Pantone colour of the year 2023

Each year in December, Pantone announce their colour of the year for the year ahead. It is thoughtfully chosen, based on factors that they believe society needs, or could benefit from during the year ahead. The colour of the year is a trend forecaster, and so once it is picked, within days you’ll start to see that colour absolutely everywhere, from clothing to interior design, and more. With that in mind, in this post we’re taking a deep dive into the Pantone colour of the year for 2023, how to use it in your home, what lighting works with it, and more.

 

What colour have Pantone chosen for 2023?

Let’s get straight into it! Pantone have selected the shade Viva Magenta 18-1750 for 2023. The announcement was made at Art Basel, Miami, on December 1^st, 2022, and you can see the full discussion .

 

Why did Pantone choose Viva Magenta?

Pantone chose Viva Magenta because, as a shade close to red, it represents a “new signal of strength”. It is described as “brave and fearless… a pulsating colour whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative”. As a shade between red and pink, with purple undertones, Viva Magenta is a powerful, empowering shade that is cheerful, encouraging people to experiment with how they want to express themselves.

The Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, Leatrice Eiseman is quoted as saying:

“In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real. PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta descends from the red family, and is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known.

Rooted in the primordial, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta reconnects us to original matter. Invoking the forces of nature, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta galvanizes our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength.”

 

How do Pantone choose their colour of the year?

As we’ve already mentioned, Pantone makes their choice for colour of the year based on the current goings-on in the world. Their research is conducted by Pantone experts, who draw on influences such as creations by the entertainment industry, the worlds of art, fashion, design, as well as aspirational travel destinations, different lifestyles and so on. There may be influences from technology, world events such as sports competitions, socio-economic trends, and more.

Since there is a huge connection between colour and emotion, the choice of colour of the year tends to capture the collective, overarching mood of the world’s population. Viva Magenta is a joyful colour, full of hope – which, considering the current economic climate, we could all do with a bit of.

A clear example of how this has worked in the past is the choice of colour of the year for 2020. Pantone chose Classic Blue (19-4052) to signify calm, confidence, and connection as we transitioned into the new decade – all of which was deemed to be important as we moved into an entirely new era. Of course, we don’t need to tell you about how those qualities were all things we came to need personally and collectively as the pandemic took hold around the world and lockdowns started to happen.

 

What colours go with Viva Magenta?

Pantone suggest a palette of muted hues to complement Viva Magenta – and considering the boldness of the shade, it is not surprising that their experts have deemed it necessary to balance the brightness of it. In the ‘Magentaverse’, you’ll find:

• Pale Dogwood (13-1404) – a pale rose pink
• Gray Sand (13-1010) – a light shade that evokes the colour of the beach
• Gray Lilac (13-3804) – a warm grey with purple undertones
• Pale Khaki (15-1216) – a light brown with yellowish undertones
• Fields of Rye (15-1115) – a light brown
• Agate Gray (15-6307) – a greenish grey
• Plein Air (13-411) – a light blue with grey undertones

While it is a vibrant hue, it is close to the colour of cochineal, which is a naturally occurring dye. That means it is also possible to choose colours that you’d find in nature to work with it. Deep browns, greens, blues, and yellows can all be used alongside Viva Magenta, as well as metallic shades of silver and gold.

 

How do I use Viva Magenta in the home?

There are a number of ways that you can use Viva Magenta in your home, whether you want to go all out, or you just want to add little hits of colour throughout a space. If you can see yourself bringing this bold shade into your home, let’s look at the ways that you can bring it in.

 

On walls

Wall décor is the logical place to start. For individuals that are brave and are committed to using Viva Magenta on their walls, it is worth thinking particularly carefully before you use it to paint everywhere. Viva Magenta is a darker shade, and so you’ll need to look at the space you’re decorating. Small rooms, and those that lack sufficient light may be overpowered by Viva Magenta – however, it can be a great choice in colder rooms, offering the illusion of warmth. And of course, you don’t have to use a single colour on every wall! You can paint a single wall, or a couple, depending on the space.

