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Viva Magenta is a bold, cool red hue meant to promote optimism and joy. See how to use it around your home.
As color fans, we find this time of year is one of our favorites. It’s when Pantone Color Institute, the color standards management company, chooses what it thinks will be the defining color for the coming year. And while many of the major paint companies selected a mix of soft neutrals, deep blue-greens and pretty pinks for their colors of the year, Pantone opted to go bold with a lively red called Viva Magenta. Here’s a look at how you can use Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year in your home.
First, a little about the featured color and why it was chosen. Viva Magenta, shown here, is meant to play up the connection between natural and virtual worlds and to find optimism and joy within that tension. “As virtual worlds become a more prominent part of our daily lives, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone Color Institute. “Viva Magenta descends from the red family and is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family, as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known. Rooted in the primordial, Viva Magenta reconnects us to original matter. Invoking the forces of nature, it galvanizes our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength.”
It’s important to note that Pantone’s Color of the Year selection isn’t intended exclusively for home design. Rather, the chosen color takes inspiration from — and has influence on — all areas of design, including fashion, art, technology and advertising, as well as interior design and decor.
If you’re a fan of this spirited hue, you’ll likely find it easier to source for home decor in the coming months. And if you’re a big fan of the color, now’s the time to consider using it to paint a room or other elements in your home.
With that in mind, here are a few examples featuring similar bold pink-reds that can help give you an idea of how this color could work.
Attractive Accents
Viva Magenta is a dynamic hue that can easily dominate in a room. So if you’re a little wary of going too bold, it’s best to stick to small doses.
This farmhouse is a good example. Notice how the repetitive use of a Viva Magenta-like color on the chairs brings an energetic, fun vibe that remains airy and light.
This space also illustrates a good piece of advice when it comes to bold color: Use it for items that are relatively easy and affordable to change out, such as furnishings and decorative accessories.
One of the best ways to use this hue is as a front door accent. It brings such a warm, welcoming vibe. This pink-toned red is a fresh and modern take on classic front door red.
Colorful appliances are another great way to inject a small dose of a bold hue into your home. A deep cool red revs up a range and gives this otherwise neutral kitchen a nice punch of color.
Meanwhile, a moderate splash of deep red adds a cheerful atmosphere to this English kitchen. Pairing the red with plenty of white and light neutrals creates a nice mix of color and white space. The lighter hues help frame and balance the saturated red.
An added bonus when decorating with visually assertive hues is that you don’t need to add many decorative gewgaws and knickknacks. The color provides the drama and spice.
Viva Magenta and colors like it can work outside too. When possible, and when it works with the architecture and style of the home, I’ve been creating exterior accent walls for my clients, and magenta is an unexpected but striking choice, as shown here. It’s an especially lovely contrast with the natural greens in the landscape.
Your turn: What do you think of Pantone’s choice of Viva Magenta for its Color of the Year 2023? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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