and colors come in and out of fashion, it can be easy to worry that your chic choice today will look tired tomorrow. But keeping your selections timeless can serve you well, ensuring you're happy with whatever you choose for many years to come. Stick with modern silhouettes that are made to outlast seasonal trends, and they'll look great in any color—this year's or next.