That said, accent walls need to be used carefully to avoid looking dated. Some designers are using accent walls to draw attention to architectural features, while others are using colour to create accent corners, rather than painting whole walls in a particular hue. Finding a wallpaper that has Viva Magenta in the design can also be an option, and choosing wallpaper with texture can also be far more interesting than a flat coat of paint.

 

As Viva Magenta is such a strong colour, if you’re using it on the walls, rather than using lots of different colours with it, keep it simple. Use Viva Magenta as the primary colour, and pick one or two shades to accompany it. Particularly in smaller spaces, a colour such as Viva Magenta can overwhelm, and if you use too many other strong colours in the space, it may simply be too much.

 

 

On soft furnishings

If you’re already thinking you don’t want to paint your walls this shade… well, we don’t blame you. Viva Magenta is a really bold choice of colour to use in interior design, and most of us have had to paint over a darker shade in our homes at one point or another – it can be a bit of a mission, to say the least! Luckily, you don’t have to fear the day you have to use multiple coats of paint to cover up a bold colour – you can simply use the colour in other ways.

 

 

Rather than going all out with Viva Magenta, the easiest way to bring the shade into your home is to use what interior designers refer to as ‘pops of colour’. This means choosing soft furnishings such as curtains, cushions, lamp shades, throws, bedding, rugs, and so on in the shade. Using this approach, you have complete control over how much you want to bring in. If you want to add those pops of Viva Magenta on your walls, look for bright artwork, prints, or photographs that feature the hue.

 

As the main colour on furniture

Another option would be to pick furniture in the hue – a bold magenta sofa, or a headboard for a bed certainly make a statement, but they can be expensive. A lower cost, and lower commitment way would be to find temporary covers. Throws and stretchy covers can do this for you, without needing to buy a brand new sofa, or headboard.

 

 

Alternatively, if you fancy an upcycle project, then an old piece of wooden furniture can be sanded down and finished in Viva Magenta – and the same goes for metal pieces such as filing cabinets and shelving.

 

What lighting goes with Viva Magenta?

Choosing the right lighting is always an important decision when you’re decorating your home – and of course, you’ll be looking for a number of different types of lights, including ambient light, task lighting, and accent lights. There are a few finishes that you can look for that will look great with Viva Magenta, so let’s take a look at the types of lighting to choose from.

 

 

Yellow gold and brass tones

As a bold, jewel-like tone, a great choice is to work with gold and brass lighting. The Edit Greenwich ceiling pendant in antique brass works wonderfully with Viva Magenta, and acts as a statement piece without being too busy, or detracting from bold colours.

 

 

To ground the brightness of Viva Magenta, then look at those other colours that Pantone have in the Magentaverse palette. The Edit Carlton Ceiling Pendant in antique gold and mink suits the Pantone palette perfectly. The antique gold is a gorgeous rich tone, and the mink shade is grounding against Viva Magenta.

 

 

We wrote about it on the blog before, because it is such a fantastic choice of lamp! The Edit Malta glass touch table lamp in brass finish works brilliantly with Viva Magenta. Featuring aged brass details and a white faux silk shade, as well as three-step dimming, the Malta lamp works perfectly in bedrooms and living rooms.

 

 

If you’re looking for decorative lighting in a room that features Viva Magenta, consider the Edit Bank glass flush wall light in amber. With warm antique gold tones and amber glass, this wall light is gorgeous and creates interesting shadows – both functional, and beautiful.

 

 

Silver tones

As with gold, silver and chrome can be used alongside Viva Magenta, since silver tones are simple enough not to compete with the powerful red-pink hue. Similar to gold toned lighting, you can select sleek, elegant styles, or look for light fittings that sparkle for an even more decorative effect.

For ceiling lights, the Etienne flush ceiling light in chrome offers a gorgeous simple yet sumptuous effect.

 

 

Ornate chandelier styles work beautifully too – the Edit Bank glass chandelier in amber is a great example for a luxurious space. If simpler styles suit your taste better, look for bar pendants and LED ceiling lights in chrome or silver or even gold finishes.

 

 

You’ll find plenty of wall lights and lamps in silver, chrome and nickel that suit Viva Magenta too. Our favourites include the Edit Wimbledon Glass Wall Light in polished nickel, and for a bit of fun, the Edit Theo table lamp in silver.

