Introducing Pantone’s Color of the Year: Marsala

Step aside, radiant orchid – there’s a new color in town. Pantone has released its much-anticipated color of the year, and it’s not what I expected (in a good way). The warm, earthy hue is Marsala: an intriguing mix of cherry chocolate and deep red tones. This shade is extremely versatile, as it can complement a range of different colors, including golden yellows, teals, rusty oranges and bright pinks.

Here are a few unique ways to fit a little more Marsala (and I don’t mean the wine) into your everyday life:

Decorate sparingly
If you’re not quite sure how you feel about the color, you can bring it into your home in small doses.

• Fill your favorite vase with a variety of Marsala-colored flowers, such as anemones and dahlias. Include some succulents to add in greenery and help your blooms’ magnificent color stand out.
• Paint the inside of your cabinets or bookshelves to add a quick splash of color
• Swap out the throw pillows on your couch for Marsala-colored ones. Feel free to combine pillows in different shades – just make sure they’re in the same color family to create a coordinated look (i.e. maroons or soft pinks).

Send colorful cards
Marsala is a very warm, inviting color, which makes it a perfect hue for thank you cards, birthday cards, etc. Say thank you to friend for picking you up from the airport with this Red Dotted Thank You Blooms card or congratulate a co-worker on his or her recent promotion with this Regal Congratulations Card.

Brighten your palette (and your kitchen)
Introduce Pantone’s Color of the Year into your kitchen with a vibrant centerpiece. Fill a glass bowl with pomegranates, adding in greenery here and there to break up the color. This Marsala-hued fruit can be admired, or you can seed a pomegranate for a quick (and healthy) snack.

Fruit is essential for your diet, but everyone needs to indulge every once in awhile. There’s never a wrong time to eat cupcakes – why not bake some red velvet cupcakes to share your excitement for Marsala? (How good does this look?) If you’re having a get-together, wrap each treat in a Marsala-hued ribbon and arrange the colorful cupcakes on a platter or cake tier to show off your baking skills.

Opt for Marsala accessories
Marsala is a beautiful hue that can easily be brought into your wardrobe and accessories. The color is actually very flattering on a variety of skin tones. Start with something simple, like painting your nails, to see how you like the color on you. You can also experiment with other Marsala-hued cosmetics, such as lipstick or eyeshadow. Brighten up your neutral outfit with a bangle, chunky necklace or headband in the Marsala color family.

The beauty of Marsala is its versatility. Whether you want to include the shade in your wardrobe, on your couch, on bookshelves or through stationery, the warm hue is sure to give off a pleasant vibe.