Classic Blue

Announced as Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2020

The hotly anticipated announcement of Pantone’s iconic Colour of the Year has finally taken place for 2020, and it’s given us a case of the blues.

A comforting shade of indigo, Classic Blue is the colour expert’s extended arms in otherwise societally turbulent times. Rooted in reassurance, the chosen shade is reminiscent of the sky at dusk – an observation that Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute says is no coincidence.

“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.”

Hit or miss?

Since its launch last week, the choice has been met with a mixed response online, with some praising Pantone for selecting such a commercially ‘usable’ shade, and others criticising the safety of choosing blue – a sure-fire hit with UK consumers.

At Roger Lewis, we’ve long been fans of a blue hue, having chosen an indigo fabric to upholster our Kyoto sofa for Clerkenwell Design Week. Paired with a simple black leg, we feel there’s no better complement to the simplicity of design

A thoroughly modern choice

Classic Blue follows on from 2019’s Colour of the Year, Living Coral, a bright tone that sits somewhere between orange and pink, ala Mondo card. A nod to sustainability issues, last year’s selection felt to some like more of a political statement.

This year, Classic Blue is instead largely viewed as acting as a leveler. The shade is genderless and seasonless, making it both inoffensive and uniting. “It’s a reassuring blue, full of calm and confidence. It builds connection,” says Pressman.

However, we feel in this way that Classic Blue is perhaps the most underlyingly political choice of all time. The Trojan horse of colour forecasting, if you will. Appearing run-of-the-mill from the outset, it’s ultimately the anti-trend. Without being tied to a particular gender or time of year, it has longevity and can be used limitlessly. And the result of this is both a win for Pantone, and the environment. It will never go out of fashion and so it is truly timeless.

For that we say Bravo, Pantone. Classic Blue is relatable, usable and uplifting. It is a universal and, therefore, responsible choice for a more conscious decade ahead. And that’s certainly no reason to be glum.

Will you be using Classic Blue in your next interiors project?

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Classic Blue announced as Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2020

Classic Blue

Hit or miss?

A thoroughly modern choice

Will you be using Classic Blue in your next interiors project?

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