Photo by Clarisa Guerra on Unsplash.
Just last month, Pantone Color Institute revealed their colour of the year: Living Coral. Ever since everyone's been wondering how to incorporate such a bold hue into their home. We caught up with interior design expert Nicholas Rosaci, who will be will be sharing tips and trends at the upcoming 2019 GTA Home & Reno Show, to get his thoughts on Pantone's 2019 colour of the year and advice for how to incorporate the colour into your space.
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What did you initially think when you heard Pantone chose Living Coral as colour of the year?
A burst of Joy! Living Coral offers the best of both worlds when combining the pink trend of late with orange. The combination is surprisingly versatile working with beige, taupes, and of course, the grey tones we all have embraced in our homes this past decade.
I believe Living Coral to be the perfect summer shade. Flirty and juicy the colour instantly perks up a space. From pillows, bedding and accessories, to a full-on feature wall, the colour is absolutely fabulous.
Photo courtesy of Pantone Color Institute
Aside from accents and accessories, how else should this colour be used?
In general, bold colour takes commitment and a bit of fearlessness but often garners big rewards. I would love to see Living Coral come to life in a dining room with beautiful emerald green silk drapery and gold accents. Dining rooms are usually nighttime/entertaining spaces. They call for drama and luxurious colours.
READ: 2019 Paint Trends: 5 Colours That Will Be Everywhere Next Year
I also like to incorporate colour in unexpected places like ceilings in a dining room or a powder room. I envision a room with grey grasscloth wallpaper and classic white crown mouldings and trim. The smooth ceiling would be the star painted in Living Coral, anchored by a gold-tone or crystal chandelier for a pop of "pretty" from the heavens.
For bedrooms, Living Coral is a very surprisingly elegant and calming colour that instantly updates existing grey sheets and bedding. I also love colourful lampshades and I think coral shades on crystal bedside lamps would be luxurious and cast a stunning glow.
Photo by Gleren Meneghin on Unsplash.
Lastly, I am always delighted to see a front door both the exterior and interior painted in a pretty colour. Inside your entryway, you might paint a paler shade on a wall, or simply update an old hall table or chest of drawers with the same door paint colour to carry the accent inside.
The current Pink trend is beautiful but can sometimes appear childlike. Coral is a little more grown up but has the same pretty appeal. I embrace using the colour on a sofa, perhaps in a beautiful velvet or textured fabric for an instant Hollywood vibe. For almost 20 years now, we really have been playing it safe with neutrals. This may be the time to take some chic colour chances.
Photo by Eldon Vince Isidro on Unsplash.
What do you need to keep in mind when decorating with Living Coral?
1. Living Coral can be used in multiple variations of the shade. Layering the colour in different tones works wonderfully. Coral, much like how other tones of green compliment each other can all blend harmoniously. The monochromatic Coral scheme can be very fashionable.
2. Coral offers a subtle grown-up dash of femininity to a room. Keep this in mind when decorating.
3. Though it is bold, Coral is effortlessly easy to work with updating and complimenting many existing colour schemes including grey walls and furnishings.
READ: Behr Unveils Its 2019 Colour Of The Year And The Internet Loves It
4. Coral Drapery always looks divine and luxurious especially in silk or cut velvet. I personally always dreamed of a beachside mansion with white trimmed palladium windows flanked by coral silk drapery - timelessly elegant
5. Lighting always effects how a colour appears and there are multiple variations of Coral. Consider purchasing a sample size in a few shades of the colour to see how it interacts with the light in the space. Light can either intensify or soften a colour depending on the source. In rooms without natural light, like a condo den without a window or a hallway, I always suggest painting a few small test areas of the colour on a wall first. This is the fail-proof trick to getting the colour right the first time.
What is your number one no-no for decorating with Living Coral?
There are no "NOs" when it comes to decorating with colour and especially with Coral, short of maybe dressing your husband or children to match the living room. The colour has endless possibilities and gets my kiss of approval.