 

 

Earthy, natural tones

Balancing out the brightness of Viva Magenta might feel tricky, but with neutral, natural materials, it is less so – which is why the team at Pantone selected the muted hues to round out the ‘Magentaverse’ palette. With materials such as wood, rattan, and even stone hues, earthy tones are a great balance to the brightness of Viva Magenta.

The Iluzzia Huela rattan ceiling pendant light is a lovely neutral option, while the Yagis wood five light bar ceiling pendant in natural and white (also available in natural and black) brings the feeling of the outdoors in.

 

 

The Edit Spectacle flush wall light in rattan is a striking piece that casts interesting shadows on the wall, while the Lucide Jantine table lamp in rattan is a great piece that complements it for additional brightness.

 

 

Black and white

When you’re not sure what to use to pair with a colour, you can’t go wrong with either black or white. Both black and white provide contrast with Viva Magenta, and so if the room is visually busy, then choosing lighting in black and white tones is a good choice.

It is easy to find ceiling lighting in black or white – the difficult bit is narrowing it down to which ones are going on your shortlist! We absolutely adore the Paris 10 arm ceiling pendant light in black. It is simple yet striking, and is a feature light that isn’t fussy. If you prefer a white light fixture to contrast with Viva Magenta, then the Edit Ballnew Ceiling Pendant in white is a gorgeous option.

 

 

If you’re searching for wall lighting, the Iluzzia Monah wall light with plug is an easy install, and features white and wood tones that gently complement Viva Magenta. To add more brightness to a space, check out the Edit Slim LED wall light in black.

 

 

In terms of lamps, we love the Edit Tripod floor lamp in black, and the Lucide Goosy soft tripod floor lamp in white is a great way to bring natural texture into a space featuring strong colours such as Viva Magenta.

 

What other colours have Pantone chosen for colour of the year?

Pantone have been choosing colour of the year since the year 2000, and the colours have varied wildly – and some years, they have chosen two colours that complement each other. The past ten years have seen vibrant shades, (even when they chose grey as their colour in 2021, they paired it with the sunny yellow of Illuminating!) and you can see the complete list back to the year 2000 here.

2012 – Tangerine Tango (17-1463)

2013 – Emerald (17-5641)

2014 – Radiant Orchid (18-3224)

2015 – Marsala (18-1438)

2016 – Rose Quartz (13-1520) and Serenity (15-3919)

2017 – Greenery (15-0343)

2018 – Ultra Violet (18-3838)

2019 – Living Coral (16-1546)

2020 – Classic Blue (19-4052)

2021 – Ultimate Gray (17-5104) and Illuminating (13-0647)

2022 – Very Peri (17-3938)

 

What are the numbers after Pantone colours?

Being specialists in colour, it makes sense that each slightly different shade would need a unique identifier. The numbers and sometimes letters after a Pantone shade are a bit like a numberplate on a car – simply a way of ensuring you’ve selected the right one. You can read all about Pantone numbers here.

 

Is Pantone the only company that chooses a colour of the year?

Absolutely not! There are a number of other companies that select a colour of the year, to influence the trends, both in terms of interior design and fashion, as well as other design. Three of the major influences picking colour of the year:

• UK paint powerhouse Dulux have selected Wild Wonder for 2023, a lightly glowing hue that is reminiscent of natural straw in the summer. This makes it a great neutral shade, without being boring.
• US paint specialists Benjamin Moore have chosen Raspberry Blush 2008-30, a bold coral tinged with pink as their colour of the year for 2023.
• Graphics experts Shutterstock chose Digital Lavender as their colour of the year for 2023.

 

Our final thoughts

When you’re working with a bold colour like Viva Magenta, you have to get the right lighting. But differences in screen brightness, and the fact that things simply look different when you get them home means that ordering lighting online can be intimidating – you don’t want to get the wrong thing. That’s why we created the Change Your Mind guarantee, so that when you order from us, you can change your mind up to 30 days after your delivery date.

Whether you’re adding large amounts of Viva Magenta to your home, or you’re just adding pops of it throughout your home, don’t forget to tag us in your Instagram posts @online_lighting, so we can share with our followers too.