Pantone's 2019 Colour of the Year: Designers' Reactions
Designers from around the world weigh in on the vibrant colour forecast for the new year
On December 6, Pantone announced its pick for 2019’s Colour of the Year: Living Coral. Describing the shade as “vibrant yet mellow”, Pantone suggests that coral is a nurturing shade that bridges the natural and digital worlds and “symbolises our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits”.
A colour for discerning tastes
Sonia Simpfendorfer, creative director at Australian colour consultancy Nexus Designs, says coral has the potential to be very popular. “Pink has been a dominant colour recently – pastel pink, calamine pink, dirty pink – the whole spectrum of pinks, and it’s brought some loveliness and calmness to interiors,” says Simpfendorfer.
“Coral is something quite different. Strong and welcoming, its energy is warmer, more playful and inclusive,” she says. “I see coral as being a related colour to emerge from the massive resurgence of interest in red bricks, which is something that we’ve been tracking. It’s like a washed, worn, classic brick colour. Really liveable and familiar.”
“Coral has the warmth of red, the carefree sense of orange and the romance of pink,” writes Singapore-based Nikki Hunt of interior design and decorating practice Design Intervention.
Sonia Simpfendorfer, creative director at Australian colour consultancy Nexus Designs, says coral has the potential to be very popular. “Pink has been a dominant colour recently – pastel pink, calamine pink, dirty pink – the whole spectrum of pinks, and it’s brought some loveliness and calmness to interiors,” says Simpfendorfer.
“Coral is something quite different. Strong and welcoming, its energy is warmer, more playful and inclusive,” she says. “I see coral as being a related colour to emerge from the massive resurgence of interest in red bricks, which is something that we’ve been tracking. It’s like a washed, worn, classic brick colour. Really liveable and familiar.”
“Coral has the warmth of red, the carefree sense of orange and the romance of pink,” writes Singapore-based Nikki Hunt of interior design and decorating practice Design Intervention.
What colours complement coral?
The starting point for using coral in an interior is finding good pairings. As with many colour combinations, natural associations dictate schemes in the home to a great extent.
“I always learn from nature – it is a brilliant colourist and the best teacher,” says Irina Krasheninnikova, an interior designer and Houzz contributor based in Russia. “The perfect combinations for me: coral and grey-brown – rowan berries on bare branches; coral and juicy green – rosehip in carved foliage; coral and honey – barrels of ripe apples.”
The starting point for using coral in an interior is finding good pairings. As with many colour combinations, natural associations dictate schemes in the home to a great extent.
“I always learn from nature – it is a brilliant colourist and the best teacher,” says Irina Krasheninnikova, an interior designer and Houzz contributor based in Russia. “The perfect combinations for me: coral and grey-brown – rowan berries on bare branches; coral and juicy green – rosehip in carved foliage; coral and honey – barrels of ripe apples.”
According to some of the designers we surveyed, one reason coral could be destined for greatness in 2019 is because it fits in with some of the natural schemes we’ve been looking at this year. Beyond this, it seems that pairing coral is a matter of taste.
“Coral is an easy, natural fit with fresh white, soft greys and a small amount of black, along with lighter [timbers], but it is particularly interesting when paired with pale blues and dirty purples, too,” says Simpfendorfer.
“I would mix coral with aquamarine or a pale green,” says Alexandra Gorla, a French interior designer. “I would also warm it with some touches of brown, yellow ochre, or gingerbread. It can also work in harmony with rose or powder and nude, but it can easily be too much. It could also work with purple. And if you want to combine it with blue or green, go with blue steel – which has grey mixed in – and khaki.”
“Coral is great if combined with greens – sage, emerald, water – even beige and rope are very good with it. Powder pink is nice too,” says Lovisolo.
Decorate With Pink Without Going Into Shock
“Coral is an easy, natural fit with fresh white, soft greys and a small amount of black, along with lighter [timbers], but it is particularly interesting when paired with pale blues and dirty purples, too,” says Simpfendorfer.
