Color of the Year is Best in Small Doses

The 2018 Pantone color of the year is a rich purple often seen on royal robes, the sky at dusk and unicorn manes.

And according to the Pantone Institute, “PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.”

But when it comes to model home merchandising — or home design in general, Ultra Violet may be easy to overdo, say NAHB member experts.

“Many purple shades are truly beautiful, but this year’s Ultra Violet is so intense,” said Lita Dirks, CEO of Lita Dirks & Co. in Greenwood, Colo.
“Because it’s so strong, it feels to me that it will be best used in small amounts: pillows, edging, accent pieces, art, accessories – but not all in one place,” she added.

Pantone’s annual selection — the 2017 color is a bright spring green — is intended to reflect “one moment in time that provides strategic direction for the world of trend and design,” the institute says.

Some paint companies also name a color of the year, and the 2018 selections are quite different.

“I’m more fond of Benjamin Moore’s color of the year, Caliente – a spicy, rich red that enhances almost any color it’s paired with,” said Mary DeWalt, president of Mary DeWalt Design Group in Austin, Texas.

“The Sherwin Williams color of the year is Oceanside – a deep, rich blend of blues and greens, not quite blue not quite turquoise. It’s soothing and exciting at the same time, and my personal favorite for color of the year,” DeWalt said.

When it comes to Ultra Violet, “It might be best to actually ‘feel’ this color,” said Dirks, “Meaning, use it as a fabric, a wallpaper accent: something artsy, so it can actually be touched. It could prove very interesting and sensual.”

Laura K. Sullivan, principal and lead interior designer at Idology in Asheville, N.C., agrees.

“I love the depth and richness of the Pantone color of the year. Trending now are deep, bold hues that create a dramatic effect. This color does just that. I would design a space using the color of the year on one component of the room, whether it’s a wall color and all other items in the space are contrasting, or it’s just used as an accent color in accessories or artwork,” she said.

This article is a post on NAHB’s NAHB Now blog.