Viva Magenta: a big color for bold times

As were many other designers, I was quite stunned to glimpse the intensity of Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2023: Viva Magenta has a forward and non-apologetic personality, to put it mildly. While warm hues, earth tones and soft neutrals have dominated the trend declarations for 2023 thus far, Pantone’s selection of Viva Magenta is certainly the belle of the ball. You cannot look away. I certainly couldn’t!

With its jewel-tone richness, Viva Magenta can be at first blush read as an intimidating color that embodies a strong commitment, but it’s also inspiring for these same qualities. As such, you might consider including it in your household decor. This bright and robust color can be applied to many rooms of your home, both in restraint as an accent color or as a loud statement. This pop of personality can be added in simple throw pillows and other textile infusions easily updated with the season, such as bedding, bath towels, and kitchen towels. But don’t shy away from boldly painting an entire accent wall in Viva Magenta if the Pantone announcement finally gives you the permission to embrace the color you have always loved.

Photo from houstonchronicle.com

For the trend-savvy and those designing their forever home, the attitude of Viva Magenta can be adopted in kitchen island cabinets, color-forward backsplash tile, or a conversation-starting dining room color. Magenta and raspberry tones balance beautifully in a room with a strong dominance of warm creamy whites, such as Behr’s color of the year Blank Canvas, and warm wood tones such as the mid century modern acorn finish. It also pairs easily with brushed brass or brushed bronze metal tones, which again adopt a softened hue. With these sophisticated pairings in mind, magenta can be unleashed in your home while steering clear of the overbearing glam inclinations of a black, white, and pink theme more suited to a dorm room or Barbie’s dream house.

Thinking of adding darker and bold colors to your home? It’s important to take into account the psychology of the colors you’re considering. The innovative, confident and lively qualities of a magenta are well-suited for home offices, creative areas, kitchens, and gathering spaces. But you can’t put it everywhere: balanced between red and blue, this deep and nuanced shade is ill-suited for bedrooms or places for deep relaxation, where the alertness of the color can be antithetical to our sense of calm.

In 2023, we’ll definitely see splashes of the Viva Magenta palette in home staging. Adding on-trend colors for art, textiles, and even furniture will become more prevalent to showcase a home’s appeal when your real estate market has the appetite for it.

Photo from elitedaily.com

As you remodel before selling your home, remember a little magenta does go a long way, so minor and easily replaceable uses of the color will be your friend. It would be nice if everyone could adopt a Viva Magenta state of mind, but some buyers may not be attracted to this trend as a permanent fixture of their new home. Minor infusions such as vivid wallpaper in your powder room and tastefully added accent color painted behind your sleek new coffee bar can create intrigue—not to mention captivatingly stylish MLS photos to draw buyers to your listing! But always be aware taste is not universal. Know your market and your prospective buyers and consult with your listing agent—and, of course, your Freemodel project director. The goal is to have an exceptional return on investment for your remodeling efforts prior to sale, not to prove that you follow trends.

What does the bright, intense personality of Viva Magenta say about the global mood right now? Does it signal the desire for a return to high-energy, in-person interaction? Does it show that we’re all becoming more courageous these days? Whatever the color’s meaning, know that you can make it your friend for more impactful showings and higher-value home sales in 2023. It’s your chance to say, “viva boldness, viva daring, and Viva Magenta!”