Pantone 2023 Color of the Year: Viva Magenta

Pantone’s Color of the Year, Viva Magenta, 18-1750 is a vigorous shade that takes inspiration from nature and brings with it the symbolism of the red color family, including strength, bravery and fearlessness. It is an exuberant shade that is meant to carry joy and optimism into the new year—and into our homes.

Viva Magenta is a powerful color. “It is a new animated red that revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint, an electrifying, and boundaryless shade that is manifesting as a stand-out statement,” Pantone said in a statement. “Viva Magenta welcomes anyone and everyone with the same verve for life and rebellious spirit. It is a color that is audacious, full of wit and inclusive of all.”

Like in recent years, Pantone’s pick for color of the year is inspired by world events, including emerging trends and narratives that come as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and a break from the old status quo. However, this year’s pick is not just based on the new. It also has roots in the natural world, with a strong history and tradition carried from the natural dye family.

“In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real. Pantone 18-1750 Viva Magenta descends from the red family, and is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known,” said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute. “Rooted in the primordial, Pantone 18-1750 Viva Magenta reconnects us to original matter. Invoking the forces of nature, Viva Magenta galvanizes our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength.”

Yet it is not just Mother Nature that’s providing inspiration this time around. The digital world is also a strong influence in Pantone’s choice for color of the year, as it was in 2022. Last year’s pick, Very Peri, was a brand new color that nodded to the metaverse and the digital artistic community. This year’s pick welcomes us to the “Magentaverse”, dubbed by the company. Pantone also partnered with the design firm Huge, working with an AI generative tool to create a visual representation of the color, showcasing it on Instagram and a real-life, immersive representation at an art show in Miami, FL.

Color Symbolism

What does this year’s pick mean for our homes? Colors have a huge impact in interior design—not only in drawing your attention to different focal points in a room, but also in helping cultivate different feelings in a room. Colors in the red family are typically associated with energy. Due to this, they are a natural fit for kitchens and dining rooms, and can also be used in any living space where you want to create a vibrant and energetic aesthetic. Reds can also symbolize love and passion, making them a popular accent color for master bedrooms.

Viva Magenta and other crimson shades can carry these same properties. These rich, strong red colors are also regarded as symbols for power, luxury and nobility—making it an effective shade for curating a luxe or even opulent space. When applied strategically and mixed with different patterns and textures, Viva Magenta can bring a high-end feel to your home design.

Viva Magenta Color Palette Ideas

Pantone’s color of the year selection typically serves as inspiration for fashion, as well as interior design. The color can bring an on-trend, current look to any space, whether brought in through a few colorful pops of color or a major splash of color infusion.

Viva Magenta is a bold color, but it is also very versatile when it comes to interior design. It offers a balance of warm and cool tones. It can be used as the pop of color in a mostly neutral palette, or paired with complementary shades for a dramatic result.

Pantone’s neutral color palette suggestions include: Pale Dogwood, Gray Sand, Gray Lilac. Complementary Pantone color recommendations include green and blue shades, such as: Pale Khaki, Fields of Rye, Agate Gray, Plein Air.

Bringing Viva Magenta into Your Home

There are many options available for bringing Viva Magenta into your home, ranging from small décor items to investment furniture pieces. If you are unsure about the color, you can try it in small, easy-to-update items, such as new wall art. For magenta lovers that want a major update, consider a statement sofa. While you may not find many options in this color on the furniture showroom floor, many pieces are available in custom fabric and leather options, allowing you to select Viva Magenta or a similar shade that will have a like effect in your space.

Viva Magenta décor and accent ideas:

• Candles and vases are some of the easiest items to add to your home décor. Pick a couple in Pantone’s color or a similar red shade to refresh your bookshelf or tabletops.
• Accent pillows or a throw blanket are affordable and cozy elements that can update your neutral colored sofa, seating, or even your bed.
• Wall art featuring the bright red shade can give your home a modern edit, and is much easier to change out than paint or wallpaper.
• Area rugs can be a significant investment, but they are certainly easier to change out than new carpet or other flooring. Choose a traditional or contemporary motif to suit your design style.
• Outdoor pillows and cushions in a crimson red shade can refresh your patio furniture and outdoor living space.

Large furniture and decorating ideas:

• A sectional, sofa or loveseat in Viva Magenta or your favorite deep red color can make a dramatic and bold statement in your room that’s true to the color's vivacious nature.
• Wallpaper or paint are great ways to update your whole room if you love Pantone’s color, and want to live with it for years to come. You can also choose to coat a single accent wall, perhaps in a living room or dining space.
• New carpet is a good option for those wanting to make a major design statement with a crimson color. The bold, yet versatile color can work in both traditional spaces as well as modern style homes.
• Front door paint can update your porch and set a welcoming tone for your home.

Whether you want to simply revitalize your home style with a few new décor items or need fresh color inspiration for a room redesign, there is plenty to like about Pantone’s Viva Magenta. With historic roots and a nod to today’s digital world, it is a pick that’s also likely to stand the test of time.