This meant the process behind choosing the Color of the Year had to break with tradition, too. After much deliberation, the company landed on a new color: Very Peri, a vibrant shade of periwinkle blue with energizing violet-red undertones. Ahead of the announcement, we chatted with Lee Eiseman and Laurie Pressman, the executive director and vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, respectively, about the meaning and process behind the Color of the Year 2022. Here’s what they revealed about the hue, plus some easy ways to work the color into your own home.
The Meaning Behind the Pantone Color of the Year 2022
Since its founding, the Pantone Color of the Year has sought to encapsulate the cultural moment and reflect the global zeitgeist. Very Peri attempts to do just that. “It embodies a courageous presence and encourages personal inventiveness and creativity,” says Eiseman. This complex hue is considered a member of the blue family (which is generally seen as familiar, steadfast, and comfortable), but by infusing it with an undertone of violet-red, it gains energy and dynamism, Eiseman explains. This combination of cool and warm tones feels new and unexpected—a reflection of the type of innovation history calls for. “It helps us to embrace the future and its possibilities, " says Eiseman. “Every one of us, in different ways, whether personally or professionally, is looking to rewrite our lives and reimagine what our lives could be,” says Pressman. Very Peri symbolizes the need for creative solutions and fortitude to address the challenges we face.
How the Pantone Color of the Year 2022 Was Chosen
Typically, the Color of the Year is chosen from Pantone’s more than 2,000 existing colors. But for 2022, the company decided it was necessary to formulate a new color. Enter Pantone 17-3938 Very Peri, which will now be added to the company’s selection of solid color chips. “You look around, and if you have to think of one word, it was ’transformation,’” says Pressman. Changing the process behind choosing the Color of the Year was another way to reflect our times. “Previously, when we’ve added colors to the palette, we’re adding them based on where we see color going, this, however, was done messaging-first and name-first, with a very clear vision of what this color needed to look like,” explains Pressman. The team knew they wanted a futuristic color that reflected global innovation and one that had ties to the digital world—the technical aspects of developing the color and replicating it across mediums (e.g., printed paper, dyed fabric, digital assets, and more) followed from there.
How to Work Very Peri Into Your Home Decor
Eiseman’s advice for decorating with Very Peri: “Be experimental with it, have fun with it, enjoy it, and it will bring you more joy.” Whether you’re already reaching for a paintbrush or want to start small, here are three easy ways to bring the color home. To prevent the hue from feeling overwhelming, consider painting one accent wall or opt for a softer shade of the hue. If you prefer a close match, you can have a custom paint color mixed up based on the Pantone chip, or try Bellflower by Dunn-Edwards.
