A Guide to All the Pantone Colors of the Year and What They’ve Represented

Peach Fuzz is a light, delicate shade between pink and orange. The soft, heartfelt hue expresses the desire to nurture kindness, compassion, and connection. All of this helps foster a peaceful future and everlasting coziness. Plus, the color marks the 25th anniversary of Pantone’s Color of the Year program. Find more about the meaning behind the momentous color here.

Viva Magenta is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious, brightest natural dyes in the world. The crimson-red hue—a balance between warm and cool tones—is statement-making yet not overpowering. That means it leaves room for creative interpretation and exploration. Learn even more about the vivid color here.

For 2022, Pantone dreamt up an entirely new shade called Very Peri. The dynamic periwinkle blue boasts a warm violet-red undertone. It’s a futuristic-feeling color that illustrates how color trends in the digital world manifest in the physical world and vice versa—and it may look quite familiar to Microsoft Teams users. If you’re eager to incorporate Very Peri into your home, get designer-approved inspiration here.

For the second time in Pantone’s Color of the Year history, the company chose two colors for a single year: Illuminating and Ultimate Gray.

Illuminating, described by Pantone as “a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power,” radiates cheer. It’s a bright but not off-putting yellow. When paired with Ultimate Gray, the combination signals resilience and hopefulness.

Ultimate Gray completes Pantone’s duo colors of the year for 2021. The versatile color is reminiscent of pebbles on a beach. Pantone describes the hue as having “solid and dependable elements, which are everlasting and provide a firm foundation.”

Classic Blue is exactly what you’d expect it to be: enduring and timeless. The dependable hue was selected for its constancy, confidence, and tranquility. It resembles a favorite pair of worn-in blue jeans, and what could be more reliable and classic than that? Dig deeper into the meaning behind the color here.

An animated coral with a golden undertone, Living Coral is an energizing shade that offers warmth, comfort, and nourishment in a constantly changing environment. With a buoyant quality, the color also promotes playfulness and is connected to nature through the coral reefs in the sea.

According to Pantone, Ultra Violet is a “dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade” that “communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking.” The color evokes a hint of fantasy and is reminiscent of the limitless night sky. It symbolizes nonconformity and pushing boundaries, whether you incorporate it into a whimsigoth aesthetic or a classic interior. Learn how you can use it in your home without going overboard here.

Perhaps the brightest shade of green ever to be named a Pantone Color of the Year, Greenery represents refreshment, rejuvenation, and rebirth. The zesty, yellow-green shade is nature’s neutral. Here, learn more about how the color was prevalent in everything from interior design to fashion circa 2017.

For the first time in Pantone’s Color of the Year program history, the company chose two colors for a single year: Rose Quartz and Serenity.

As a soft, light pink, Rose Quartz is a persuasive yet gentle tone that symbolizes compassion and composure. The delicate color is like a warm embrace. When paired with Serenity, it promotes peace and balance.

The other Pantone Color of the Year in 2016, Serenity is a cool blue color that, the company said, “comforts with a calming effect, bringing feelings of respite and relaxation even in turbulent times.” When paired with Rose Quartz, the combination challenges traditional perceptions of color related to gender.

Like a robust, earthy red wine, Marsala is a universally appealing red-brown color. It can be incorporated into a range of interiors, whether you’re after a sophisticated look in a butler’s pantry or a laid-back atmosphere in a tea room.It encourages creativity and experimentation.

Radiant Orchid is a blend of fuschia and purple. Said to inspire confidence, happiness, and love, the enchanting color is uplifting, bold, and hard to resist. Radiant Orchid is especially nice when paired with olive, deep hunter greens, turquoise, light yellows, and neutrals. Use it as a pop of color, or make a statement by color drenching an entire room with the shade.

A vivid green, Emerald enhances well-being through balance and harmony. Reminiscent of the coveted gemstone, Emerald is perceived as luxurious. But it also represents beauty, new life, growth, renewal, and prosperity. For centuries, the color has also been used to symbolize unity.

As the best color in a really good sunset, Tangerine Tango provides the energy boost that’s needed to recharge and move forward. The fiery red-orange has a lot of depth to it, making it magnetic and welcoming.

Honeysuckle is a dynamic reddish pink that uplifts spirits and instills confidence. An attractive color found in nature, Honeysuckle also evokes a rush of nostalgia for the carefree days of spring and summer. When used as a wall paint, the color is a conversation starter. As an accent color in fabrics, kitchenware, or small appliances, it’ll infuse any space with optimism.

Serene and invigorating, Turquoise is the best of blue and green. Similar to tropical waters, the soothing color inspires a comforting escape from the troubles of everyday life. Possessing both warm and cool tones, the hue pairs nicely with a range of colors from neutrals and reds to deep blues and yellow-greens.

During a time of economic uncertainty, Mimosa expressed hope and reassurance. The warm, engaging yellow possesses the nurturing characteristic of the sun while speaking to enlightenment and sparking the imagination. It’s nearly impossible to look at the yellow and not feel a sense of joy.