{2016 pantone colors of the year: rose quartz and serenity}

Call it an early Christmas present, or call it confusing. Either way, Pantone gave us two Colors of the Year for the first time ever with the announcement that Rose Quartz and Serenity would share the spotlight as the 2016 Pantone Color of the Year.

Some critics compared the two hues to the traditional pastels for baby bedrooms — pale pink and baby blue — but Pantone’s Leatrice Eiseman disagrees. “Rose Quartz is not baby pink,” she says, “it doesn’t have that wimpy feel.”

The executive director of Pantone’s Color Institute told the Wall Street Journal that Pantone had been considering two colors for awhile, and this seemed like the perfect pair. “From a business perspective, it’s two colors, so it’s an opportunity to make extra combinations,” Eiseman said. “It makes for a perfect combination in the home.”

Media Reaction

The Los Angeles Times called it a coded message about gender equality and fluidity. “In many parts of the world we are experiencing a gender blur as it relates to fashion, which has in turn impacted color trends throughout all other areas of design,” Eiseman explained. “This more unilateral approach to color is coinciding with societal movements toward gender equality and fluidity.”

InStyle was more poetic, focusing on the soothing nature of the airy pastels: “Rose Quartz evokes a sunset, budding flower, or flushed cheek, while Serenity conjures an expanse of bleached blue sky. Worn separately, they don’t have the same power of calmness as they do when worn together.”

StyleCaster and the kitchn showcased creative ways to decorate with the two hues and Apartment Therapy did a great piece on “Pale Pink Living Rooms” earlier this year. 

Variations of Rose Quartz have been on our radar for a year or so and we featured the Hirshfield’s Paint color, Souffle 0139, in a blog post last November. Here are a few photos from Hirshfield’s Pinterest Boards showing similar colors to Rose Quartz and Serenity. It will be an interesting year seeing how and where the 2016 Pantone Colors of the Year show up.

Wall color is Raleigh Peach CW-205 from Benjamin Moore’s Williamsburg Collection

House to Home

Coco + Kelley

Living Inside

From the Pantone site:

Whether in soft or hard surface material, the pairing of Rose Quartz and Serenity brings calm and relaxation. Appealing in all finishes, matte, metallic and glossy, the engaging combo joins easily with other mid-tones including greens and purples, rich browns, and all shades of yellow and pink. Add in silver or hot brights for more splash and sparkle.

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