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A new year has finally arrived! While we may not know what 2024 has to bring yet, we hope this year brings a sense of goodness and comfort to everyone.
At least, that’s what Pantone is hoping for with their colour of the year for 2024! Hoping to embrace the future with open arms, Pantone has gone a little lighter than before with its recent orange colour, Peach Fuzz.
Interior Designer at La-Z-Boy Kingston, Mary Lee Smyth, is a tried-and-true Pantone lover and finds the Pantone Colour of the Year 2024 as “a creamy soft and delectable shade of light orange.”
So, you might be wondering, what goes well with this colour? How does Peach Fuzz fit in your home? This article will cover everything you need to know about Pantone’s colour of the year for 2024 and how you can incorporate it into your home today.
In This Article…
Before we discuss the colour of the year, you may need clarification on Pantone itself. The company Pantone is known as the leading colour expert worldwide.
With a wide array of colour selections to choose from, Pantone surpasses far beyond any other colour company. They provide various services to various companies, such as picking the right colour for brands, consultations for perfect colour combinations, and educating those interested in emerging colour trends.
Every year, Pantone, along with other notable colour companies, chooses a colour that will set the tone for the upcoming year. They do this by looking at trends from the past year across different industries like home design, advertising, social media, technology, fashion, and everyday life.
After carefully considering different tones for different meanings, they release a colour that shows what they hope to see in the upcoming year.
If we were to take a look at 2023’s Colour of the Year, Pantone introduced a vibrant red toned magenta that captured your attention immediately. Viva Magenta represented appreciation and strength for the year to come.
Pantone has picked colours of the year for 25 years now, and their process is very thorough, according to Pantone associate, Laurie Pressman.
“The Pantone Color Institute created the Pantone Color of the Year educational program in 1999 to engage the design community and colour enthusiasts around the world in a conversation around colour. We wanted to draw attention to the relationship between culture and colour–to highlight to our audience how what is taking place in our global culture is expressed and reflected through the language of colour.”
In their 25th anniversary, Pantone picked a colour that was more soft to the eye and much less bold in appearance, in contrast to last year’s colour. Although Peach Fuzz may not be the loudest colour in the room, it can still make a statement.
Pantone picked Peach Fuzz as this year’s colour of the year because it represents a sense of warmth, coziness and nurture.
Since the pandemic, there has been a colour trend that goes past what we know as monochromatic. Neutral colours are no more and soft coloured tones are becoming very popular. While they may seem subtle at first, they can drastically change how a room looks with a simple tonal change.
That’s what Peach Fuzz does! Instead of going for a cooler tone like Very Peri or Viva Magenta, Pantone encourages the warm tones to flourish and be welcomed with open arms.
As mentioned before, Mary Lee is a Pantone fan and is always up to date on all the colour trends and design trends for 2024. “I always have my Pantone colour picker with me whenever someone needs a better visual of what I’m describing,” she says.
The way Mary Lee interprets this year’s colour as a “gentle orange that’s looking to give a warm hug to anyone it sees. It’s not a true orange or a coral colour–it is a Georgia peach.”
She also notes that this colour is a nice palette cleanser that refreshes our eyes with clarity. “As much as we like to think we’re finished with the pandemic, we’re not. It’s still looming over us and is still affecting lots of different people. That, along with other things like inflation, people are looking for any positive outlook in or out of their homes.”
That being said, this shade of peach is a great example of complimenting rooms with a subtle colour that won’t look great on a wall, but may also compliment your skin as well.
So, how can Peach Fuzz complement your colour palette? How does this colour work well in your home?
Well, reflecting on Pantone’s main inspiration behind Peach Fuzz, Mary Lee states that this colour could do well within a room that has lots of sunlight. “Now, an all-white living room can look great with a large window, but if you want the illusion of the sun warming up your room, Peach Fuzz could be the way to go.”
Using a light orange colour to compliment a room with lots of sunlight is a perfect example of letting the warmth in. Not only is this perfect for anyone who loves a lighter orange tone, but this colour can help with encouraging positive vibes.
She also states that pastels can complement this light orange colour as well. Because oranges and greens go well together, Mary Lee suggests using an eggshell green could help with creating a nice pastel theme.
The pastels are a perfect example of a spring colour pattern that could go well with decorating for spring. Take a look at this article on How to Decorate for Each Season.
