Pantone’s 2017 Colour of the Year: Greenery

The Pantone Color Institute unveiled their colour of the year for 2017 inspired, in part, by the current cultural climate. Greenery symbolizes many things, but this year it’s specific to the environment; the “Go Green” movement, along with food resolutions, a disconnect with technology and a reconnect to nature.

That’s a lot to take in, but for me what I love about this colour trend is that it reminds me of magnificent trees, that witching hour of a forest at dusk or a jungle field of emerald-hued fauna.

I love the outdoors so incorporating nature’s neutral into home décor seems like an obvious step for me, but I also recognize it’s not a colour choice for everyone. Different shades of green can denote different perceptions: It can be brash, bold, too loud or too muddy. It can overwhelm a space, as it can diminish. So my advice in trying to incorporate this hot hue is to take it slow, while following a few simple rules:

* Find the right hue for you. Greenery comes in many shapes and forms, so do your due diligence and search paint samples, prints and wallpapers in its varying shades. You don’t have to adhere to the specific (and blinding!) shade of green Pantone is going for, you can find different tonalities that are more subtle and rich in their shades. Think: an elegant green, not an obnoxious one.

Image from lusterinteriors.blogspot.ca

* Use it in your space as a feature element, not an accessory. Don’t just buy a cushion or a vase in the requisite colour, but try something more pronounced, like wallpapers. Wallpaper is having a major moment in design this year and it’s a beautiful way to add colour and texture. Find inspiration in Buckingham Palace interiors or an English countryside home.

* Grasscloth is making a comeback: Do you remember grasscloth from the ‘60s and ‘70s? Well, it’s coming back but this time with new, modern designs being used in dynamic new ways. Made of woven plant fibres, it will lend a natural texture to any room and can add a pop of colour to any contemporary space. It’s earthy, organic quality makes it very special.

Greenery can be subtle, and it can be beautiful. Try it out and let me know what you think!