Renaming the Pantone Palette 2023
If you’ve been with me long enough, you know I watch the color announcements like a hawk. I find refreshing excitement in the evolution of color–and the way industry experts remake the design world year after year. Want to see what could be done with the Pantone Palette 2023?
Let’s meet the colors!
The Palette
For 2023, Pantone chose a top ten showcase of colors for New York Fashion Week. That’s the top two rows. The bottom row, which is sometimes referred to as the top neutrals, has shifted this year. It’s now being called the Core Classics.
As I dove into the colors, scrolling endlessly for home design inspo, I got really caught up in the names, which is pretty common for me. I like to nickname them, and so I decided to do something new!
Before I introduce how the Pantone palette 2023 is going to show up in home design, I put together my own version of the names.
While sometimes fun and whimsical, the names they choose can come off a little weird. Frankly, at times, they DESERVE to be poked fun at–yes, I’m talking to YOU “Beetroot Purple.” And, they’re not fooling anyone with “Peach Pink.”
Drumroll, Please………..
Fiery Red
This is just the moment we’re living in, right? Let’s go with it.
Beetroot Purple
She’s a cultural icon, representing power and kindness. Can’t we name a color after her?
Tangelo
Just when we thought we were past the Bennifers and Brangelinas, we get Tangelo. A yellow tangerine? What were they going for with this name?
Peach Pink
We’re onto you, Pantone. We’ve seen this one before…not too long ago, in fact. Maybe it seems like a lifetime ago because it was Pre-Pandemic? The 2019 Color of the Year Living Coral is making a new appearance. How do we feel about that?
Empire Yellow
I kept wanting to call this Puke Yellow. But, it actually does look great as an accent color. The green undertones add a touch of mystery, definitely a moodier version of yellow than we saw with Illuminating, back in 2021.
I was leaning towards Happy Chartreuse, but I think it needs a bit more green for that. When in doubt, there’s bound to be a bird.
Crystal Rose
Is there anything else in the world that represents this color more than bubblegum?
Classic Green
Zesty, like springtime and St Patty’s Day, the name Classic Green is just a bit too boring for a color so full of life.
Love Bird
If I remember anything from my childhood, it was the shag carpet I had in my bedroom in the eighties. And, yes…it was exactly this color.
Blue Perennial
Just try to get through reading this name allowed without breaking into Tiny Dancer. JUST TRY.
Summer Song
Depending how you look at it, it’s gray…no, it’s blue…wait, it’s gray. That’s just like the sky when a storm is rolling in, right? One trick of the light changes the color of the clouds.
The Core
I won’t make fun of the “Core Classics,” except to say that I love the selections, and since they went way off script for the color of the year for 2022, I hope they pick one of these for COTY 2023.
I’m voting for Leek Green. One of these years, an “olive inspired” color has to win. It JUST HAS TO.
Want to See These Colors in Design?
Of course, you do! I’m right in the middle of putting it together, and I will say…the Top 10 is growing on me. I’ll finish it as soon as I can get this song out of my head…
“Blue jean baby, LA Lady…Seamstress for the band…”
