I’m obsessed with color. Especially big, bold vibrant colors. I use bold colors in my art, my branding, and my clothes. Magentas and oranges and juicy chartreuse light me up and make me smile. Pop on over to my Instagram and have a look at my colorful feed!
Trends
Each year I anxiously await the announcements of the trending colors for the upcoming year. I am a huge lover of big, bold colors and last year I did a happy dance when Magenta was announced as color of the year! So, what colors are trending for 2024?
Pantone has just announced “Peach Fuzz” as Color of the Year. Peach Fuzz is a soft peachy hue that is warm and cozy, quietly sophisticated and elegant. Peach Fuzz is a heartfelt color that bridges modernity with vintage. This color is going to be lovely in luxurious comfortable clothing, kitchen decor, and bridal bouquets and dresses.
Color trends for 2024 are a bit more subtle than 2023. Pantone’s supporting color palettes for Spring 2024 convey transformation, freedom, and release with a hint of nostalgia. Pantone’s palette includes a lovely saturated red called Roobios Tea, a sweet Watercress green along with a warm coral-hued Desert Flower pink. Pantone’s palette also includes ocean-inspired colors of Marlin and Capri.
Benjamin Moore’s Color of 2024 is Blue Nova, a mid-tone blue that is a softly saturated magical blue with classic appeal. This is a gorgeous color to paint kitchen cabinets or an accent wall.
Neutrals are also trending in 2024. Pantone’s neutrals are core tones composed of earthy mushroom, rain, and shade-inspired colors.
Now that we have the trending 2024 colors, what should we do with them? How shall we use them in our homes, our art, and our branding? How does the use of color impact the mood of our decor, clothing, and business?
Color Theory & Mood
In general, warm colors like reds, oranges, and pinks are more passionate and lively. Red commands attention. I used these colors in my “Whole Lotta Love” series of paintings. Oranges are playful, friendly, and energetic. Pink is feminine, innocent, and youthful. Yellows convey happiness and optimism.
Cooler blue hues are more calming and convey tranquility. I used a range of soft blue and turquoise hues in my ocean paintings. Dark blues are professional, mature, and trustworthy. Purples may signify royalty and luxury.
Browns are grays are more neutral, rugged, and classic. White conveys simplicity and cleanliness.
Branding
Have a look at well-known brands and consider their color choices. Bank brands often use blues that convey trustworthiness and professionalism. Fast food restaurants often use reds to communicate the speed of service. Greens represent health, nature, and prosperity.
Consider what feelings and emotions color evokes when decorating your home, creating art and branding.
Neutrals
I like using neutrals to balance out bold colors. Properly placed neutrals give the eye a place to rest. White, gray, and beige walls are like a blank canvas, ready for colorful cabinets and art.
Art & Design
When I work with clients on mural design, custom art, and branding, the first two questions I ask are:
1. What mood or feeling do you want your mural or branding to evoke?
2. Do you have any specific colors in mind?
I recently had this conversation with a mural client. She asked me to paint murals for her corporate offices. We discussed the mood of the office, how to incorporate their branding in the murals, and the client’s desire for a bold, colorful focal wall.
We decided to create three distinctly different murals for the office. Each mural intentionally conveyed a unique feeling. The three murals were all very different yet subtly tied together through the use of color.
One mural is the first wall you see as you enter the office. The goal of this mural was to grab the eye and draw the viewer in, but not overwhelm the viewer with color. I used the company’s brand colors in the design of green and blue leaves with hints of metallic gold.
For the focal wall in the main open floor plan area of the office, we went with very bold colors. The client wanted this to be a huge focal wall and colorful background for client calls and meetings. I designed an enormous close-up sunflower and chose bold, vibrant hot pinks, yellows, oranges, and lime green. The greens and navy used in the mural are the same colors as in the entrance mural. This mural is like a confetti wall of color!
The third mural in this office is a very simple, organic, linear piece. This mural combines a thin line of the dark emerald green used in the other two murals to connect all three pieces together. This piece is also on a white wall. The white is calming and gives space for the viewer’s eyes to rest.
These three murals create a unique feeling in each part of this office space. Each mural stands alone as an independent piece of art, all connected with color.
What colors are you drawn to? What colors light you up? How will you incorporate 2024 color trends in your art, branding, and decor? Funny thing I noticed today when I was making my bed: The backside of the magenta quilt on my bed is the Pantone Peach Fuzz color! So, I flipped that quilt over and now my bedroom is right on trend!
