Classic Blue revealed as Pantone’s colour of 2020

by Sara Costi

“We are living in a time that requires trust and faith,” said Pantone Color Institute executive director Leatrice Eiseman. “It’s that yearning for constancy and confidence that Pantone 19-4052 expresses: solidity, something to depend on. Classic Blue is deep, unchanging, lasting. It makes us think of the vast, infinite night sky, encouraging us to look beyond the obvious and expand our thinking. It challenges us to scratch beneath the surface and broaden our horizons.”

Blue is the symbol of calm and silence, thanks to its ability to generate a sense of relaxation, quiet and balance. It helps the body to relax, soothing anxiety and stabilising the heartbeat. According to the principles of feng shui, blue is the colour of water and represents the infinite space of the sky and the sea. It evokes feelings of tenderness and the joy of living and is associated with the geometric form of the circle – the symbol of the eternal movement of the spirit – while it is also thought to encourage introspection and sensitivity.

Cliff Top House (Australia) – Mineral Chrome Grey

If you want to create a sophisticated and refined environment in your home which encourages calm and relaxation, you could opt for an intense blue colour for some of your walls or incorporate blue through pieces of furniture, particularly if subtle, light and natural colours such as beige, cream or any of the countless shades of white prevail in your home.

The colour blue adapts to all styles – classic, modern and contemporary, Provençal and rustic – and can be combined with an endless array of materials.

Already widely used for the interiors of homes located near to the sea, blue is now growing in popularity in cities too. It makes for an elegant companion to light, neutral colours, so it’s no surprise that the combination of blue and white is now a firm favourite in domestic spaces – this timeless pairing is especially popular for the walls of the bathroom.

Earth by Pininfarina Blu

Earth by Pininfarina Blu

R-Evolution Blue

Given its ability to convey harmony, tranquillity and quiet, the colour blue finds its natural home in the bedroom.

One great style idea is to incorporate blue detailing into walls and furnishings and complement these with neutral, light linen and a porcelain stoneware flooring with warm brown tones such as the oak-effect variety from our Planks collection.

Planks Bruno

Blue is also a perfect choice for bed coverings, making an already cosy environment even more inviting with the help of the subtle beige of the porcelain stoneware tiles from the Pietra Baugè collection used for the flooring.

Pietra Baugè Beige

In this sophisticated, contemporary living room – featuring the neutral, light tones of flooring and hearth tiles from the Planks collection – the hit of intense blue provided by the cushions helps to bring the sea through those big glass windows and into the room, lending a sense of elegance and refinement to the whole space.

Flooring: Planks Beige - Hearth tiles: Planks Grigio