Set the Right Tone — 2018 Color Guide

From linens to lighting, décor to dishes, signage to seating, this year’s color trends will feature more soothing, cool tones with an homage to the past, as well as a nod to the future. Consider these options when planning your next event:

Think Ultra Violet. Pantone’s Color of the Year, you’ll want to utilize plenty of this royal tone in your décor. Pair with blues and greens for a calming ambience. Incorporate this pigment into your food with dishes that utilize purple fruits and vegetables, such as plums, blueberries, grapes, eggplant, and red cabbage.

Contrast and Complement. Harkening back to the 70s, add warmth to your purple environment with complementary colors such as orange and yellow. Amber lighting, harvest-gold linens, or ginger-colored flower arrangements add warmth to any space.

All that Glitters. Gold is still the preferred metal to use this year. Include this rich tone in your décor with chargers, flatware, and centerpieces. For a polished look, use contemporary pieces that provide contrast with retro looks.

Find Some Florals. Big, bold floral prints in every color are great to grace your gathering. Table linens, tapestries, and upholstered furniture make a bold statement when draped with these fabrics.

Wonderful Wood. Rich, deep earth-toned wood also gives your space a vintage 70s style. Consider pairing organic-looking tables and décor wood accents with your eye-catching modern theme.

Bold Hues. Last year’s understated, muted colors are out. Instead, burst on the scene with some bold hues. Influenced by the tech industry, bright accent colors such as fuchsia, fire engine red, bright blue, and lime green make a splashy impression in lighting, signage, and floral accents.

Incorporating these colors and combinations into your event décor can inspire creativity, encourage networking, create calm, and even motivate greater productivity.

Kris McNeely, Content Editor | meetingpages | kris.meetingpages@gmail.com

As a freelance editor and writer for more than twenty years, Kris McNeely has had the opportunity to write and edit everything from non-fiction books to blog posts, web content to white papers, ads to articles. She was named an Erma Bombeck Humor Writer of the Month, has been featured in multiple anthologies, and was selected by Amtrak Railway Service as one of five travel writers from among a pool of 1500 applicants nationwide. In her free time, she likes to jog, garden, travel, and spend time with her two kids and three grandchildren.