Announcing the new Pantone Color of the Year! The chosen color for 2019 is … Living Coral. Take a look at what this cutting-edge hue is all about and how you can incorporate it into your home decor.

What is the Pantone Color of the Year?

Pantone is a business that’s totally devoted to color – or “color intelligence” as they term it. Their standardized color matching system uses numbers for precise identification, so that you can match your paint to your couch to your window treatments (for instance), without having to carry around a bunch of swatches and paint chips, or squint at samples on your mobile screen.

The company is best known for the “Pantone Color of the Year,” which has been announced every December since 2000. This is an iconic shade that not only reflects contemporary design trends, but also embodies the spirit of the coming year.

Pantone Color of the Year 2019

Living Coral is *the* color for 2019, a rich pinkish orange touched with gold. It’s organic, lively, nurturing, and above all optimistic – exactly the qualities that the good folks at Pantone feel we need a little more of in our increasingly digital world. This warm and engaging but not too over-the-top choice is Number 16-1546 according to the Pantone numbering system.

Public response to the color selection has been mixed, ranging from “Love it!” to “No. Just no.” Taking the middle ground, many homeowners opine that the intense coral hue is great … in carefully measured quantities.

Use the Color of the Year in Your Home

Home accessories – A fast, fun way to jump on the Living Coral bandwagon is with a home accessory or two. Throw pillows, vases, and tableware in this warm color are all perfect to liven up the gray decorating schemes so popular right now. For a chic, fresh take, check out Vogue magazine's suggestions on using the Pantone Color of the Year.

Paint – Want a tried and true method of updating your home decor … not to mention an easy, inexpensive DIY reno? Try painting with Pantone’s Color of the Year. Living Coral will definitely brighten and bolden any room of your house. Shy types may prefer to coat just one accent wall, an entry door, crown moldings, or perhaps a piece of wood furniture.

Concrete – If you’re ready to make a major splash, why not rev up your plain gray concrete floor, porch, or patio with Living Coral? Look for dedicated concrete paint or stain, and once the finish has been applied, protect its beauty with an appropriate wax or sealer.

Countertops – Colorful countertops are oh so stylish right now. We’ve recently spotted Living Coral-toned countertops in quartz, granite, and concrete versions. For an on-trend kitchen or bath, coordinate coral counters with cabinetry in subtle ivory or cream, or contrast with a bright turquoise or sea foam green backsplash.

Textiles – Textiles of all types are another simple way to add a little (or a lot) of this new color to your home. Experiment with Living Coral bath towels, throw blankets, curtains, area rugs, or an upholstered headboard. If you fall in love with a coral fabric but are not sure where to use it, try framing a swath as wall art.

Flowers – A popular way to use the Pantone Color of the Year is as inspiration for wedding flowers. Living Coral lends itself beautifully to bridal bouquets or floral table arrangements. Our recommendations: coral-hued Big Fun roses (as exuberant as they sound!), hypericum berries, dahlias, or Gerbera daisies. Even if you don't plan to marry this year, join in the fun; find a landscaper to fill your garden with bright coral blooms for Spring 2019.

Laura Firszt writes for networx.com.