“I would mix coral with aquamarine or a pale green,” says Alexandra Gorla, a French interior designer. “I would also warm it with some touches of brown, yellow ochre, or gingerbread. It can also work in harmony with rose or powder and nude, but it can easily be too much. It could also work with purple. And if you want to combine it with blue or green, go with blue steel – which has grey mixed in – and khaki.”
“Coral is great if combined with greens – sage, emerald, water – even beige and rope are very good with it. Powder pink is nice too,” says Lovisolo.
Decorate With Pink Without Going Into Shock
Which colour combinations are questionable?
Many colour combinations prove controversial. “Yellow could be very hard to make work and I’d give the pink-and-green combo a rest too,” says Simpfendorfer. “Coral could work with olive though.”
Italian interior designer Lia Lovisolo agrees. “I recommend avoiding colour combinations with yellows,” she says. “Coral and turquoise is always a beautiful pairing, whether it is fashionable or not. It’s perfect with light woods – don’t combine with amber and dark woods.
Japanese colour specialist Mayumi Amimura says we should be careful when pairing coral with other warm colours, such as red and orange, which could make the coral feel too warm. “Even if you love warm colours, using too much of it will strengthen the effect and you might not be able to relax,” says Amimura.
Many colour combinations prove controversial. “Yellow could be very hard to make work and I’d give the pink-and-green combo a rest too,” says Simpfendorfer. “Coral could work with olive though.”
Italian interior designer Lia Lovisolo agrees. “I recommend avoiding colour combinations with yellows,” she says. “Coral and turquoise is always a beautiful pairing, whether it is fashionable or not. It’s perfect with light woods – don’t combine with amber and dark woods.
Japanese colour specialist Mayumi Amimura says we should be careful when pairing coral with other warm colours, such as red and orange, which could make the coral feel too warm. “Even if you love warm colours, using too much of it will strengthen the effect and you might not be able to relax,” says Amimura.
Ways to introduce coral at home
There are plenty of options for adding touches of coral to your interior. “An easy way to integrate and play with a bright colour in a room is to start small and simple, such as through accent pillows and throws,” says Jennifer Ott, architectural colour specialist and Houzz US contributor. “These pieces offer a dash of colour that isn’t overwhelming, and they are not a big commitment since they are affordable enough to swap out down the road if you get tired of the colour.”
There are plenty of options for adding touches of coral to your interior. “An easy way to integrate and play with a bright colour in a room is to start small and simple, such as through accent pillows and throws,” says Jennifer Ott, architectural colour specialist and Houzz US contributor. “These pieces offer a dash of colour that isn’t overwhelming, and they are not a big commitment since they are affordable enough to swap out down the road if you get tired of the colour.”
Gorla agrees, adding that rugs, armchairs and ceramics can easily be used to introduce a splash of coral to a room. Simpfendorfer also sees this shade as being perfect for textiles. “Coral is easy to use in dinnerware and table accessories, and I’d also consider using it as bedlinen – in actual real, crumpled, natural linen – nothing shiny or too smooth,” she says.
Ott suggests using the colour to underscore other features as well. “Because Living Coral is such a striking colour, it can be called into service to bring attention to interesting architectural elements in your home,” she says.
“Keep in mind that if you attempt to make everything in a room stand out, then nothing does. So use the vivid hue thoughtfully, on only those elements worth the attention.”
Decorating With Tertiary Colours
“Keep in mind that if you attempt to make everything in a room stand out, then nothing does. So use the vivid hue thoughtfully, on only those elements worth the attention.”
Decorating With Tertiary Colours
Which rooms does coral suit?
On the question of where to use coral, many pros focus on its affect on our mood and wellbeing. Amimura believes coral can add a touch of happiness and cosiness to a room. “Adding coral to a ‘colder’ part of the home, such as powder rooms and dressing rooms, would help add warmth,” says Amimura. “However, using coral all over the room might be too much. In those cases, placing green at eye-level would help bring out coral’s beneficial qualities”.
