Global colour authority Pantone has just today announced Pantone 18-3224 Radiant Orchid as the colour of the year for 2014. The company describes the colour as a captivating, magical, enigmatic purple.

“While the 2013 colour of the year, Pantone 17-5641 Emerald, served as a symbol of growth, renewal and prosperity, Radiant Orchid reaches across the colour wheel to intrigue the eye and spark the imagination,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute.

“An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today’s society. An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.”

Interior spaces will look spruced up by incorporating this eye-catching hue in paint, accent pieces and accessories. Decorative foils and laminates have been leaning towards this end of the spectrum for some time and works very with neutrals across the range. As adaptable as it is beautiful, Radiant Orchid complements olive and deeper hunter greens, and offers a gorgeous combination when paired with turquoise, teal and even light yellows.

Likewise, the vibrant colour is sure to liven up neutrals including gray, beige and taupe. Uplifting and bold without being overpowering, Radiant Orchid reenergises almost any colour palette and provides a unifying element for diverse spaces.

For more than a decade, Pantone’s Colour of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design. Past colours include: Emerald - 2013, Tangerine Tango - 2102, Honeysuckle - 2011 and Turquoise - 2010.

www.pantone.co.uk