Color Palette: Pantone Color of the Year 2020, Classic Blue

As a design nerd, at the end of each year I anxiously wait for Pantone to announce their color of the year. I was pretty excited yesterday to hear they selected Classic Blue for 2020’s Color of the Year. I mean it’s almost my branding color blue! I love it when I’m head of the curve, ha!

I watched a short webinar today from Pantone and they talked about their inspiration. Some of the words they used to describe this shade of blue were timeless, dependable, comfort, honest, reliable, and neutral. I agree with all of those descriptors, but I especially love that last one. This shade of blue, is honestly a neutral. It’s like the perfect pair of blue jeans, it literally goes with everything!

Classic blue pairs beautifully with blues, greens, and neutrals.  BLUE BLOOM  HEX CODES #0a152c #4c4312 #096192 #e0d12d #fbeccd

Classic blue pairs beautifully with blues, greens, and neutrals.

BLUE BLOOM

HEX CODES
#0a152c
#4c4312
#096192
#e0d12d
#fbeccd

Classic blue is no stranger to vintage cars.  SLUG BUG BLUE  HEX CODES #030305 #103f45 #096191 #9b9b9b #edf1f4

Classic blue is no stranger to vintage cars.

SLUG BUG BLUE

HEX CODES
#030305
#103f45
#096191
#9b9b9b
#edf1f4

Classic Blue is everywhere in nature! On butterflies.  FLUTTER BY  HEX CODES #111016 #1c290f #096191 #b8d6ce #ebf6fa

Classic Blue is everywhere in nature! On butterflies.

FLUTTER BY

HEX CODES
#111016
#1c290f
#096191
#b8d6ce
#ebf6fa

You can find it on the ocean shore.  SHORELINE TOPOGRAPHY  HEX CODES: #0f1644 #b56422 #096191 #3d838b #ebd8ae

You can find it on the ocean shore.

SHORELINE TOPOGRAPHY

HEX CODES:
#0f1644
#b56422
#096191
#3d838b
#ebd8ae

You can even find classic blue on feathered friends.  KINGFISHER  HEX CODES #0b3a4a #ff3817 #096191 #999f5f #fa8a72

You can even find classic blue on feathered friends.

KINGFISHER

HEX CODES
#0b3a4a
#ff3817
#096191
#999f5f
#fa8a72

You can find it in the Northern Lights.  AURORA  HEX CODES: #282049 #096191 #53857a #abeedc #f8d2dd

You can find it in the Northern Lights.

AURORA

HEX CODES:
#282049
#096191
#53857a
#abeedc
#f8d2dd

Delicious cool blue shades.   BLUEBERRY BLISS  HEX CODES:  #1c2127 #0b385f #3373b0 #bed4e9 #e7f1fb

Delicious cool blue shades.

BLUEBERRY BLISS

HEX CODES:
#1c2127
#0b385f
#3373b0
#bed4e9
#e7f1fb

You can find it will bright shade in tropical plants, like this Bird of Paradise.  BIRD OF PARADISE  HEX CODES #239148 #89ad3f #096191 #f29416 #ffe13b

You can find it will bright shade in tropical plants, like this Bird of Paradise.

BIRD OF PARADISE

HEX CODES
#239148
#89ad3f
#096191
#f29416
#ffe13b

Deep in the rain forest.  POISON DART  HEX CODES #040404 #404211 #152f79 #096191 #a7e1e3

Deep in the rain forest.

POISON DART

HEX CODES
#040404
#404211
#152f79
#096191
#a7e1e3

And it’s there in stunning sunsets.  LAKESIDE SUNSET  HEX CODES #096191 #5956a3 #a297e5 #f2a4a2 #f8bbcd

And it’s there in stunning sunsets.

LAKESIDE SUNSET

HEX CODES
#096191
#5956a3
#a297e5
#f2a4a2
#f8bbcd


I also want to share these beautiful classic blue inspiration images:


What a great color. I hope you enjoy checking out these Classic Blue color palettes and I would love to hear how they inspire you! Let me know which is your favorite and what you would use it for (interior decorating, branding, wardrobe, painting, etc.) in the comments.

The 2019 Color of the Year was Living Coral, which I also very much liked. You can see the Living Coral color palettes I created earlier this year here.


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Beauty is everywhere.