Pantone Color of the Year 2020: Bringing Classic Blue Into Your Restaurant’s Interiors
Pantone, the widely respected international authority on all things color, has announced Classic Blue as its pick for 2020 Colour of the Year. The vision behind this selection is to instill “calm, confidence, and connection” as we move into the new decade.
How does this affect interior design in the hospitality industry?
The Pantone Colour Matching System provides a standardized means for reproducing colors in commercial design and print. It has been the go-to resource for interior designers, graphic designers, architects, industrial designers, furniture builders, fashion and textile designers, printers, and artists for many years.
Viewed by many as an influential trend-setter, Pantone is where most design professionals turn to for ideas and inspiration when planning new projects. If you’re looking to create interior spaces that make your restaurant appealing to modern diners, a splash of Classic Blue is bound to grab the right kind of attention in 2020.
What does Classic Blue bring to the design table?
Blue and red, in all their many hues, are arguably the most emotionally evocative colors; however, where red is arresting, excitable, startling, and agitating, blue is the opposite. Blue recalls the heavens and the oceans — deep, vast, and mysterious. Blue is luxuriant without frivolity. It is calming and comforting, often poignant and reflective.
Classic Blue exudes boldness without being domineering, and though it is by no means subtle, certainly not bashful, it accentuates rather than competes.
In a digital world where more and more of us experience stress and distraction, restauranteurs should leverage the tranquility that Classic Blue imbues. As Pantone points out, “Classic Blue lends itself to relaxed interaction” — precisely what you want to achieve for your dining experience.
How to use Classic Blue for your restaurant
Classic Blue is the ideal color for your restaurant, parlor, cigar and cocktail lounge, and entertainment area. Incorporating this elegant hue into your interior design is, in many ways, an investment. As the name suggests, the color is classic. It will not date like so many other trends do.
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Classic Blue brings dark wood to life — the perfect companion to antique furniture, especially mahogany, teak, walnut, and rosewood. Incorporate bookshelves and cabinets that dazzle with reflective glass. White lilies arranged in classic stone-wear or porcelain vases will glow against the backdrop of the color. Orchids love Classic Blue, too. Use vintage pedestal lamps to enhance the mood with soft lighting and enchanting shadow. Gold fittings and features are at their most exquisite in a blue room.
Photo by Matt Hoffman on Unsplash
Alternatively, pair Classic Blue with crisp white for a clean yet powerful marriage. Stark white trims, fascia boards, wainscoting, door and window frames will make a feature of any Classic Blue wall and add vibrancy to the space. White upholstery shines, and fabrics that incorporate Classic Blue and white patterns can be effective. Details such as Ming styled porcelain plates and vases add a sense of subdued opulence. White allows for the tasteful introduction of green, as well. Whereas green-blue color schemes are usually avoided by interior designers, crisp white acts as a bridging neutral. Suddenly bright green feels harmonious with the weighty Classic Blue, adding freshness and vivacity.
For a statement, consider complementary colors. Blue’s complimentary is orange — its secondary opposite on the color wheel. Complimentary colors do well to show each other off by maximizing contrast in a way that can be aesthetically pleasing and is always eye-catching. Sure, sometimes complementary color schemes are jarring, but because of the deep richness of Classic Blue, orange will parade itself without tearing the room apart. Burnt oranges and ochres will model with distinguished, yet unmissable poise, and hot oranges will draw immediate attention like the lambent of flame. Place an orange wing-chair in a Classic Blue room and watch your patrons turn to it.
A final word on Classic Blue
Classic Blue is an excellent choice for your interior space, either as the wall color or as the color of the décor, being deep and rich without becoming gloomy or somber. It is sublimely evocative and luxuriant, timeless, regal, inviting, and soothing. You can start with a few complementary pieces of furniture or make a wholehearted commitment to Classic Blue walls and lighting. However you decide to incorporate this year’s coolest color, your patrons are bound to be delighted.
Photo by Igor Starkov on Unsplash