Pantone also has some interesting colour palettes from their website!
As mentioned before, Pantone’s colour of the year for 2024 is more than just a subtle light orange colour–it can change the mood of a room with a simple wall colour change.
Mary Lee states this year’s colour may look appealing to a more female audience, due to its feminine softness. However, it can complement lots of different skin tones with its warmth.
She also states that it does not need to be bound to just the living room. She also says it can make a strong impression in a washroom or even a walk-in closet.
In terms of furniture pieces, Mary Lee says a tan leather sofa could complement this colour very well, especially when going for a light-themed room. “Leather can also help bring in new textures and add more depth to a room.”
La-Z-Boy has many leather sofas available that can come in a light tan cover. To learn more about our selections, take a look at our Top Leather Sofas, article.
Specifically, she notes the Pinnacle Leather Reclining Sofa, as a great choice with its puffy exterior, creating more depth in a room. You can learn more about the Pinnacle Furniture Family with this article.
Lastly, Mary Lee also states that walls are not the only thing you can add Peach Fuzz to. If you’re looking to sprinkle this light orange colour across your living room, adding orange sofa pillows and throws can also help bring warmth to your room in a big way.
Now that you know the inspiration behind Peach Fuzz and what it can bring into your home, do you think you would enjoy this colour of the year?
As with any colour, Peach Fuzz may not be right for everyone. Mary Lee believes that women may enjoy this colour more than men, due to its lightness and soft colouring. “Historically, women do enjoy pastel colours that aren’t too aggressive,” she notes.
However, there may be some men out there that may enjoy this colour, simply because it can help lighten up a room. Light warm colours like Peach Fuzz, as mentioned before, can compliment anyone's skin’s tone, and help bring a little bit of colour to a dull room that needs changing.
Mary Lee also encourages those who like this colour to pair it with either greens or blues. If you have any navy blue accents in your room, adding Peach Fuzz to the mix can help create more personality and depth to an already exuberant environment. “Blues and oranges normally go well if you’re trying to create an ocean themed room,” she says.
Pantone might be the most anticipated colour each year, but they are not the only colour company that shares predictions. Other companies have released their 2024 top colours, reflecting a different perspective on what they expect in the coming year.
Sherwin-Williams chose "Upward" as its 2024 Color of the Year, a gentle and attractive blue with subtle red undertones, a touch of gray, and hints of natural green qualities.
Whether used for a Scandi slow living ambiance or coastal vibes, Upward serves as a soothing contrast to the hectic pace of contemporary life.
There is also Behr's 2024 Colour of the Year, Cracked Pepper, which defies the trend of brighter near-neutrals by embracing a bold black. This luxurious charcoal shade demonstrates that darker colours can exude a soft, cozy, and comfortable feel while making a strong statement.
Whether employed as a focal point in a classic setting or as an anchor in a modern space, Cracked Pepper, a top seller in Behr's Designer Collection Palette, deserves its Colour of the Year status for various reasons.
Lastly, Benjamin Moore's 2024 Color of the Year, Blue Nova, is a mid-toned blue that strikes a balance between warmth and coolness.
Described by Andrea Magno, the brand's colour marketing and development director, as a "captivating, otherworldly" colour, Blue Nova is designed to evoke the magical spirit of twilight. Its matte finish not only provides a velvety feel but also offers versatility, making it suitable for adding an approachable touch of excitement to various elements such as kitchen islands, cabinetry, and front doors.
As you may have noticed, these colours of the year have no in-between, they are either very soft, or they are really bold. This is an ongoing colour trend that will continue throughout 2024, which you can learn more about with this article.
As mentioned before, Peach Fuzz is not for the faint of heart. It is a colour meant to make a statement in your home and hopefully revive the lost excitement you once had for your room.
With that being said, do you have the personality for Peach Fuzz?
You can start by checking out our complimentary design services to see how Peach Fuzz can work in your home. Working with an interior designer like Mary Lee can help relieve the stress of doing it yourself and make the process seem effortless.
Visit us at any of our furniture stores in Ottawa or Kingston or book an online appointment to talk to a design consultant if you have any questions or concerns.
If you’re looking for some inspiration from La-Z-Boy, check out our Pinterest Board dedicated to Peach Fuzz!
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