Pantone’s color of the year for 2020 is a classic comeback story, literally: it’s Classic Blue! Classic Blue is an almost-but-not-quite primary blue that you might have noticed regaining popularity in late 2019; the same blue that’s touted as having a calming effect on the mind. And that’s exactly the reason Pantone cites for choosing the color. 2020 should be a year to take a calming breath, re-center our thoughts, and find comfort in something simple and familiar. Blue has long been a staple of the design world, which makes it familiar. But this shade is meant to combine that sense of history with a soothing depth and invigorating and inspiring brightness. But how can you make the color work in your home?
The Quick Change: Updating Your Linens For The New Year
Compared to Pantone’s choices in recent years, Classic Blue might seem like an easy color to integrate into your decor. After all, who doesn’t like blue? But like 2018’s Ultra Violet, it’s a deep, rich color, and a little can go a long way. For a quick facelift, you really can just swap out your linens and a few extra accents. Especially if most of your room is neutral-toned (walls/floor/furniture), a few Classic Blue pillows and trinkets (like vases or table lamps) will make your space pop. You want to be sure to decorate with care; there very much is such a thing as too much blue. Over-accessorize, and you can easily end up with an accidental beachside/Cape Cod look, or worse a too-primary kid’s room color scheme.
Make It A Feature: Choose Classic Blue Accent Furniture
Of course, I recommend using a relatively light touch with any trendy color; after all, every Pantone choice technically has a one-year shelf life. But Classic Blue is a much more timeless shade than most – and one that’s been building up momentum lately. In light of that, I would say: don’t be afraid to choose furniture in this bold blue if you’re looking to upgrade or replace anyway. Blue velvet sofas are already hugely trendy (and don’t seem to be losing traction). Even a few blue accent chairs (upholstered or plastic) are a great way to brighten up your decor.
A Weekend Project: Pull Out A Paintbrush
The safest way to jump on any color trend is with a bucket of paint and a little elbow grease. This is particularly true with Classic Blue, because it’s a shade that scales up better than most. Whether you’re painting a bookshelf, your paneling, an accent wall, or a whole room, Classic Blue is bright enough to be eye catching and just dark and deep enough not to feel glaring in large quantities. That said, if you’re nervous, opt for a slightly darker tone or shade to mellow the color out. Want a slightly more involved project? Textured wallpaper in Classic Blue (or a nearby denimy hue) has also become a very popular option.
Commit To Classic Blue: Refacing Your Cabinets
2019 saw the downfall of the all-white kitchen. One of the biggest remedies for this too-light color scheme was a simple supplement: blue accent cabinets or kitchen islands. Resurfacing cabinets is a whole lot easier than replacing, and white cabinets are particularly easy to paint over; that makes this project an intuitive way to add a little splash of color to your kitchen. I’ve seen plenty of people opt for entirely Classic Blue cabinets, too. But if you’d like to keep a little white in your kitchen, you only need to paint either your upper or bottom cabinets or your kitchen island. It’s just enough to counteract an overabundance of white (and transform the look of your space) without breaking your budget. Bonus: this trick also works in your bathroom, as evidenced by the rising availability of blue bathroom vanities.
Make Your Exterior Pop With A Classic Blue Door And Shutters
Red has been a long-standing favorite color choice for accenting the outside of your home, particularly front doors, shutters, and even garden gates. It’s effective because it’s a primary color – bright, vibrant, visible from a distance, and distinctly different from the probably-neutral tones elsewhere on the exterior of your house. But Classic Blue can easily take its place for those exact reasons. If I’m being honest it might be my favorite place this color is popping up. It’s a super simple, totally DIY-friendly project that’s perfect for a mild spring day. Moreover, it’s a great way to perk up your exterior and give the front face added playfulness and personality. That’ll enhance your home’s curb appeal without having to go all-in for a big refacing, painting, or landscaping project.
Love Classic Blue? Layer It!
All that said, for maybe the first time since I’ve been covering Pantone’s color of the year, I feel good about saying: if you love Classic Blue, don’t be afraid to go wild with it. Paint, big furniture, small accents, the whole nine yards. If you love it, this is one Pantone choice you can get away with doing on a large scale without feeling like you’ll have to remodel nine months down the road. The caveat? Make sure you have something to break up the blue. Whether it’s wood furniture, white curtains, bright yellow pillows, or a red-based oriental rug, it’s important to leave yourself room to take a breath. Mixing different shades, textures, and patterns can also help you get away with a decor that’s heavy on the blue; you’ll get lots of that calming feel, but without feeling like you dipped your whole home in blue paint!
Classic Blue is unique in Pantone’s recent history of color-of-the-year choices in that it’s, well, classic! So if you’re looking for a simple, soothing color that’s both on-trend and timeless? Don’t be afraid to pick one of these projects and shape them around this bright, beautiful shade of blue.
