Pantone Fall/Winter Color Palette Is Bold But Familiar

The popularity of most core colors ebbs and flows with the seasons, for example jewel tones in the winter months and pastels in the warmer months, but other shades come in and out of fashion from year to year, and the Pantone® Color Institute has a lot to do with those trends.   

Pantone® is a standardized color matching system and a world-renowned authority on color. Each season, the institute releases its “forecast,” which predicts color trends that influence everything from fashion to branding to home decor. The institute also names a color of the year, which often becomes ubiquitous. 

The colors chosen for the Fall/Winter 2019/20 season are bright, varying, and reflective of the current nostalgia for 80s and 90s fashion styles.

From the Institute: “Colors for autumn/winter 2019/20 reflect an emergence of confidence; bold and strong, a visceral palette of colors that are relateable yet display some clever tweaks for the winter season. Expressing our wide-ranging acceptance of color, combinations for Autumn/Winter 2019/2020 suggest a thirst for liberation and a desire to realize our own individualized unique identities."

The colors for the Fall/Winter 2019/20 season are: Chili Pepper, Biking Red, Creme De Peche, Peach Pink, Rocky Road, Fruit Dove, Sugar Almond, Dark Cheddar, Galaxy Blue, Bluestone. Orange Tiger, Eden; with a focus on core colors of Vanilla Custard, Evening Blue, Paloma, and Guacamole.

A Bit of Color Psychology

The seasonality of colors isn’t just dictated by trends. Studies have suggested that our color preferences are swayed by the seasons...meaning that our feelings about a certain color and its variants is based on our experiences with things of that color! For example, vibrant oranges and yellow-greens are likely to be more popular in the autumn because we associate them with fall leaves or pumpkins, whereas we might be “over” them by the winter; shades of blue are always popular because we associate them with clear skies and clean water.

Let’s take a look at the interchangeable items you can move about in your decor to create a seasonal vibe in each area of the home.

Lighting

The ceiling is an oft-forgotten part of the room that can add dimension and color to your space’s palette. If you’ve never considered paint or wallpaper here, give it a thought! In the meantime, add seasonal color by changing out the shades on your chandelier, sconces, or pendant lighting. If you have the option, flip your ceiling fan blades to a cooler shade.

Area Rugs

Changing the flooring isn’t easy, but switching out your area rug is a simple way to incorporate seasonal color into your color scheme. Consider a rug in a  solid color if you have patterned furniture, or a patterned rug to complement furniture that is mostly solid. 

Runner rugs can be added to places like halls, entryways, and stairs to add shades of the season as well as add depth and pull a room together. 

Colorful throw rugs can be used in entryways to welcome guests, to transition to a separate area of the home, or in front of a kitchen sink. 

Accent Furniture

Accent furniture pieces are referred to as such because they are generally minor furniture pieces that are expendable, interchangeable, and can often be a color that is complementary of the dominant furniture color. 

If your couch is a neutral color, you have a lot of flexibility here. Swap out your accent furniture like chairs, end tables, and ottomans with the changing seasons.

Accent Pieces and Decor

If swapping out furniture is not feasible, consider table runners, placemats, trays, throw pillows, and blankets for a smaller visual impact. Candles, candle holders, vases, lamp shades, and floral arrangements can also be easily replaced. Consider the new trend of Maximalism and don’t be afraid to combine various colors and patterns.

Closer to the ground, choose baskets, chests, and small stools in seasonal shades.

Kitchen and Appliances

Small appliances can act as decor pieces when placed strategically on countertops. A range hood can be a beautiful large color piece in addition to acting as a focal point. Cabinet hardware is a small change that can make a large visual impact and go a long way toward a designer look in your kitchen. 

Swap out kitchen towels, tablecloths, and placemats for decorative ones or those in the colors of the season.

Color Scheming

Working these gorgeous seasonal colors into your home decor needn’t be challenging. Choose one or two shades you like and that complement each other and your decor and have at it!