Pantone Color of the Year 2015: 18-438 Marsala
Around the holidays every year, designers of all kinds await the highly anticipated announcement of Pantone’s color of the year, and this year was no exception. When I saw the color Pantone selected for 2015, I was pleasantly surprised. 18-1438 Marsala is noticeably more earthy and muted than the colors that have been selected over the past 8 or 9 years. From Turquoise to Emerald to Tangerine Tango, Marsala is definitely a nice change of pace.
Marsala, which is both a fortified wine and an Indian spice, has a grounded influence, yet sophistication to it simultaneously. These characteristics make it a very versatile color – it could be a statement in a scheme of earthy neutrals, or ground a bolder palette of primary colors.
Relating to its origins in food and drink, this robust color is a true appetite stimulant, and would work well as an accent in a kitchen or dining room. This layered color, with its brown undertones, lends itself well to texture, which is a popular way to add interest to any interior. Another popular trend right now is metallic, especially antique brass, bronze and umber. The combination of Marsala with any of these metallics would make a bold, textural statement in any room!
I am looking forward to seeing how Marsala influences the design industry this year, in everything from fashion, beauty and industrial design, to home furnishings and interiors. Maybe we will even see it incorporated in to some of Habitar’s designs as well!
Hannah Tindall is an Associate Senior Designer at Habitar Design, a leading Interior Design firm in Chicago. Habitar Design specializes in luxury home, kitchen, and bathroom designs and remodels.
