See a decade's worth of Pantone's colors of the year

Each December, design and color enthusiasts await the announcement of Pantone's Color of the Year. Looking back on recent trends and lifestyles while also taking a look into the future, Pantone's Color of the Year Program offers a shade that is meant to represent the year ahead.

The program has taken place each year since 1999, and the release of their Color of the Year for 2024 marks the company's 25th anniversary — a tradition that started right here in Bergen County.

"In the spirit of PANTONE 13-1023 Peach Fuzz, we reflect back on the last 25 years of the Pantone Color of the Year program grateful to provide an avenue where designers and color enthusiasts all over the world can engage in a conversation about color, be inspired by a color and showcase their creativity within their communities," said Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute.

Let's take a walk down memory lane. Here's all of Pantone's iconic colors from the past decade:

2024: Peach Fuzz

A soft, delicate hue that sits somewhere between pink and orange, Peach Fuzz is the latest color selected by Pantone's Color of the Year Program. This warm peach shade was selected to highlight our society's desire for togetherness, kindness, compassion and connection.

"In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. "A shade that resonates with compassion, offers a tactile embrace, and effortlessly bridges the youth with the timeless."

2023: Viva Magenta

2023's Viva Magenta is a crimson-red hue inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the brightest and most precious natural dyes. This vibrant color was selected to represent bravery and fearlessness, and encourage self-expression without bounds.

"it is a new animated red that revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint, an electrifying, and a boundaryless shade that is manifesting as a stand-out statement," Eiseman said. "PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta welcomes anyone and everyone with the same verve of life and rebellious spirit."

2022: Very Peri

For Pantone's Color of the Year for 2022, they created a whole new shade for the first time in the program's history: Very Peri. This periwinkle blue tone with violet-red undertones suggests a dynamic presence that encourages creativity and imaginative expressions.

"Creating a new color for the first time in the history of our Pantone Color of the Year educational color program reflects the global innovation and transformation taking place," said Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute.

2021: Illuminating and Ultimate Gray

In 2021, Pantone opted to blend two shades ? Illuminating and Ultimate Gray ? as their Color of the Year. Illuminating is a bright and cheerful yellow shade, representing strength and positivity, while Ultimate Gray is a classic gray shade, representing weathered natural elements that have displayed the ability to stand the test of time. Selected during a time of darkness throughout the pandemic, these hues highlight resiliency and how different elements can come together to support one another.

"The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positively supported by fortitude," Eiseman said. "Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope."

2020: Classic Blue

For 2020, Pantone's Color of the Year was all about Classic Blue. Reminiscent of the sky at dusk, Classic Blue highlighted the desire for a dependable and stable foundation to build upon as we move into a new decade. The tone also offers a sense of peace and tranquility.

"Imbued with a deep resonance, Classic Blue provides an anchoring foundation," she said. "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."

2019: Living Coral

Pantone's Color of the Year for 2019 was Living Coral, a vibrant coral hue. This bright orange shade with golden undertones was selected because of its warmth, which is meant to nourish us and provide comfort in an ever-changing environment.

"With consumers craving human interaction and social connection, the humanizing and heartening qualities displayed by the convivial PANTONE Living Coral hit a responsive chord," Eiseman said.

2018: Ultra Violet

For 2018, Pantone selected Ultra Violet, a blue-based purple shade that aligns with the deep hues found in cosmos and the greater galaxy. Often associated with mindfulness practices through purple-toned lighting in meditation spaces, Ultra Violet was selected to represent experimentation and individuals pushing boundaries in creative ways.

"We are living in a time that requires inventiveness and imagination. It is this kind of creative inspiration that is indigenous to PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet, a blue-based purple that takes our awareness and potential to a higher level," Eiseman said.

2017: Greenery

In 2017, Pantone selected the bright shade of Greenery: a zesty yellow-grade shade that we often see throughout nature as it revives in the spring. At the turn of the year, we saw growing social and political unrest, and Greenery was meant to represent reassurance that we'd be able to submerge ourselves back into the natural world, and ground ourselves despite the world's climate.

"Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate and revitalize, Greenery symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose," Eiseman said.

2016: Rose Quartz and Serenity

Pantone selected two shades for their Color of the Year program in 2016 the baby pink Rose Quartz and the baby blue Serenity ? the first of just two times they chose to do this. Rose Quartz represents compassion and composure, while Serenity offers feelings of relaxation. These two colors were selected during a time where much of the world was seeing societal movements toward gender equity and fluidity, so they were meant to display connection, as well as a sense of peace.

"With the whole greater than its individual parts, joined together Serenity and Rose Quartz demonstrate an inherent balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace," Eiseman said.

2015: Marsala

In 2015, Pantone selected Marsala — a sultry, earthy red with brown undertones that resembles the hue of Marsala wine. Said to embody the richness of a fulfilling meal, this color signals confidence and stability.

2014: Radiant Orchid

The mid-toned purple shade of Radiant Orchid was Pantone's pick for 2014. Consisting of fuchsia and rosy pink undertones, this hue blooms with confidence and signifies expression, creativity and originality.

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Pantone color of the year 2024: Check out the past decade