Viva Magenta: Pantone’s Vision for a Vigorous 2023

It’s hard not to recognise that the year ahead holds much uncertainty. The times are challenging and many feel set adrift by our every-changing circumstances. It makes sense, then, that Pantone has chosen a hue for 2023 that exudes strength, vibrating with vim and vigour. The shade is balance between warm and cool, a nuanced crimson tone that is found in both the natural and virtual worlds.

The Color Institute’s Executive Director, Leatrice Eiseman, celebrates the powerful hue, stating: "In the primordial, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta reconnects us to original matter. Invoking the forces of nature, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta galvanizes our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength."

Rooted in nature and descending from the red family, magenta is derivative of cochineal, a type of beetle which produces carmine dye, one of the most precious, strongest and brightest of natural dyes. This connection to nature is a trend that Pantone has recognised in our current culture, as we gravitate towards earthy tones, plants and indoor/outdoor hybrids in our homes.

Pantone says of its choice, “This year’s Color of the Year is powerful and empowering. 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 18-1750 Viva Magenta welcomes anyone and everyone with the same verve for life and rebellious spirit. It is a colour that is audacious, full of wit and inclusive of all.”

If you wish to harness Viva Magenta in your homes, do it decisively. Introduce a bold velvet sofa, or a statment wall to your scheme. Alternatively, you might choose to accent your space with a sculptural vessel or textile piece. Whether used in large or small doses, Viva Magenta brings drama and depth to a space.