Following various lockdowns, consumers are ready to emerge, experience new things, express themselves in new ways and explore the changed world around them, according to Pantone Colour Institute executive director, Leatrice Eiseman in her annual keynote address at The Inspired Home Show 2022.

“More than ever before, there is an ability to connect with our consumer in a very personal way, enabling them to emerge from their personal challenges to experience and express new realities,” Eiseman said.

The colour combinations in the Pantone View Home + Interiors 2023 – which were unveiled at the Show’s Pantone ColorWatch display – reflect the complexity and diversity of what’s going on and what we can expect in the future. Featured colours range from “down-to-earth artisanal tones to highly digitised vibrant hues to intensely robust colors,” Eiseman explained.

These palettes were designed in part to represent how our physical and digital lives are emerging in new ways. “Digital design, with its vivifying effects, stretch the limits of our imagination, opening a door to a dynamic virtual world where we can explore new color combinations,” she said.

There are always going to be people who are attracted to neutral colours, she explained. The difference today is that neutrals and high intensity bright colours can now co-exist.

Likewise, there’s always a need for classic black and white stylings in home and housewares products. Bold red is always a top choice but mixing “rose pinks and bottled greens give black and white a touch of newness these days,” she said.

Mixing the old with the new also was critical when selecting Pantone’s 2022 Colour of the Year – Very Peri. “The decision was made to bring a novel perspective and vision to the most reliable, trusted and beloved blue color family around the world,” Eiseman said. “For the first time, we opted to create a new Pantone blue in order to symbolise our new realities and changing points of view.”

Eiseman concluded her presentation by detailing each of the seven palettes in the Pantone View Home + Interiors 2023 forecast:

Tropic Refresh – A place “to dream big and enjoy, to escape from the challenges of everyday realities,” Eiseman said. Conjuring up images of sky, sand and sea, it offers a balanced feel with both warmth and coolness.

Epic Tales – An escape of a different kind, this palette evokes the esthetic of medieval and mythical past – one that’s been popularised recently in gaming, movies and books. Robust and rich colours are featured, while metallics bring hand-wrought detail.

Honesty – A simple colour combination that suggests health and wellness. It features neutral colours that are joined by “some nourishing vegetal yellow-green shades that are set off by a sole blue green,” Eiseman said.

Earthbound – This palette has a utilitarian look with earth tones mixed with some metallics for an updated approach. It reflects the fact that “people are longing for that ability to reach out and touch right now,” she said.

Unexpected Reality – Lighter pastel shades are contrasted here by unexpected bright hues including “a vibrant yellow, a sulfuric yellow-green, and a bright orchid,” Eiseman said. There is an undertone of technology that energises this palette.

Artisan Invention – Drawing inspiration from the boho trend and manipulated fabrics, it is “an eclectic effect that is both rustic and sleek.” Mixing the old with the new is a theme here as well.

Intoxicants – It’s all about brightness though there’s a bit of mystery involved too. Purple, magenta and violet are joined by red, green, orange and an electric blue to “express celebration and aspiration for better days ahead,” Eiseman said.