This article originally appeared on Houzz.com.
I’ve heard many folks grumble that 2016 has been a rough year. In addition to losing many iconic musical heroes, we are still emerging from an especially heated election season. As we turn our attention to the new year and, hopefully, look forward to a fresh start, the color-management company Pantone Color Institute has stepped in to offer an insightful pick for Color of the Year for 2017: Greenery. Pantone chose Greenery “to provide us with the reassurance we yearn for amid a tumultuous social and political environment,” says Leatrice Eiseman, the institute’s executive director. She adds: “Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate and revitalize, Greenery symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose.”
This vegetal hue also makes a terrific addition to a kitchen or dining room. The generous dose of green throughout this space injects such vibrance and personality.
Leafy green, when paired with a wood tone, brings a nice organic vibe to a room. The palette really lends an outdoorsy quality to interior spaces, giving them an indoor-outdoor connection.
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to encourage homeowners to move on from all-white interiors and think about painting an area in an accent color, whether it be the ceiling or a wall in a room. Both the bedroom in the previous photo and this bathroom are heavy on the white hues, but the splash of green adds vibrancy and keeps the rooms from looking sterile or cold.
If you like this green but fear it might be a bit too intense in large doses, think about adding it in smaller, quieter ways, such as through decorative elements like pillows, curtains, light fixtures and other accessories.
Because this green is so prominent in nature, it tends to work as a semi-neutral. It can be pleasingly paired with many other colors. As in nature, it’s right at home with shades of red, orange, yellow or blue.
Related: Here are More Tips to Incoporate Green Into Your Home
Ready to take the plunge and add Greenery to your own home? Here’s an assortment of paint colors similar to Pantone’s color of 2017, from left: Mardi Gras Green from Valspar, Green Thumb from Benjamin Moore, Overt Green from Sherwin-Williams and Herbal Garden from Behr.
Related: Give Your Room a Green Accent Wall With Thousands of Wallpapers to Choose From
