2019 is officially upon us—and that means that the Pantone Color Institute, the world’s leading authority on all-things-color, has officially chosen the color that’s going to usher us into the New Year. And this year, it’s a bright one.

According the company’s announcement, Living Coral, Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year, is “an animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energizes and enlivens with a softer edge” that “embraces us with warmth and nourishment to provide comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment.”

While Pantone’s Color of the Year defines trends across multiple industries, one of the most prominent places it’s embraced every year is home design. So, why is this shade so relevant right now? What made the color authority declare Living Coral the go-to shade for 2019? And, most importantly, how can you incorporate this color into your properties in the upcoming year to lend an on-trend look and feel that appeals to buyers?

How Pantone Chooses Their Color of the Year

As mentioned, the Pantone Color Institute is the world’s leading authority on color—and since launching their Color of the Year over 20 years ago, they’ve dictated annual design trends across multiple industries including fashion; home design; and product, packing, and graphic design.

But how, exactly, do they choose their go-to shade each year?

According to the Pantone Color Institute, it’s an extremely thorough process that analyzes trends across multiple industries—and across the globe. “To arrive at the selection each year, Pantone’s color experts at the Pantone Color Institute comb the world looking for new color influences. This can include the entertainment industry and films in production, traveling art collections and new artists, fashion, all areas of design, popular travel destinations, as well as new lifestyles, play styles, and socio-economic conditions. Influences may also stem from new technologies, materials, textures, and effects that impact color, relevant social media platforms and even upcoming sporting events that capture worldwide attention.”

Why Living Coral?

So, now that you know how Pantone chooses its Color of the Year, let’s talk about why this year’s pick is Living Coral.

According to Pantone, Living Coral is the vibrant shade the design world needs to make a statement—both in the real world and in the increasingly “real” world of social media and digital technology. “In reaction to the onslaught of digital technology and social media increasingly embedding into daily life, we are seeking authentic and immersive experiences that enable connection and intimacy. Sociable and spirited, the engaging nature of PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity…Representing the fusion of modern life, PANTONE Living Coral is a nurturing color that appears in our natural surroundings and at the same time, displays a lively presence within social media.”

This color is vibrant, joyful, and attention-grabbing. Living Coral is just as effective on the walls of a new property as on the “wall” of someone’s social media platform—making it the perfect choice for 2019’s digitally integrated landscape.

How To Incorporate Living Coral Into Your Properties

Living Coral is a bright, vibrant hue—and making it the focal point of your home design can feel overwhelming. Instead, this color is best used as an accent to add a pop of color to an otherwise neutral palette.

Some ways to incorporate Living Coral into your properties in 2019 include:

As an accent wall
If you want to use Living Coral to make a statement, a great way to do it is with an accent wall.

An accent wall acts as the focal point of a room—but when you balance it out with a neutral palette, it makes a statement without being visually overwhelming. Try painting a wall in the dining room to add a sense of warmth to your eating space; a wall in your living room for a playful, beach-inspired feel; or to a guest bedroom for a gender neutral pop of color and style.

With textiles and accessories
If painting the walls Living Coral feels too bold for your design, you can take a more subtle approach by incorporating Pantone’s Color of the Year into your textiles and accessories.

Using on-trend colors in your textiles and accessories is a win-win; you get to incorporate today’s hottest hues in a way to appeals to trend-seeking buyers—but you don’t have to make a permanent (and potentially expensive) commitment when you’re unsure of a color’s staying power.

Add patterned curtains to your kitchen windows that weave in the Living Coral color in your hallway. Add a few coral hued throw pillows to your bed or sofa. Tie your living room together with a coral throw rug. Textiles and accessories are easily swapped out, so have fun with it and experiment until you find the right balance of this bright, vibrant hue.

In your sales office
Living Coral is a great color to incorporate into your property design—but it’s also a great color to incorporate into the design of where you sell those properties.

Your sales office should feel warm, inviting, and put potential buyers at ease—and using Living Coral in your designs is a great way to create that kind of atmosphere. This cheerful hue immediately makes people feel welcome and at-home—which is exactly the kind of feeling you want to encourage in your sales office.

The same guidelines apply to using Living Coral in your sales office as in your properties—paint an accent wall or incorporate coral-inspired textiles and accessories. Use Living Coral as a way to add a pop of color to an otherwise neutral design palette. It will feel on-trend without feeling overwhelming—and will create the perfect backdrop for getting people into their new homes.

Heading into 2019 with Living Coral

Living Coral is poised to be the go-to color of 2019. And if you want your communities to be the go-to for buyers in the upcoming year, you should plan on incorporating this vibrant coral hue into your home designs.