Spring is here and I’m finally feeling Pantone’s color of the year – Radiant Orchid. It’s fresh and uplifting. However, I would prefer to call it a clean, intense lavender. By clean, I mean it’s not muddied, there is no strong influence of yellow, red, blue, or black. Maybe it’s just me, but the name, radiant orchids, brings to mind a deeper red undertone, producing a magenta or purple-red. It isn’t meshing with my feelings. So much for my color analysis.
This intense lavender, is sharp, clear and refreshing. It feels like spring, a time for renewal. But just as flowers appear in spring, it’s pretty but we do tire of it. Come autumn, it will look like it’s peak has passed. So, my suggestion with intense colors, is always to use it as accents. Too much color can cause color fatigue. It’s good in small packages. As in the photo below. In my opinion, there is too much color in such a narrow space.
Nature always is a good source for direction. Just observe the orchid. The deep purple veins are soften with uses of white, while the focal point has a deep magenta. Similarly, you can follow this color combination in a room. White walls, white furniture and white accessories are accented with lavender cushions. This is just enough pop, and can be easily changed with the seasons.
In Japan, this shade of purple, is often found in little household accessories, such as bags, scarves, and most commonly the furoshiki. Here we see the traditional Japanese arrow pattern in lavender. In small doses, it’s really lovely.
How will you enjoy the Color of the Year? 
