See Pantone's 5 Most Popular Colors of the Year from the Last Decade

Every year, Pantone reveals one paint color from its collection that the brand believes will be popular in the coming year. But which colors of the year have had a lasting impact on homeowners and designers? To answer this question, Furniture and Choice researched Pantone's most popular colors of the year over the past decade—and Classic Blue, Living Coral, and Ultimate Grey + Illuminating reign supreme. 

To determine these hues, Furniture and Choice looked at the number of posts for each Pantone color on Instagram and divided it by the number of Instagram users. Using this final number, the company created a popularity score to uncover the most-loved tones from the last 10 years.

Classic Blue is at the top of the list, with a max score of 100. Living Coral is in second place, followed by Ultimate Grey + Illuminating. Greenery and Ultra Violet rounded out the top five of Pantone's most popular colors of the year. Take a closer look at each hue here.

Classic Blue

Classic Blue was Pantone's Color of the Year in 2020 and has remained popular among homeowners for its ability to evoke calmness, confidence, and stability. It's a versatile shade that can act as a bold statement through color drenching or as an accent color. 

Living Coral

Over the past four years, Living Coral has been searched 33 thousand times on Google, according to the report. It is a vibrant option with warm peachy-orange tones that can uplift, invigorate, and add playfulness to any space you put it in. It's a lively hue that's a welcomed change for those looking to stray away from white and neutral tones.

Ultimate Grey x Illuminating

In 2021, Pantone merged two hues for its Color of the Year: Ultimate Grey and Illuminating. While the combination may not be everyone's cup of tea, these two colors had 120 thousand searches on Google when this shade was first revealed. The blend of grey and yellow evokes a warm and optimistic feeling when used throughout the home. 

Greenery

Greenery is a vibrant color that symbolizes new beginnings and growth. It's perfect for those looking to add life to a space in their home while embracing nature. This color has had 57,525 Instagram shares over the past 10 years. 

Ultra Violet

Although Ultra Violet was Pantone's Color of the Year selection in 2018, its rich purple hue is still popular today. This dramatic shade can transform any room in your home, from a small hallway to the primary bedroom. When set against brighter colors, this bold shade shines.