Hope House: Incorporating Pantone’s Colour of the Year ‘Living Coral’.

2019’s ‘colour of the year’, according to Pantone, will be ‘Living Coral’; an ‘animating and life-affirming coral hue, with a golden undertone that energises and enlivens’ (Pantone, 2018). The coming year will be heavily influenced by this warm and wholesome shade, with both commercial and residential interior design schemes already starting to pop up in preparation for Spring.

Living Coral is the perfect fusion of modern playfulness and soothing calm; linking an internal scheme to the natural environment. We have been having a look at ways in which Living Coral can be used effectively within an interior design to bring a space to life.

In our recent project, Hope House, Living Coral is used as an accent shade to add warmth and homeliness to each room. In the living area of the house, for example, splashes of coral add a touch of luxury and magnetism, and the orange hues have become somewhat of a focal point in an otherwise neutral room. We opted for coral pouffes and cushions, with subtler accents around the room, such as orange flowers and ornaments on the shelves helping to tie the scheme together. Overall, the use of Living Coral gives the living room in Hope House a playful yet inviting atmosphere.

For calmer, more tranquil spaces, such as the bedroom, we opted for muted coral tones, paired with pale pink and gold accents. Gentle soft furnishings and accessories around the room created a relaxing, cosy haven and the paler shades of coral and pink tied in perfectly with the changing of season; transitioning from the darker shades of winter, to the lighter shades of spring.

Coordinating a pale colour scheme with the smaller accessories around a room, such as lamp shades, candles and photo frames is crucial when designing a space. Harsher, bolder tones will inevitably draw the eye away from the paler, calmer shades, and can change the entire feel of a room.

For larger, brighter spaces, don’t be afraid to be a little more adventurous when introducing orange and pink hues into your scheme. Painting an accent wall a warm shade of coral will instantly bring a room to life, particularly when paired with gold or bronze accessories and furnishings. Afterall, Pantone’s Living Coral supposedly symbolises optimism and joyfulness.

If committing to an entire wall of coral seems a little overwhelming, introducing the shade into your scheme with a slightly less daunting area rug or runner could be an excellent alternative.