If you’re a designer or design enthusiast, you probably look forward to Pantone’s Color of the Year announcement every December or late November. Neutral- and warm-color-lovers were quite surprised, though, with the reveal of Very Peri, Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2022; though recently, we have been seeing the Color Authority go for more cool-toned, futuristic color picks (such as Ultimate Gray and Illuminating in 2021).
I find the periwinkle hue quite unusual and was exploring how it would work in decorating trends when my friend Kitty Ricafort asked me to write an article about the Color of the Year for her lifestyle/mom/passion project blog Simple Not Simple. Now Kitty and I worked in the same office back in the day, and as she was a fashion editor, she really has the styling chops (New York-educated! Lots of editorial experience! An awesome writer and editor!), and she also has mad DIY skills, which she showed in her fascinating family home that we featured years ago.
In my article “New Year, New Hue for 2022! How to Introduce Pantone’s ‘Very Peri’ into Your Home” for Simple Not Simple, I explain the nature of the color itself and how not to be afraid of using this unusual hue in decorating your home. Here’s an excerpt from my article:
“Pantone’s Color of the Year announcement is one of the most awaited events in the design industry, as the chosen color—which is chosen by Pantone experts based on studies of trends over the years—is used in creating products in the interior, product, and fashion design fields. The color authority’s declared pick for 2022 is Very Peri, which, according to the site, is a “daring and courageous color” meant to reflect the changing sensibilities of our world.
Inspired by the color periwinkle, Very Peri is a medium-violet tint with a sharp undertone of blue, and this is where ‘daring and courageous’ comes in: it can be a bit tricky to use!
Unlike other past, popular Pantone Colors of the Year which were mostly in the warm tones that go well with beige, brown, and other toasty neutrals, Very Peri is a cool hue, and thus works best with other cool tints such as blue, mint green, pure white, cool gray, and other colors in the lavender-purple family. So, if you are not used to cool colors, I’d say it is safest to use Very Peri in white, light beige, and light gray interior palettes.
But it’s still quite easy incorporate the Color of the Year into your home. Here are some suggestions on how you can use it:
1. In pillows, throws, and other soft furnishings. Throw pillows in Very Peri would stand out against a white or light beige sofa…A Very Peri throw would look great on an L-shaped gray or “greige” sofa, too.
2. As paint in a children’s room. Very Peri is a nice, unisex hue that isn’t as predictable as baby pink or powder blue. Plus, this color grows up well; and can be used up to the tween and teen years!
3. In nature—through your plants and cut flowers. Orchids, long-lasting purple statis (this can be dried and used for a very long time), or even simple mums all come in this beautiful, soothing color.”
Note: While I loooove fresh cut flowers, if you find this unaffordable to keep up regularly (like most of us!) you can also buy high-quality artificial flowers. The ones at Rustan‘s Flower Shop and at Flourish are almost like the real thing!
You can read the full article in Kitty Ricafort’s Simple Not Simple blog by clicking here!
Main image from the Pantone official Facebook Page.
Rachelle Medina 