Pantone Colour of the Year 2022 is Here

The Pantone Colour of the Year 2022 is a red-infused violet blue named Very Peri. You might recognise it as the colour of Monica and Rachel’s apartment on Friends or David Collins Studio’s colour of choice for the leather seating at Artesian at The Langham London. Designed to encourage creativity, the shade is a dynamic combination of the dependability of blue and the excitement of red. It aims to encompass both our collective need for reassurance and our eagerness for freedom as we emerge from our time in isolation.

This year, and for the first time, a new colour has been created specifically for the Colour of the Year, rather than being selected from their existing spectrum. Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Colour Institute revealed that “creating a new colour for the first time in the history of our Pantone Colour of the Year educational colour programme reflects the global innovation and transformation taking place.”

Very Peri seems a complementary choice to last year’s yellow-hued Illuminating, which joined Ultimate Grey as the Colour of the Year duo designed to lift spirits with the hopes of a brighter twelve months. The two-part Colour of the Year was a break from tradition. This year, the tradition returns.

Pantone may consider purple to be known for its “unconventionality and artistic brilliance,” but this is not the first purple to be named Pantone’s Colour of the Year. Chosen in both 2018 with Ultra Violet and 2008 with Blue Iris, purple is perhaps not as unusual of a choice as you may think. Notably being selected in years where particular turbulence occurred, purple, for some, feels evocative of revival and change.

Much like Bright Skies (Dulux’s Colour of the Year 2022), Very Peri has been chosen for its optimism and hopefulness, ready for a year full of new possibilities. The shade “displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression.” Just what we need as the world opens up.

For many, when it comes to decorating our homes, the world of neutrals is where we feel the most comfortable. So, when a violet-toned blue is suggested, an initial intimidation can be expected. Harder to incorporate into your interior colour scheme than most, the shade requires careful consideration. However, once mastered, it has the ability to transform any space into one of confidence and celebration.

For a subtle introduction, establish the empowering shade in your home through smaller accessories such as wall art and coffee table books. Layer these accessories with a palette of classic neutrals for a look of timeless sophistication.

Cool neutrals and silvers enhance the colour’s blue undertones and keep the room understated, allowing Very Peri to pop in the space whilst you remain safely in your comfort zone.

Floral arrangements also offer an easy way of delving into the joyous hue. Try hydrangeas to perfectly complement a timeless space or combine with foliage for an eye-catching centrepiece to any dining table.

According to executive director Leatrice Eisema, Very Peri has “a dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expressions.” So, if you’re feeling brave, why not embrace the shade and opt for a bold approach?

Dive in with statement-making furniture. A velvet sofa or an upholstered coffee table in the violet shade can inject an instant revival to any space. Mix with an array of rich jewel tones to create the ultimate statement room. Or, reinvent your bedroom and layer cushions in a plethora of purple shades for a uniquely feminine feel.

For the past 23 years, colour experts at the Pantone Colour Institute have been selecting a shade that they feel encompasses the year ahead to be named the Pantone Colour of the Year. Often it’s the case that this colour sparks a worldwide trend over the subsequent twelve months, appearing in home renovations and infiltrating the art and fashion worlds alike.

After considering a multitude of factors: a reflection on the global climate, trend forecasting, and a lengthy discussion with industry tastemakers and leading colour theorists, the colour is chosen. The result is one that aims to encapsulate what consumers need, before they even know it themselves. Whether that be a colour that uplifts, inspires calm or one that sparks joy in our homes, Pantone never disappoints to preemptively decide just what design lovers crave.