Stay Calm: Pantone Shares 2020 Color Forecast

Color palettes for interior design in 2020 will focus on nature, serenity and comfort, color experts at the Pantone Color Institute announced today. Pantone’s forecasts often influence special event design.

As people feel overwhelmed by the fast pace of life today, they will yearn for the calm of nature, explained Laurie Pressman, Pantone Color Institute vice president. As a result, trending colors in 2020 will include a range of greens--both blue-tinged, such as teal, and yellow-based, such as olive green.

Watery blues evoking the ocean will be popular, along with mineral colors such as steel blue.

Pastels will come to the fore in 2020, but in surprising ways, Pressman said. For example, the color pink will appear in masculine environments. Pastels give a feeling of calm “and are easy to live with,” she said.

The design world will also move to floral patterns—both traditional and outsized—and plant motifs such as leaves and fronds.

METALLICS TO SHINE The rise of digital media and environments will lead to a focus on metallics, Pressman said, including “satin-ized” colors, patinas, foil-like treatments and sparkle.

A focus on wellness will lead to an emphasis on comfort, with soft upholstery and curved edges. Also popular will be an artisan look, with objects made from organic materials such as wood and looking handmade.

Colored glassware will stay strong in 2020, as well marble, she said.

Pressman described Pantone’s palettes for 2020, which include “Trekking” (with plaids, washed denim and splashes of red and mustard yellow); “Prints Charming” (tattoo-inspired prints and graphics); “Beyond the Pale” (cool, calm pastels); and “Skill Set” (anodized/oxidized/rusted colors).