PANTONE Colour of the Year 2018… 18-3838 Ultra Violet
ANNOUNCING PANTONE 18-3838 ULTRA VIOLET, PANTONE® COLOUR OF THE YEAR 2018…
Inventive and imaginative, Ultra Violet lights the way to what is yet to come…
I’m always excited to see the colour of the year, to see a dramatic change from the year that came before. Pantone has recently released their colour of the year for 2018, which is a very bright and vibrant shade of purple – Ultra Violet (18-38-38). Pantone colours were originally intended for printing purposes, but now designers and creatives from all industries and backgrounds look to Pantone for colour and design inspiration. The interior design industry is using more and more bright colours in recent times; the deep teals, mustards, lime greens, blues, reds, magenta, and now bright purple which is likely to be very popular this year for all creative industries. It looks like we have a bright year ahead of us…
“A dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade, PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.”
So, we are kicking off 2018 with a very vibrant burst of colour that is Ultra Violet, along with the inspiration you may be looking for. In this post we will explore Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2018 and look at how it can inject vibrancy into your home or other interior space.
Ultra Violet is a vivid purple described by Pantone as, “a dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade, and communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.” It is a bold and bright colour choice, and will really make your home interior stand out from the rest. It is a very royal and regal colour. Historically, purple was often used by the aristocracy to reflect wealth and opulence, to show social status and the luxurious lifestyle that they are accustomed to.
Pantone and Ultra Violet
So let’s see what Pantone have to say to describe their colour of the year choice for 2018. Mindfullness is a huge deal at the moment and this is one of the many things that the colour is associated with and I can see how the colour would be beneficial in the interior spaces that we occupy. So this is Ultra Violet…
“Complex and contemplative, Ultra Violet suggests the mysteries of the cosmos, the intrigue of what lies ahead, and the discoveries beyond where we are now. The vast and limitless night sky is symbolic of what is possible and continues to inspire the desire to pursue a world beyond our own.
Enigmatic purples have also long been symbolic of counterculture, unconventionality, and artistic brilliance. Musical icons Prince, David Bowie, and Jimi Hendrix brought shades of Ultra Violet to the forefront of western pop culture as personal expressions of individuality. Nuanced and full of emotion, the depth of PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet symbolizes experimentation and non-conformity, spurring individuals to imagine their unique mark on the world, and push boundaries through creative outlets.
Historically, there has been a mystical or spiritual quality attached to Ultra Violet. The colour is often associated with mindfulness practices, which offer a higher ground to those seeking refuge from today’s over-stimulated world. The use of purple-toned lighting in meditation spaces and other gathering places energizes the communities that gather there and inspire connection.”
If you would like to find out more about Pantone and the Colour of the Year, please visit the Pantone website.
Ultra Violet and Interior Design
So, what does this new colour of the year mean for interior design? I think the ultra violet will be used in many interiors this year in many creative ways, in both residential and commercial and hospitality interior design. Interior designers will use this ultra violet shade as an accent colour to their designs; as well as combining it with other vibrant jewel colours, such as teal, fuchsia/magenta and even mustard colours. These jewel colours look beautifully stunning together. The ultra violet looks great both as a stand alone accent colour of with others and for an extra touch of stylish sophistication, the ultra violet looks amazing against a warm deep grey and neutral white tones. I think ultra violet will be popping up everywhere this year and you can’t miss it’s gorgeous vibrancy.
Personally, I would not go over the top with the colour purple in an interior unless it was something that the client really wanted. I see it as more of a beautiful accent colour for either accessories, special pieces of furniture like chairs, a feature wall or even feature pieces as it is like a jewel. It would be too much to paint an entire interior purple. It should be treated like a bit of a jewel, like it’s special. Please let me know what you think about the Pantone Colour of the Year in the comments section below, I would love to hear your thoughts.
As I said, this colour is best used sparingly as accent colours. However, there are always exceptions in interior design and if you going all-out with Ultra Violet, you can still get amazing results. Just ensure you combine the Ultra Violet with subtler shades of purple, like a dusky mauve, a pale lavender or a periwinkle, to create an interior space that does not have an overwhelming atmosphere to it.
Ultra Violet is a blue-based purple, therefore would so it would work best in interiors with a lot of natural light, to prevent the room feeling too cold. The ultra violet can be warmed up even more by contrasting it with a muted mustard colour for a look that reflects elegance and sophistication. As I mentioned before, this purple would look amazing with a mustard or a teal colour. If you’re a little like me, you like the shade of purple, but are not too sure where you would have it in your home; maybe try edging on the side of caution and introducing it to your home more slowly and gradually building up, adding it through scatter cushions and bed or sofa throws, or in vases of flowers, or as an accent colour in a floral wallpaper. Or if you are feeling a little braver, try combining it with some of those other jewel colours like a teal against a warm grey.
About the Pantone Colour of the Year
“The Pantone Colour of the Year has come to mean so much more than ‘what’s trending’ in the world of design; it’s truly a reflection of what’s needed in our world today.” – Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Colour Institute.
“As individuals around the world become more fascinated with colour and realise its ability to convey deep messages and meanings, designers and brands should feel empowered to use colour to inspire and influence. The Colour of the Year is one moment in time that provides strategic direction for the world of trend and design, reflecting the Pantone Colour Institute’s year-round work doing the same for designers and brands.”
Pantone Colour Institute
“The Pantone Colour Institute is a consulting service within Pantone that forecasts global colour trends and advises companies on colour in brand identity and product development, for the application and integration of colour as a strategic asset. Recognised around the world as a leading source of color information through seasonal trend forecasts, custom colour development, and palette recommendations for product and corporate identity, Pantone Colour Institute partners with global brands to leverage the power, psychology and emotion of colour in their design strategy.”
Whether you like purple or you don’t, I offer both residential interior design Leamington Spa, and a commercial interior design service which includes, bars, restaurants, hotels and retail. So if you have any residential or commercial interior design Leamington Spa projects, or anywhere within the UK, please feel free to contact me for more information and I’ll be happy to send you a PDF Portfolio of my work. And if there’s anything you’d like to see more of in my blog posts, please feel free to contact me or comment below.
