via Parker Kennedy Living
HAVE YOU HEARD?! Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year was announced and it is….drum roll please…Living Coral. I feel great about it. With the darkness of winter, we could all use a little Palm Springs in our life. Now, I know coral isn’t exactly a super popular home decor color, so today, I’m giving you some inspiration on how to use Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year.
First thing’s first, you don’t have to make your space “loud” with coral; like anything, you can pepper it in. If you like neutral spaces, you can still have neutral spaces. The great thing about coral is that it fits perfectly with a neutral palette because of its underlying warmth. You can use it in subdued hues so it gives more of a pastel vibe. Have you ever seen coral and bamboo together? Heaven.
Speaking of coral and bamboo, remember the vintage chairs I just bought? I’m 99% sure of the fabric I am choosing; aaaaaand it’s in the coral family. It’s a little orange, a little red, a little coral on a beige-y background and it’s glorious. It’s by Genevieve Gorder and is similar to this one that I used in a dining room design (in green) earlier in the year, but more casual (and less money!).
Here’s How to Use Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year
via Elle Decor
1. Fabric
via Apartment Showcase / via Chinoiserie Chic
You can use Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year as a supporting character in your space; you don’t have to be “all in” just yet. Think of all the different fabric uses: you have upholstery, pillows, curtains, to choose from (however large or small). If you’re up for a DIY project, you can make your own curtains or roman shades, and even reupholster some furniture like I’m doing!
Everyone is super into classic wallpaper and fabric patterns as of late, so finding a fabric that showcases a little pop of coral won’t be too difficult. Don’t knock florals quite yet, though; if you like neutrals, florals are a really great way to add some pops of color that are just enough to brighten your space and give it some life. If your style is classic, conservative, or traditional, then florals are probably within your comfort zone.
Chinoiserie is super popular right now, so if you like that old world style, this is your year! If you’ve ever seen Tory Burch’s Hampton’s house, you’ll know that the many homes aspire to look like they belong in the English countryside. Layers of color and pattern from fabric to wallpaper give such a cozy and familiar feel; kind of like your grandma’s house, but in the very best way possible.
2. Wallcovering
via Bradshaw Designs / Janie Molster Designs
I’ve been obsessed with Pierre Frey’s textiles for a looooong time. The wallpaper above is called “Arty” if you’re interested. If you scroll down to #4, you’ll see the same print is used as a fabric. It’s seriously the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I’m loving that in each of these bathrooms, the vanity is painted coral! We are seeing a lot of painted vanities as of late as more people are embracing a colorful and fun decor style (FINALLY!).
3. Vintage
via HGTV / via HGTV
One of my favorite things to do is to take a vintage dresser or table and paint it a bright color. I did it in my own home with a beautiful side table that I painted Klein Blue. Its brass legs make the blue pop and it’s magical. A lot of vintage is already a coral color so have fun hunting!
Side Note: I have a really hard time painting over natural wood, especially vintage wood. So, if you come across a vintage piece of furniture that is not already painted, maybe just leave the wood be? I am mostly talking about painting vintage furniture that is already painted.
via Parker Kennedy Living
You already know, I loooove me some vintage. I love burl wood, I love Asian inspired decor, I love it all. This space takes it to a whole other level though. Parker Kennedy brilliantly mixes coral in various patterns throughout the space; and if you didn’t already know, dark gray is a natural partner of bright coral. The warmth of the wood, the muted vintage rug, the modern bedding. ACK so good.
Pro tip: When using a lot of color and/or pattern, it’s best to feature bold but minimalist artwork (as pictured above).
4. Accents
via Design Manifest
As mentioned before, this gorgeous roman shade was made with Pierre Frey’s “Arty” fabric. A little note about this kitchen: it was part of the One Room Challenge a while back and has been a favorite of mine ever since. I love the playful pattern and color, offset by the white and black. It’s enough color to give a beautiful lightheartedness, but not over the top as to alarm guests. In my opinion, it’s absolutely perfect and if I could afford a luxury fabric for my vintage chairs, this would be the one I would select.
This is a great example of a relatively neutral and masculine room brought to life by coral and pattern. It takes a certain type of person to just go for it, so this might not be suitable for everyone. But, if you are looking for the WOW factor, you can’t find a better example than this.
5. Rugs
via Anthropologie / via Anthropologie
Are you starting to come around on Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year? You can use it as a loose guideline, certainly. Different hues make all the difference. Take the rugs above: the left is more pastel and muted and the right is accented by umber earth tones. Seriously, you wouldn’t believe all the colors that look fantastic with coral. If you are scared of using a bright or lighter color palette for a rug, remember I posted about using outdoor rugs indoors and in which rooms.
6. Furniture
via HGTV
via Anthropologie
Are you wanting to use Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year in a bolder way? You’re my kind of person. Any furniture vendor that has a boho or vintage vibe, like Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters, will have plenty of coral options. Also, if you’re wanting to jazz up your current upholstery, a coral couch or chair could be really beautiful.
I know I’ve told you about my experience reupholstering a vintage sofa and how I will NEVERRRRR do it again, and I stand by that, but if you have a normal shaped sofa with clean lines, reupholstering yourself (or even sewing up some fun dining chair covers) is totally doable. It’s when you have a vintage piece of furniture with a ton of wood detailing, tufting, and staples that things get tricky really fast.
7. Fun Nook
via House Beautiful/ via HGTV
When I first moved to NYC, I went to a friend from church’s home. Well, it wasn’t really her home. She was a live-in nanny for another family from church and it was their home. They actually lived in the apartment that belonged to the director of The Sopranos (if memory serves). They had a bunch of kids and I remember sitting in their dining/craft nook. It was lovely! The nook was different than the rest of the kitchen and I will never forget how special it felt. It felt like I was sitting in a giant hug.
Creating a special space is something you will never regret. You know I’m a big fan of dining nooks, reading nooks, and basically all small cozy spaces. So if you’ve been on the fence about making a colorful nook in an area that might not be the funnest (like the laundry room or mud room), I say DO IT.
8. Outdoors
via HGTV / via Kiki’s List
Last but not least: the great outdoors! Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year is best friends with all shades of blue and turquoise. It mixes well with a bright and fun palette, so let your heart decorate with abandon. If you are afraid to bring color into your home, no worries, color might suit you best when it’s outside.
A painted door, coral flowers, outdoor pillows, painted pots, you can have it all. Give your home some colorful curb appeal with a simple coat of paint. You can offset the brightness of the coral accents by using a lot of white and beige-y tan shades. It will look phenomenal, I promise.
Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year is really a great choice because it matches pretty much every style. Coral, when mixed with white, can be very neutral and can even look great in a more masculine and modern space. It looks equally beautiful when paired with natural accents like wood and woven. It’s all about balance. Hopefully, you discovered a new color to add to your decor palette, and are inspired to bring a little sunshine into your life.
-Kristen
You might also like…