What is the Pantone color for 2020?

The rumor has been confirmed - Pantone color of the year 2020 is blue.

According to Pantone Color Institute, the year 2020 belongs to the timeless Classic Blue. After a questionable misfire we saw a year ago with the Living Coral, this time trend spotters from Pantone decided to play safe. They are betting on the Classic Blue (19-4052), a universal shade “reminiscent of the sky at dusk”.

If you’ve been following, you may remember that we also declared blue to be one of the most promising interior color trends for 2020 as we have been spotting a range of different hues of blue from baby blue to indigo lately. But more on it later.

Why Classic Blue?

As we embark on a new decade, we cannot but wonder about what the future holds. With global unrest, and our high-stress, fast-paced, uncertain, constantly evolving culture, we seek refuge in the familiar.

"It's a color that anticipates what's going to happen next. What's the future going to bring as we move into the evening hours?" said Laurie Pressman, the vice president of the Pantone Color Institute.

But despite the dramatical introduction, Pantone is optimistic.

“The sky at dusk – it’s not a midnight blue, it’s thoughtful, but it’s not so deep and mysterious. It speaks to our feelings of anticipation, when you think about the sky at dusk, the day isn’t over. You’re thinking, what’s ahead of us? It’s reassuring, but thought-provoking. It highlights our desire for this dependable, anchoring foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era. We’re living in a time that requires trust and faith and confidence. We all see this blue sky and can relate to it, it’s approachable.”

Throughout history, the color blue has always been associated with peace, calm and comfort. Blue hues are known to be evocative of stability, trust, confidence and connection - just the things we found lacking these days. They are honest, reassuring, and reliable, restful and optimistic. A Classic Blue, Pantone color of the year 2020, taps into those feelings and places them into a poetic context.

In the words of Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone Color Institute, “A boundless blue evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky, Pantone 19-4052 Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking; challenging us to think more deeply, increase our perspective and open the flow of communication."

“A reflective blue tone, Classic Blue fosters resilience”

Unlike Facebook blue, a Classic Blue is said to promise honesty and protection to the increasingly disconnected world. Encouraging communication, empathy, clarity and mindfulness, a Pantone color of the year 2020 helps us re-gain trust in the authority and re-center our thoughts.

Classic Blue in interior design

After a couple of seasons of selecting bold, extravagant hues, the Pantone color of the year 2020 is finally a go-to color to include in the interior design projects. With the resurgence of the vintage aesthetic and our rediscovered interest in the traditional decorating styles, a Classic Blue won’t struggle on it’s road to success. The shade appeals to everyone from lovers of chinoiserie to modernists.

Universal as it is, a Classic Blue fits beautifully into timeless settings, while at the same time offering an edge.

But it is not only Pantone who is bidding on the blue this year. Shutterstock names Phantom Blue as one of its three key colors for 2020. Jotun included Statement Blue in their collection of key colors for 2020. Coloro and WSGN did the same for the Purist Blue, and ItalianBark has picked the baby blue as one of their colors to look for in 2020.

We did the same in the article: Interior Color Trends for 2020: Evolution of Blue

Inspired by Pantone Color of the Year 2020?

Create a moodboard featuring Pantone color of the year 2020 and share it with us on Instagram using #sampleboardinspo

Be inspired!