On the question of where to use coral, many pros focus on its affect on our mood and wellbeing. Amimura believes coral can add a touch of happiness and cosiness to a room. “Adding coral to a ‘colder’ part of the home, such as powder rooms and dressing rooms, would help add warmth,” says Amimura. “However, using coral all over the room might be too much. In those cases, placing green at eye-level would help bring out coral’s beneficial qualities”.
Ursula Kohlmann, a German-based painter agrees. “Coral is a great colour for a bathroom: It puts you in a good mood in the morning,” she says. “In living rooms, it’s a good idea for the less brave to paint one or two accent walls in coral – for example, the wall behind the sofa or the dining table – and the rest of the room in a grey-beige colour. In dark rooms coral is perfect for creating a bright, warm and cosy overall effect.”
Browse more contemporary bathrooms
Browse more contemporary bathrooms
When it comes to wall colour, Simpfendorfer says the kitchen area is also a contender. “Its warmth and golden undertone make it versatile, so it works well with food but it’s also a relaxing colour despite its strength,” she says.
Japanese colour specialist Akitsu Katsuura agrees. “Coral’s reddish tone can help boost the chef’s motivation in the kitchen,” says Katsuura. “However, since the kitchen is rather a small space, it is better to use just a small amount of it. Otherwise it will be too much.”
Japanese colour specialist Akitsu Katsuura agrees. “Coral’s reddish tone can help boost the chef’s motivation in the kitchen,” says Katsuura. “However, since the kitchen is rather a small space, it is better to use just a small amount of it. Otherwise it will be too much.”
Gorla says coral is particularly suited to public areas in the home, such as an accent wall in a dining area, a sofa in a living room, or even in children’s bedrooms.
“It can also be used profitably in outdoor spaces, on a balcony or poolside, like in Mediterranean countries,” says Anne Azoulay, a French-based interior architect.
“It can also be used profitably in outdoor spaces, on a balcony or poolside, like in Mediterranean countries,” says Anne Azoulay, a French-based interior architect.
What finishes and lighting complement coral?
As with most colours, a few tips and tricks can help coral put its best foot forward.
“The trick with using coral well is in the choice of gloss level,” says Simpfendorfer. “It is most desirable when kept in a matt or low-gloss finish. When in high gloss it can take on quite a synthetic appearance – which could be fun, but it’s not as sophisticated.”
As with most colours, a few tips and tricks can help coral put its best foot forward.
“The trick with using coral well is in the choice of gloss level,” says Simpfendorfer. “It is most desirable when kept in a matt or low-gloss finish. When in high gloss it can take on quite a synthetic appearance – which could be fun, but it’s not as sophisticated.”
Katsuura agrees and advises coral enthusiasts to steer clear of high-sheen finishes. “By choosing a matt paint that reflects the light very softly, you can create a more gentle and calm space with a coral colour,” says Katsuura.
Russian designer Daria Kharitonova also points out that the temperature of light bulbs should be considered. “In cold daylight this coral becomes greener, but in the warm light of a light bulb it will be redder and cosy,” says Kharitonova.
Tell us
Have you used coral with success in your home? Share your tricks in the Comments below and like, save or share this story and its images. Join the conversation.
More
Craving a touch of coral at home but not sure how to pull it off? Chat with a local interior designer or decorator for some expert advice
Russian designer Daria Kharitonova also points out that the temperature of light bulbs should be considered. “In cold daylight this coral becomes greener, but in the warm light of a light bulb it will be redder and cosy,” says Kharitonova.
Tell us
Have you used coral with success in your home? Share your tricks in the Comments below and like, save or share this story and its images. Join the conversation.
More
Craving a touch of coral at home but not sure how to pull it off? Chat with a local interior designer or decorator for some expert advice