Radiant orchid: Will it be your color?

Pantone Color Institute, the world’s leading color authority, recently named radiant orchid – which it described as “a captivating, magical, enigmatic purple” – as the color for 2014.
“An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, radiant orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, in a press release. “It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.”
Radiant orchid is an exciting accent to the popular neutrals such as gray, taupe and beige. Use it for spots of color in accent pillows, lamps, rugs and accent walls.
The PCI team combs the world looking for future design and color influences, watching out for that one color seen as ascending and building in importance through all creative sectors. Influences can include the entertainment industry, upcoming films and art, emerging artists, travel destinations and socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from technology, lifestyles and playstyles, new textures and effects that impact color, and even upcoming sports events that capture worldwide attention.
If radiant orchid isn’t your cup of tea, try cobalt blue. Cobalt is described as everything from dazzling to true blue elegance. This is a timeless color that can add pop to any design as well as easily stand next to any botanical statement. It is like an old familiar friend, one you are not only comfortable inviting into your home, but one who can stay as long she wants. It is definitely a blue to clear away the winter blues!
Blues range from cool sky, robin’s egg, denim and periwinkle, teal to deep indigo. Rich shades of cobalt and indigo meld with crisp white for a classically elegant color combination adorning contemporary forms to traditional patterns; blue and white prove a timeless pairing.
If the blues don’t do it for you, purple and red – two others from that side of the color wheel – are taking a royal turn in the spotlight. Purple has long been known as the ultimate color of royalty and is again on an upswing in color trends. It also shows well in a softer, amethyst shade combined with jadeite – not quite turquoise, not quite malachite – a milkier, lighter green. It is a color to watch this year and next.
Ravishing in red! Much is coming up red this season as variations on this show-stopping shade lend a palpable buzz to home design. A little goes a long way, but a lot is better for sizzling red-hot style. Red creates energy; it will introduce passion into any space; it’s unfailingly optimistic. Covered with art, red calms down into a rich and elegant background; it makes the mundane memorable. Red can be described as intense, luxurious, full of life, confident, daring, warm, racy, hot, romantic, sexy, torrid, stimulating, exciting, stop and pay attention. We saw all of this in the market this fall.
Don’t just stay on one side of that color wheel. Continue to look for yellows to play an important part in any color scheme. You’ll find variations of yellow range from soft buttery tones to robust canary. These were understandably more visible last spring so look for them to come back in full bloom in spring of 2014.
Cheer up your rooms with some of the cheerful colors trending now.
Pamela Ryalls-Boyd is an interior decorator who lives in Morgan Hill. She is a Decorating Den Interiors business owner and enjoys working together with Janet Cunningham. Reach Pamela at (408) 776-1412,

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