5 Great Ways to Incorporate the Pantone Color of the Year in 2020

This article may contain affiliate links. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Privacy Policy.

As they do every December, Pantone just announced their color of the year. For 2020, it’s classic blue. And you know what that means … we’re about to start seeing it everywhere!

Unlike some of the colors they’ve chosen in recent years, this year’s pick is a bit more palatable. Compared to 2018’s ultra-violet and 2019’s living coral, classic blue will be a whole lot easier to incorporate into a room design.

Ready to pick up some new home accents, paint a room in this fresh blue hue, or spruce up your bedroom?

Here are five great ways to incorporate the Pantone 2020 color of the year into your home.

Classic Blue: A Classic Hue

We hate to state the obvious, but they call it classic for a reason.

Pantone describes classic blue #19-4052 as “suggestive of the sky at dusk,” and says it “brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit, offering refuge.”

Hey, they’re the color experts, so we won’t argue with their characterization or question why they chose it.

But what we do know is this:

Blues in general are calming and relaxing, and that’s exactly why so many people decorate so many different rooms in various blue tones. It coordinates easily with neutral colors, such as grey and white, but it’s also easy to pair with vibrant colors, such as shades of yellow and green.

Whatever your personal style is, there are lots of ways you can start incorporating this color into your home right now.

In the Kitchen

Colorful countertop appliances, colorful bakeware (a la Le Creuset), and colorful kitchen accessories have been trending for quite some time. If you’re looking to infuse a new pop color into your kitchen this season, classic blue is a great choice. It works in everything from curtains to area rugs to serving platters.‍

NutriBullet has already released their beloved blender in a similar hue. Not ready to make a major color commitment? Pick up an inexpensive set of dishtowels from Target if you want to get a feel for how the color works with your existing kitchen design.

Want to decorate with the Pantone color chip itself?

Copenhagen Design has partnered directly with Pantone to produce a line of home accessories. If you’re a coffee fanatic, you might want to pick up these espresso cups in the exact shade.

In the Living Room

You can be sure that retailers everywhere will start offering more and more products in classic blue. Kravet, another Pantone partner, has already released a variety of home accessories and decorative items in the exact tone and hue.

From throw pillows to table lamps to decanters, Kravet is all over the color and doing so in some interesting and architectural ways.

If you want to stick to your favorite online retailers, shop accent chairs at Wayfair. Check out credenzas and coffee tables at Deny Designs. Shop patterned rugs at West Elm. Classic blue certainly isn’t new, but now that we’re so aware of it, we’re noticing hints of it everywhere!

On the Walls

Loving the 2020 color of the year and ready to give a room a fresh new coat of paint? Head to your local paint store or home improvement store and start gathering swatches.

You can use the hue as inspiration or, if you want a can of paint that’s an exact match, you can order a sample of the color directly from Pantone. Pantone offers a variety of sample color swatches and little accessories that you can order so you can match up the hue.

Not in the mood to get messy with a can of dark blue paint? We don’t blame you. Decorate with classic blue in artwork instead.

We love this lagoon canvas print from Kravet (exact color match!), and we could spend hours shopping the canvas art selection at Bare Walls. You’ll find hundreds of various prints and art pieces that incorporate this shade as well as other variations of blue.

In the Bedroom

Blue is a soothing color. And there’s no better place to incorporate it than in your bedroom.

This duvet cover from Joss and Main blends several shades, making it easy to coordinate with any neutral wall color or wooden headboard, looking for small accessories just to add a pop of color? A chic blue vase or a jewelry box for your bedside table may be all you need!‍

Lampshades, sheets, pillowcases… just search your favorite stores online by color, and you’re sure to find something you love in classic blue.

In the Dining Room

Want to set your dining room table in the 2020 color of the year? Look for dishes, serving sets, table linens, or candleholders and you can set a table that’s totally on-trend for this year and years to come.

Unlike some previous Pantone colors of the year, this one isn’t going out of style. It may be an inspiration for decorating now, but in five or ten years, it will still be relatable, understandable, and welcoming.

We love this blue and white dinnerware set from Pottery Barn and these drip glaze plates from Williams Sonoma. Crate and Barrel has a variety of cool table runners to choose from, as well as placemats and napkins to coordinate or contrast with.

What is the Best Way to Decorate With the Pantone 2020 Color of the Year?

The short answer is any way you want! Classic blue is neither masculine nor feminine. It’s not especially bright. It’s not especially shocking. In fact, it’s almost a neutral that you can incorporate into your home (and your wardrobe) in a variety of ways.

Our favorite ways to bring Pantone’s 2020 color of the year into the home is with:

• Kitchen accents
• Area rugs
• Curtains
• Pillows
• Artwork
• Vases
• Accent chairs
• Paint
• Duvet covers
• Artwork
• Dishes
• Table linens

Ready to spruce up your space a bit? Keep an eye out for classic blue the next time you’re shopping. You can be sure it will be popping up everywhere, and in every way you can imagine.