Pantone Fall/Winter 2018 Top 10 Color Palette: A Home Design Perspective

The Pantone Fall/Winter 2018 Color Trend Report has been released, and it (as always) has a direct effect on every facet of the world of design. Here at Design Your Lifestyle, we’re obviously most interested in how the 10 colors selected in the Pantone Fall/Winter 2018 palette affect the landscape of home design, interior design, and specifically custom kitchen and bath design.

Our first take of the collection was one of pleasant surprise. Traditionally, the autumn and winter seasonal color palette is a bit more staid and reserved, with more neutral tones, deep blues, grays and a hint of color. Not so in 2018! The Fall/Winter 2018 color palette is rich with vibrant colors, some pastels and bold, warm tones. Pantone stated with the release of the Spring 2018 Color Trend Report that 2018 would be more colorful in general; they certainly followed through with their promise here. It’s key to note that Ultra Violet, Pantone’s 2018 Color of the Year, appears in this collection.

In our last article, we covered the smart, versatile Fall/Winter 2018 Classic Colors. It would appear the classic color palette was designed specifically to pair neatly with these 10 tones, as the “mix and match” possibilities are bountiful.

The seasonal Pantone Color Trend Reports are best represented on the runways of Fashion Week and the world’s most notable fashion designers. But how do these 10 colors adapt and translate to the world of home design?

Short answer: some are less adaptable than others. There are easy candidates for home design to spot among the collection (Nebulas Blue, Martini Olive), but how does one integrate colors like Russet Orange or Limelight into the home? (Or should they at all?)

Let’s take a look at the 10 selections in the Pantone Fall/Winter 2018 Color Trend Report and color palette, and offer a quick perspective on where they may fit into a smart home design.

Pantone’s 10 Colors for Fall/Winter 2018

1. Red Pear

Red Pear stunned and invigorated on the runway, but will it do the same for your home? We generally don’t see it as a wall color (perhaps an accent wall?) in most scenarios, but Red Pear certainly brings sophistication and depth to any space. Pair wisely with a very neutral/white tone, and Red Pear may prove to be a real stunner.

2. Valiant Poppy

Pantone describes Valiant Poppy as “brave and outgoing”, and we couldn’t say it better. This isn’t a red shade to toy with; Valiant Poppy is not going to shy away and fade into the background of your home’s color scheme. If you desire a bold red space, look no further.

3. Nebulas Blue

Perhaps the most versatile of all the Fall/Winter 2018 colors when it comes to home design, we enjoy the richness of Nebulas Blue. It works well as a nautical tone, a bold bright blue, a primary or secondary shade. We’re intrigued by its potential as a complementary tone in a white kitchen or white bath.

4. Ceylon Yellow

A mustard yellow with a bit of ‘spice’, Ceylon Yellow is perhaps more versatile than other yellow tones – simply due to the fact it’s not as ‘bright and sunny’. The mixture of yellow-brown mutes the warmth of Ceylon Yellow, allowing it to serve as a secondary, complementary design tone in the proper setting.

5. Martini Olive

If you’re looking for a muted, savvy earth tone, Martini Olive is the kind of green you may like. Use it to evoke an earthy feeling in your space, or to solid effect in a more “sophisticated” bar, office, or lounge.

6. Russet Orange

Here’s the paradox of Russet Orange: we love its bright, sunny disposition and bold orange hue. The same characteristics that make us love it as a color make us wary of it in design. If your space relies on earth tones and wood features, Russet Orange may have some utility in very small doses.

7. Ultra Violet

This bold tone is the Pantone 2018 Color of the Year. Ultra Violet is “a lot of purple” to take in at once, and while it makes a fantastic runway statement as a primary tone, it may not do the same in your home design. Except for rare occasions, Ultra Violet is best utilized as an accent shade.

8. Crocus Petal

A pastel shade usually reserved for Pantone Spring collections, Crocus Petal is fresh and floral. If you’re looking for a soft touch in your home design, a shade like this one (used properly) can provide comfort and relaxation.

9. Limelight

Limelight is either the center of attention in your design, or not in your design whatsoever. It’s certainly not for the faint of heart or the conservative designer. If you’re trying to make a statement, Limelight may be the color for you – but proceed with caution.

10. Quetzal Green

A deep emerald jewel tone reminiscent of recent Pantone selection Arcadia, Quetzal Green trends even closer to blue than past green tones in Pantone color palettes. It’s not an “all-over” shade, but it definitely has use in accents, decor and accessory pieces.