1. photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
   

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

“Do you recall that playground question, “What’s your favorite color?” Thinking about what we heart in this Valentine’s Day month, do shades of blue inspire you? Check out these tips for creating a calming atmosphere with the Pantone Color of the Year, Classic Blue.”

Photo by Jako Janse van Rensburg on Unsplash

Clear blue sky. Deep blue sea. Plush blue fur on Grover from Sesame Street. How do the rich shades of sapphire make YOU feel? Does azure encourage you to feel the sky's the limit? Will lapis remind you of endless waves of opportunity? Could a berry tint soothe your spirit like a warm hug from a loyal friend?

Starting with Cerulean Blue in 1999, each year the creative color analysts at the Pantone Color Institute choose a tone that will immediately be trending. For 2020, that chroma is Classic Blue. Interior designers hope to use this primary color to stir calming emotions that envelop all who enter each space. If the hue of blue appeals to you, consider the following ways to incorporate it within your abode - 

Photo by Emily Wang on Unsplash

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“Pantone’s Color of the Year 2020, Classic Blue, is having a moment on the international color stage right now. This color, that we’ve been seeing in interiors for quite some time, is finally getting the appreciation and notoriety it deserves.” - Carla Aston, Interior Designer

If 2020 is bringing you a splash of positive changes, then decorate with a deep ocean pigment in a grand way - 

• Add an azure accent wall

• Furnish with a cobalt couch

• Paint cabinets with a calming cerulean

Having a bold blue color statement creates a focal point which draws the interest of all those who enter your welcoming nest.

Simple Touches

What if you added blue like this?

• Place a Valentine’s Day bouquet from your sweetie in a lapis vase on the table decked with Blue Willow china and crisp navy and white striped placemats

• Toss those blueberry throw pillows aside, grab a snuggly sapphire blanket and cuddle up on the couch for movie night 

• Frame a trio of photos from your recent vaycay to remind you of carefree times under an  azure sky or beside the soothing aegean waters 

No matter how you pipe in bits of blue around your home, you’ll begin to feel a sense of tranquility as you float from room to room.

“We’ve been using this hue as bedroom wall colors, pops of color in artwork, and pillow accents for years. Perhaps this is the year we will go all in and do something truly wild with this blue hue!” - Interior Designer, Jerrica Zaric 

Underfoot

As adults, we often do not take the time to “play”. However, when adding in shades of the sky to your roost, let go of practical theories and “frolic” with various fabrics and textures. For example, think about framing an open area with a unique rug. If adding a flooring accent, keep these rug rules in mind -

• Scale -

Does the rug properly fit the size and space?

• Color - 

Beyond blue, will the rug tie in an additional accent color?

• Upkeep - 

How tricky will it be to keep this rug looking sharp?

Not only will adding a new blue rug make your place look fantastic, you’ll find yourself lingering awhile with such comfort underfoot.

In this sweetheart month of February, try adding in the “timeless, enduring blue hue”, Classic Blue, to see how the Pantone Color of the Year will pull at your heartstrings. With indigo adding inspiration, maybe the “winter blues” can be a good thing? 

Sources:

Grover link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkF0hVZtUFk&feature=youtu.be

Pantone link

https://www.pantone.com/about/about-pantone

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Aston quote

https://carlaaston.com/designed/color-trend-2020-pantones-color-of-the-year-classic-blue

Simple Touches

Zaric quote from here

https://www.jerricazaricdesign.com/blog

Rug idea from here

https://freshome.com/12-living-room-rug-ideas/

CNN piece Pantone quote

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/pantone-color-classic-blue-2020/index.htm