A very Pantone decade in review – every colour of the year decoded

Starting off with their most controversial pick yet, the 2026 Colour of the Year is a shade that has definitely disappointed many in the interior design community: Cloud Break aka White… Described as trite, boring and, given the current global political climate, downright disturbing; the achromatic hue that Pantone assures us is set to dominate next year is this warm white. It supposedly reflects our desire for ‘a whisper of calm and peace in a noisy world,’ but judging by its reception, we’re not too sure we agree.

The stuff of our dessert-hued dreams, Mocha Mousse was the Pantone Colour of the Year for 2025 – a year that was defined by comfort. A sumptuous rich brown shade, the hygge-inspired hue enveloped us with its sensorial warmth. Characterised by its organic nature, Mocha Mousse, infused with earthy refinement, found harmony between the “demands of modernity and the timeless beauty of artful creation”, a collective craving after years of chaos.

Flipping expert predictions on their heads, Peach Fuzz was the surprising choice that came out on top as Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2024. Inviting a sense of nurturing, calm and ease, the sophisticated yet sprightly shade was chosen as it captures a romantic new modernity and “effortlessly bridges youthful with timelessness”. At the intersection of orange and pink, the romantic Peach Fuzz was a choice that echoed a distinct yearning for closeness and connection that surfaced after a year of intensity and overstimulation.

A rebellion against years of beige, 2023 was the year maximalism took hold. Perfectly complementing autumnal tones, the brave, dynamic and vibrant hue of Viva Magenta was Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2023. The unconventional choice was made to reflect the “unconventional time”, bidding farewell to all-white interiors and welcoming in an era of fun. “It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family demonstrating a new signal of strength,” said Pantone, describing it as “a pulsating colour whose exuberance promotes optimism and joy.”

Very Peri, or a “dynamic periwinkle blue hue with vivifying violet-red undertones”, embodies confidence, creativity, and curiosity, and held the position of Pantone Colour of the Year for 2022. A shade that inspired us to embrace uncertainty, Pantone chose Very Peri to be “a symbol of the global zeitgeist of the moment and the transition we are going through”. Post-pandemic, and when metaverse was a contender for the Oxford Word of the Year, the distinctly digital colour bestowed a much-needed sense of whimsy into everyday life. While the colour itself didn’t seem to stick around in our homes, it marked a significant turning point into the next year of trends.

In a groundbreaking move, two shades were named as the Colour of the Year for 2021: Ultimate Grey and Illuminating. A cool grey that represents strength and a firm foundation, and a vivid yellow to embrace brightness and cheer, these two colours together encapsulated the mood of 2020 with an optimism for the years to come. “The union of an enduring Ultimate Grey with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude,” said Pantone. “This is a colour combination that gives us resilience and hope.”

In 2020, uncertainty was rife and we were in need of a colour that embodied stability. And so, out came Classic Blue as Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2020. Shades of blue have been no stranger to the colour forecast in previous years, from Cerulean in 2000, to Aqua Sky in 2003, Blue Turquoise in 2005, and Blue Iris in 2008, but none offered true versatility like this classic choice. A solid and dependable colour “that provides an anchoring foundation”, it dominated homes of this time period and even still feels relevant today. 

Upbeat and joyful, Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2019 was a gently reminder to pay attention to the environment we live in. This year, the climate crisis dominated headlines and the world began to take note – and as a result, our homes began to emulate the beauty of the world around us. “Just as coral reefs are a source of sustenance and shelter, we see this colour giving us assurance and buoyancy in an environment that’s been continuously shifting for 10 years,” Pantone explained.

Moody, dramatic and a little rebellious, Ultra Violet was named Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2018. In a year that was dominated by futurism, space exploration and tech disruption, the purple hue communicated “originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.” Pantone said it best: “From exploring new technologies and the greater galaxy, to artistic expression and spiritual reflection, intuitive Ultra Violet lights the way to what is yet to come.”

2017 saw a rise of sustainable living, of natural materials and of reducing your carbon footprint. So it was no surprise when Greenery was named as the Pantone Colour of the Year 2017. With attention on indoor plants, green velvet, and a focus on sustainable living, this trend was quickly welcomed into our homes and lives, and seemingly never left. According to Pantone, this “refreshing and revitalising” hue symbolised “the reassurance we yearn for amid a tumultuous social and political environment” and “the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose.”

After years of chaos, Pantone leaned into the soothing hues for their Colour of the Year in 2016 with the soft pink Rose Quartz and Serenity, a chalky sky-blue, taking home the crown. We saw soft linens, pale ceramics and calming interiors leading the trends, and a rise in, what’s now known as, Millennial Pink. “We really see the linkage of these two shades together as wellness,” Pantone explains, citing the increased anxieties of our post-modern age.