Pantone Colour of the Year: Complete Guide (2017–2026)
Pantone’s Colour of the Year has become one of the most influential design announcements on the global calendar. Each December, designers, manufacturers and retailers look to the Pantone Colour Institute for insight into the shade set to shape the year ahead.
But this isn’t just about fashion runways. Pantone’s Colour of the Year directly influences home décor, interior styling, soft furnishings and furniture design — including bean bag chairs. From calming greys to energising magentas and warm browns, these colours filter into living rooms, outdoor spaces and commercial interiors worldwide.
This complete guide covers Pantone Colours of the Year from 2017 through 2026, how they’ve influenced interiors, and how to incorporate each shade into your space.
What Is Pantone’s Colour of the Year — And Why Does It Matter?
The Pantone Colour Institute analyses global cultural movements, technology, design trends, entertainment, economic conditions and social sentiment to determine a single defining shade each year.
The chosen colour influences:
- Interior design trends
- Furniture and textile production
- Product development
- Retail merchandising
- Marketing and branding
For home décor brands, the announcement helps guide upcoming collections. For consumers, it offers inspiration for refreshing living spaces in a way that feels current but considered.
2026 — Cloud Dancer
Pantone 11-4201 Cloud Dancer is a soft, airy white with subtle warmth. After years of bold and saturated tones, 2026 signals a shift toward calm, neutral living.
Cloud Dancer works beautifully in minimalist interiors, coastal homes and contemporary apartments. It pairs well with textured fabrics, natural timber and layered neutrals.
To incorporate this trend, look for white and off-white indoor bean bag chairs in cotton or linen for a relaxed, modern look.
2025 — Mocha Mousse
Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse introduced rich, comforting brown tones back into interiors. Warm browns create depth and stability while remaining highly versatile.
This shade works particularly well in:
- Earth-toned living rooms
- Layered neutral spaces
- Rustic-modern interiors
- Outdoor entertaining areas
Mocha-inspired tones translate beautifully into suede and textured fabric bean bags. Explore warm neutrals within our bean bag chair collection to capture this grounded aesthetic.
2024 — Peach Fuzz
Pantone 13-1023 Peach Fuzz introduced a soft, nurturing peach tone designed to evoke comfort and connection.
Peach works especially well in bedrooms, reading nooks and creative spaces. It pairs effortlessly with creams, taupes and brushed gold accents.
For a subtle nod to this trend, consider muted blush or peach-toned bean bags styled alongside textured throws and neutral rugs.
2023 — Viva Magenta
Pantone 18-1750 Viva Magenta delivered a bold, confident red infused with pink undertones. This energetic shade brought vibrancy back into interiors after years of subdued palettes.
In home décor, Viva Magenta functions best as an accent rather than a dominant colour. A statement bean bag chair in a saturated red or berry tone can instantly modernise a space.
Explore vibrant options in our indoor seating range if you want to add bold personality without overwhelming your room.
2022 — Very Peri
Pantone 17-3938 Very Peri blended blue and violet with a touch of red, symbolising creativity and digital-era transformation.
This shade worked particularly well in:
- Home offices
- Teen bedrooms
- Creative studios
- Modern apartments
Periwinkle-inspired tones pair beautifully with soft grey or white bean bags to maintain balance while embracing colour.
2021 — Ultimate Grey & Illuminating
For 2021, Pantone selected two independent colours: PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Grey and PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating.
Ultimate Grey represented resilience and dependability, while Illuminating — a bright, cheerful yellow — symbolised hope and optimism.
This pairing influenced interior styling significantly. Grey became a foundational neutral, while yellow accents introduced warmth and positivity.
Grey remains one of the most versatile choices in modern interiors. Explore neutral-toned options in our fabric bean bag collection for a timeless foundation.
2017–2020: A Historical Overview
2020 — Classic Blue
Pantone 19-4052 Classic Blue reflected stability and calm during global uncertainty. Navy and deep blue seating pieces surged in popularity, particularly in living rooms and home offices.
2019 — Living Coral
Living Coral introduced warmth and vitality, influencing accent furniture and soft furnishings across residential interiors.
2018 — Ultra Violet
Ultra Violet brought dramatic depth to interiors, often used sparingly in statement pieces.
2017 — Greenery
Pantone 15-0343 Greenery reflected environmental awareness and wellness trends. This coincided with the rise of indoor plants and natural materials in design.
How to Incorporate Pantone Colours into Your Living Space
Rather than repainting entire rooms annually, the most practical approach is introducing trending colours through soft furnishings and flexible seating.
Consider:
- Accent bean bag chairs
- Outdoor lounge seating
- Reading nook upgrades
- Teen bedroom refreshes
- Media room styling
For exterior spaces, trending tones can also be incorporated through durable outdoor bean bags designed for UV resistance and weather durability.
Because bean bags are movable and versatile, they’re one of the easiest ways to experiment with emerging colour trends without committing to permanent changes.
The History of the Pantone Matching System (PMS)
Pantone revolutionised colour communication in 1963 with the introduction of the Pantone Matching System (PMS). Before this, colour reproduction varied significantly across printers and manufacturers.
The PMS assigns unique codes to thousands of shades, enabling precise colour consistency across industries including:
- Print and packaging
- Textiles
- Home furnishings
- Industrial design
- Fashion and interiors
Later, Pantone introduced the Fashion, Home + Interiors (FHI) system to support textile and soft goods production. This system is particularly relevant to furniture and upholstery manufacturing.
Why Pantone Colour of the Year Remains Relevant
More than two decades after its launch, Pantone’s Colour of the Year continues to shape design conversations globally.
It provides:
- A cultural snapshot of the times
- Direction for product development
- Inspiration for home styling
- A framework for cohesive colour palettes
For furniture and soft furnishings, it offers a strategic way to stay aligned with broader design movements while maintaining timeless appeal.
Looking Ahead
Pantone’s annual selection process ensures the Colour of the Year remains dynamic and culturally responsive. Whether the future brings bold saturation or calming neutrals, colour will continue to influence how we design and experience our living spaces.
At Bean Bags R Us, we continuously adapt our indoor and outdoor collections to reflect emerging colour trends while maintaining comfort, durability and timeless style.
Explore our full range of indoor bean bag chairs and outdoor bean bags to incorporate the latest Pantone-inspired shades into your space.
