Decorating Your Florida Home with 2020 Color Trends

Every year, color experts anticipate top color trends for fashion and design and announce their choice for Color of the Year. This year, the color experts at PANTONE and those at Sherwin-Williams, the paint brand found inside our new Florida homes, both chose a timeless blue color as their official Color of the Year for 2020.

PANTONE Color Institute chose Classic Blue (19-4052) as its 2020 Color of the Year. This elegant color is known to instill calm, confidence, and connection, and is an ideal choice for heading into a new decade.
 

“We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on,” said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the PANTONE Color Institute. “Imbued with a deep resonance, Classic Blue provides an anchoring foundation. A boundless blue evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky, Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking; challenging us to think more deeply, increase our perspective and open the flow of communication.”

Paint manufacturer Sherwin-Williams chose Naval (SW 6244), a rich navy blue that, much like PANTONE’s color choice, creates a calm and grounding environment that inspires quiet confidence. This beautiful navy hue can empower you as we enter a new decade, provide a background for opulence when paired with Art Deco influences, and even be a background to bring nature indoors when combined with live greenery or natural marble. Dress it up or dress it down – no matter how you use this strong shade of blue, it’ll meet your yearning for color without feeling overpowering or too bold. 
 

Colorful Pairings

PANTONE created five unique color palettes that coordinate well with Classic Blue, offering you plenty of inspiration and idea on how to use the color in your Florida home in a way that matches your personal style. The color palettes include Ponder, a selection of cool blues and warm neutrals ideal to use in Florida home decor; Snorkel, bright colors which bring the feeling of a tropical paradise; Desert Twilight, reminiscent of the early evening sky with metallic shades mixed in; Exotic Tastes, a mixture of jewel tones inspired by food; and finally, Untraditional, a palette of unexpected pairings that would be ideal for the holidays or other celebrations. Of all the color combinations, you’ll most likely find the Ponder palette ideal to use in your new homes in Lakeland, Orlando, and beyond.   

Sherwin-Williams kept its suggested color combinations simpler, focusing on one palette with three key colors to accent Naval Blue. Tarnished Trumpet and Midday are both warm gold colors that contrast the boldness of Naval, and they are hues that pair well with gold metallic accents for an elevated look. In contrast, pairing Naval with shades of green, such as Kale Green, will introduce biophilia, our intrinsic want as humans to be one with nature, providing a grounding, down-to-earth vibe.

It’s not uncommon to see the color blue used in décor in Florida homes, with our sunny blue skies and proximity to sparkling blue waters on both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. These Color of the Year picks inspire the use of blue in richer, more dramatic and elevated tones than the typical vibrant, bright blues that are inspired by a day at the beach. Here are a few ideas to help you incorporate the 2020 Colors of the Year into the décor in your Florida new home.

Bold Bathrooms

Bathrooms are an ideal place to incorporate a bold color in your home, because the space is generally closed off (literally, by closing the door) from the color scheme throughout the rest of your home. Both Classic Blue and Naval work well in bathrooms, providing a luxurious, relaxing vibe ideal for your spa-bathroom. Start small with blue accents, such as towels, curtains, and rugs, or go all-in and paint an accent wall or even the bathroom blue. Pair it with crisp white trim for a clean, classic finish, or incorporate gold fixtures for an opulent Art Deco look. Incorporate green into the room through accents and plants, making your bath a natural, Zen retreat. 

Colorful Kitchens

Homeowners are moving away from the traditional all-white kitchen in favor of being bold with color choices. Add pops of bold blue by painting the kitchen island or bottom cabinets, incorporating bold wall tile, or painting an accent wall decorated with your favorite artwork as a bold visual focal point in your kitchen. 

If you’re seeking something less permanent though equally stunning, incorporate fun, colorful kitchen wares from brands like KitchenAid or Le Creuset. Or, you may choose to bring calming and elegant blue into your kitchen with towels, dinnerware, or barstools.

Relaxing Retreats

Because blue is a color known to evoke relaxation and calmness, it’s an ideal hue to use in bedrooms or a gathering room you relax in after a long day. Create a relaxing space by pairing blue with casual neutrals, such as light grey, white, or tan. Elevate the elegance and warmth in a room by selecting cozy, feel-good fabrics such as suede or velvet. 

Choose to go for a lavish look by pairing bold blue with deep red, orange, and teal hues such as those in PANTONE’s Exotic Tastes color palette. Paired together, the contrast of the many rich shades provides an upscale finish reminiscent of sparkling jewels.

If such an array of colors is not your style, metallic accents also add an upscale vibe to any space. Pairing bold navy with metallic gold and silver, along with luxurious fabric textures, will give your space a casual, understated elegance that will make you feel like a million bucks.

Get more inspiration for decorating your new home in Florida with Classic Blue and Naval by visiting our 2020 Colors of the Year Pinterest board. There, you’ll find many examples of how designers are incorporating blue into beautiful home décor.

We have to say, deep blue is our favorite color, and one used on the Highland Homes logo since we started building dream homes in Florida in 1996. If you’re searching for a new home in Florida in which you can incorporate your unique style and enjoy calmness and confidence as we head into the new year, visit Highland Homes online to browse single-family homes and townhomes designed for your life with prices from the $180’s to $300’s, and learn more about building your dream home by contacting one of our Florida New Home Specialists at 863-797-4999.