Classic Blue
At the start of December, the most colour-educated of soothsayers Pantone, picked a universal favourite for the 2020 colour of the year. Drum roll please (for those who have been hiding under a rock) …………it is Classic Blue (19-4052).
The ethos and philosophy behind this choice is not worlds away from the 2019’s Living Coral. This is because it offers refuge, a help in communication and has oceanic connotations. As with most public campaigns nowadays, the coral choice received criticism for its insensitivity when coral is endangered. This context could feed into the argument that they played it safe this year with the most democratic colour. However, we like it. The overriding message is about peace, tranquillity, clarity, to expand our thinking and introspecting. It sounds like being on a retreat. What is there not to like, or not to crave - in these anxious times.
The trend element of ‘Colour Of The Year’ is a tricky one, does one notice the colour once told it will be popular or is it used because Pantone says it is popular, consciously or otherwise. Regardless this classic blue is pretty cool. We blogged about green in September because it is EVERYWHERE, and for obvious (environmental) reasons. This will most certainly continue into 2020 but maybe Pantone didn’t want to state the obvious.
Now for the fun bit, how and where to use the not-so-new-newfound trendy colour. This blue is confident and simple – two qualities that lend them self to an accent wall. The colour is associated with concentration and clarity so why not cash in on this, in the study – when I say cash in, I mean “Cash In’ (see price of desk on shopping edit below - yikes).
“Ceramics are life and vases are breath” (said someone too embarrassed to admit it). Vases are the easiest, least comital way to nod to a trend. Equally this blue is non offensive, albeit strong so if it is positively placed in your personal colour psychology, I can’t imagine it is easy to go off.
It is no secret that blue works a treat with white so do this, blue/white linen – blue Chinese china….you get the gist. Shopping edit here -