Once again, the Pantone Color Institute has selected its Color of the Year. Greenery (PANTONE 15-0343) is the shade for 2017. It’s a zesty yellow-green that’s refreshing and invigorating—a color that calls to mind flourishing foliage and the lushness of the great outdoors. Designers are calling Greenery “nature’s neutral,” and it’s expected to breathe new life into the home this year. While we may not see a lot of Greenery as a dominant color in the home for major elements like cabinetry (though it is an eye-catching, bold choice for those looking to shake up their living space a bit.) but the experts say that it will serve as a vibrant accent color. You can expect it to show up in both the kitchen and the bath in the form of painted walls, backsplashes, accessories, and even countertops. Greenery adds a revitalizing color pop to interiors this year, so it’s a shade you’ll want to get to know.
Every year, Pantone picks a color that sums up society’s collective mindset in one single expression. To determine which shade will stand out as the defining color in any give year, Pantone conducts a trend analysis across various fields of design, in addition to examining socio-economic trends and shifts across the globe. They look at politics, fashion, beauty, tech, architecture, street art, design trends, and more and base the decision on which color is gaining traction across the board. The idolized color experts at Pantone say that Greenery is a color of renewal and rebirth. It calls to mind the first days of spring, when Mother Nature revives, restores, and renews.
As Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute Leatrice Eiseman says, “Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the hope we collectively yearn for amid a complex social and political landscape. Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate, revitalize, and unite, Greenery symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another, and a larger purpose. Through its reassuring yet assertive vibrancy, Greenery offers us self-assurance and boldness to live life on our own terms, during a time when we are redefining what makes us successful and happy.”
As the most used rooms in the home, the kitchen and bath are often the first spaces homeowners and designers focus on when they’re looking to freshen up. Greenery is a fantastic color to use in the kitchen—a room that’s designed to sustain life. In fact, Greenery is a life-affirming shade that blends well with today’s most popular cabinet finishes. For example, Greenery paired with white cabinets is a very cheery palette. There’s a special sense of calmness and welcoming that comes from contrasting white and green. On the other end of the spectrum, pairing Greenery with black finishes adds a sense of modernity. Black helps to ground the eye while the vibrant green pops, making it a very impactful pairing. Plus, Greenery is a natural fit with just about any wood finish. Just as the various wood species in nature blend beautifully with shades of green outdoors, interior wood finishes are a perfect fit with Greenery.
Pantone says that Greenery is “emblematic of the pursuit of personal passions and vitality,” making it an inspiring color in the bath as well. It may feel a bit bold on its own, but Greenery is a natural complement to a wide range of color palettes. The list of complementary shades that work well with Greenery is virtually limitless. With its undertones of cool blue and vibrant yellow, Greenery is a great harmonizer. When used in the bathroom, hints of Greenery can help remind you to take a deep breath and enjoy the moment.
Green in this shade was once though of as rather outrageous. However, today homeowners and designers alike appreciate a color that works well with an array of other shade. So, now Greenery is seen as more of a universal shade—a neutral. And this is one of the reasons we’ll see it used more and more as a countertop surface.
While it is a “natural neutral,” you won’t find natural stone countertops in shades of Greenery. But you will find this color in solid surface and quartz— manmade materials that are quickly approaching natural stone in terms of “most specified” in the kitchen and bath due to their durability, flexibility, and expansive color palette. Check out Silestone’s Green Fun [https://www.silestoneusa.com/color/green-fun/], a shade similar to Greenery. Laminate is another option for bringing bold green inside to your countertops. Check out Formica’s Vibrant Green.
Just remember, when using bold colors it’s all about balance. A little goes a long way, so have some fun with “nature’s neutral” indoors this winter. It’s sure to breathe new life into the home, making it feel like spring all year long!