Meet Greenery, Pantone’s 2017 Color of the Year
See how to give your home a fresh start for the new year with this fun, nature-inspired hue

Jennifer Ott
December 8, 2016
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's work has been featured in many print and online publications. Her recently-published book, "1000 Ideas for Color Schemes," is a beautifully illustrated and easy-to-navigate guide that takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect color palette for your home or special event. For more information on Jennifer Ott Design, visit http://jenottdesign.com/.
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's... More
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.”
I was a bit dubious of Pantone’s picks the past couple of years: Marsala for 2015 and the Rose Quartz-Serenity combo for 2016. But this leafy green hue is right up my alley. In fact, I use it all the time with my color-consultation clients. It’s a fun accent hue for interiors and exteriors alike.
Here, we added a similar verdant hue to brighten up and add some zing to a kids’ bedroom for a recent design client of mine. I also love using this welcoming color on the front door of a home.
Here, we added a similar verdant hue to brighten up and add some zing to a kids’ bedroom for a recent design client of mine. I also love using this welcoming color on the front door of a home.
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.
Learn where these color trends begin
Learn where these color trends begin
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.
Browse previous colors of the year
Browse previous colors of the year
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.
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.
Your turn: Do you give this green a thumbs up or a thumbs down? Tell us how you feel about Pantone’s Color of the Year 2017 in the Comments below.
More
Where Color Trends Begin
7 Soothing Spaces: How to Use Color to Create Calm at Home
See more stories about decorating with green
Your turn: Do you give this green a thumbs up or a thumbs down? Tell us how you feel about Pantone’s Color of the Year 2017 in the Comments below.
More
Where Color Trends Begin
7 Soothing Spaces: How to Use Color to Create Calm at Home
See more stories about decorating with green
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It's that time a year! We are starting to see what the experts are announcing as their colors of the year. Check out this story on Sherwin-William's latest announcement of their 2018 Color of the Year...
Sherwin-Williams Embraces the Blue-Green Trend with Its 2018 Color of the Year:
http://www.durasupreme.com/blog/sherwin-williams-embraces-blue-green-trend-its-2018-color-year
Mandi @ Dura