Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2018 is a Princely purple

In a move that would have delighted Prince, the Pantone Color Institute has named Ultra Violet as Color of the Year for 2018.

In other words, Pantone's Color of the Year for 2018 is purple.

The choice is not too surprising, given that Pantone and the late pop star’s estate designated “Love Symbol #2” as his official color in August. The distinctive purple, inspired by Prince’s custom Yamaha purple piano, was designed to be a part of Prince’s tour before he died in April 2016.

In a press release issued Thursday morning, Pantone described the hue as a “dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade,” that “communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.”

Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute, described the color — a lot like Sherwin-Williams’ Izmir Purple SW 6825 — as “a blue-based purple that takes our awareness and potential to a higher level.”

One of the hottest color trends this year was millennial pink. Will homeowners and designers go for purple sofas, chairs and accessories?

Michael Murphy, trends and interior design producer at Lamps Plus, thinks so.

“There is a sense of optimism and confidence in this color,” Murphy said. “Having its root in two colors (red and blue), it is a color of inclusion.”

Murphy also said it will pair well with Pantone colors Lemon Zest, Monaco Blue, Hemlock and Poppy Red.

Interior designer Mark Cutler said he was not surprised by the color choice. “From the home décor perspective, we have been waiting for the arrival of this color,” Cutler said. “It gives an immediate sense of luxury, strength and grounding. Also, it is surprisingly versatile, in fact it’s almost a neutral. Pair it with whites for a graphic look, greys for a cool moody look or reds and yellows for a rich jewel tone explosion. Traditionally the color of royalty, it’s time we all had our turn isn’t it?”