2015’s Pantone Colour of the Year is ‘Marsala’, an elegant, earthy wine red hue.
Hearty yet stylish, Pantone describes Marsala as embodying the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal while its grounding, red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness. Pantone adds that Marsala is universally appealing and translates easily to fashion, beauty, industrial design, home furnishings and interiors.
Pantone’s annual colour choice is motivated by a variety of influences such as the entertainment industry, travelling art collections, new textures, nature, technology, popular travel destinations and prevailing socio-economic conditions. Evidently Marsala best represents the current status quo.
While Pantone draws its colour choice from society and its various facets, so too does society draw inspiration from the colour. Over the years, purveyors of fashion, beauty products and interior design alike have taken their cues from Pantone’s Colour of the Year. No doubt 2015 will prove no different says Debra Retief, marketing manager at Tile Africa.
Says Retief: “I really love this colour as it can be used in just about any room. It’s elegant, rich and welcoming and can be used as a primary colour or subtly infused into a space through accent pieces and accessories.
For instance, there are several ways Marsala can be incorporated into the bathroom. If you want to make a statement, consider installing a bold, Marsala coloured tiled accent wall. The tiles can be shiny or matt, depending on the look you want to achieve. Just remember that large tiles in a small bathroom can make it feel spacious while small tiles in a generously proportioned bathroom can make it appear too busy.
“A more subtle, yet striking effect can also be created with Marsala coloured metro tiles and borders. Metro tiles are timeless and work well as accents behind basins and baths while Marsala coloured borders can add a touch of elegance without overpowering a space. Borders can be thin or wide and can be incorporated in the form of shimmering glass, metal or stone mosaics, beautiful listelli or solid coloured tiles cut into narrow strips. Square tiles can also be cut in half or thirds to create brick-like patterns or vertical borders to give the illusion of height.”
Marsala can also be subtly incorporated through the use of coloured bathroom ware such as taps which have evolved to feature pops of colour. Retief suggests teaming up the taps with accessories such as towels, bath mats, soap dispensers and candles which can be bought at your local home accessory store.
Given its “natural and fulfilling” qualities, Marsala works well in the kitchen, dining room and bedroom too. The same principles used in the bathroom apply in these areas to a large degree says Retief.
“If you want to go big with Marsala in these areas, incorporate a tiled, painted or wallpapered accent wall behind key focus points such as a basin, stove or bed. If you want a more toned down look, incorporate Marsala coloured accessories, appliances, borders, mosaics and linens.
“Whether in a flat or textured material, a gloss or matte finish, this highly varietal shade combines well with neutrals such as taupe and grey and can be used as a unifying element with amber, umber, golden yellows, turquoise, teal and vibrant blues so it should work well with a lot of existing spaces.”
Adds Retief: “Homeowners need not feel obliged to adhere to Marsala as per Pantone’s definition as there are numerous variations of the colour. In a nutshell, Marsala is a fantastic, dynamic colour which can be easily incorporated and can liven up a space without overpowering it.”
Some examples of how you can use Marsala in your home:
