Pantone released their ‘Color of the Year’ for 2024 this week and, in a surprising departure from most of the paint companies that chose blues, greens, and charcoals, it is…..Peach Fuzz.
While the name calls to mind pubescent boys attempting to grow facial hair, the actual color is slightly less awkward than that.
As I’ve said before, color of the year selections are mainly marketing hype, but Pantone is perhaps one of the most likely to influence (or reflect?) product design and packaging for the coming year. Hard to say if they are predicting or leading the charge…chicken vs egg, right?
Anyway, I’m not seeing a lot of home products in this color as of yet…my favorite Kitchen Aid standing mixer, for example, comes in dozens of colors, but peach is not one of them. And Smeg, the retro-look bougie Italian appliance brand also has a lot of colorful options, but again, not peach.
I’ll be headed to the Kitchen and Bath show this winter and I’ll report back on whether any of the brands have jumped on the peach bandwagon in those industries!
Pantone describes their selection this way:
“In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance. A shade that resonates with compassion, offers a tactile embrace, and effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless.”
Okay, aside from saying it is a warm color, the rest is up for debate…emotional responses to different colors vary widely and are usually the result of an accumulation of personal experiences, in the same way that potential names for your progeny are ruined by knowing unfortunate personalities that have those names.
The strong reactions to the Sherwin Williams COTY of 2023, for example, is a case in point.
Pantone Color of the Year History
Here is a brief look back at the Pantone Color of the Year selections since 2012. A couple of years they’ve chosen two colors, which feels like cheating 😂. And one of those was a really unfortunate pairing IMO. I’ve linked to ones I’ve written about in prior years if you want to see more.
2023 Viva Magenta
2022 Very Peri
2021 Illuminating and Ultimate Grey
2020 Classic Blue
2019 Living Coral
2018 Ultra Violet
2017 Greenery
2016 Serenity and Rose Quartz
2015 Marsala
2014 Radiant Orchid
2013 Emerald
2012 Tangerine Tango
Peach Associations
While I don’t have strong feeling about this color one way or the other, most associations with it are positive ones. It IS reminiscent of the pretty, muted sunrises and sunsets I enjoy.
And I DO have an undying love for the fruit for which it is named. I adore all things in the peach food family as witnessed by the recipes I have shared for:
grilled peaches with mascarpone,
and my peach variation of apple tart tatin (just substitute peaches for the apples! Yummmmy either way!)
Peach Color in Decor
Not quite as pink-leaning as coral, peach is pastel version of orange and reflects the shift toward warmth and color in interiors we have been seeing in the last couple of years in the home fashion industry.
As a color for interior design and decor, Peach Fuzz pairs well with neutrals like creamy whites and even some beige tones.
And it is a natural with wicker, rattan, and bamboo pieces as well as grass rugs like sisal and jute.
And, of course, it is nice accented with greens or blues from the opposite side of the color wheel.
But it also works well with closer hues of pinks and lavenders.
These are AI assisted images I created of rooms featuring peach…
The AI bot seems to prefer peach with cream, and under duress, some green or blue. It doesn’t not happily supply anything remotely attractive pairing peach with pink or lavender, but the wallpapers below prove that can be a stunning combination!
Spoonflower Collaboration
In a brilliant collaboration, Spoonflower has debuted a collection of prints based on Pantones color of the year 2024.
Spoonflower is an online company with print-on-demand wallpaper, fabric, and home decor items designed by independent artists.
And three Spoonflower artists: Dani Dazey, Janine Lecour, and Holli Zollinger have launched collections specifically celebrating this color.
I’m a firm believer in surrounding yourself with the colors that bring you joy, not just the ones that are declared to be trending. Your house should make YOU happy!
SO…What do YOU think of Peach Fuzz as a Color of the Year? Would you use it in your decor?
Are you in the camp of:
“Meh…it’s fine, I could take it or leave it. It might be nice in small doses, like maybe a pillow or a blender”
“Heck no. it’s giving 80’s vibes and I’m pretty sure I once had a Barbie doll with skin that color”
“Yes, yes, yes! Wrap me up in this color. I find it comforting and happy!”
