the pantone color institute(tm) gives their color of the year credit for influencing product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, such as graphic, industrial, interior and fashion design.

2019 pantone(r) color of the year | living coral | 16-1546 TCX

photo credit pantone

they describe living coral, the 2019 pantone color of the year, as a natural color that is nourishing and nurturing,  warm and comforting.

do you think that coral is comforting?

le hideout – salon d’esthétique | montreal, canada | by menard dworkind architecture & design

photo credits david dworkind via @interiordesignmag and mrdk

or, stimulating?

some retailers, such as barney’s new york, think that the color coral stimulates sales.

photo credit barneys new york

yves saint laurent beauty | la lacque couture nail polish | op art coral

nars | blush | bumpy ride

kevyn aucoin | molten gems liquid lip color | poppy topaz

photo credits barneys, barneys and barneys

delvaux | brillant mini satchel | coral

delvaux | tempête mini leather satchel | coral

photo credits barneys and barneys

karen walker | loveville sunglasses | red

karen walker | romancer sunglasses | crazy tortoise

illesteva | lisbon sunglasses | apricot

photo credits barneys, barneys, and barneys

christian louboutin | decollete 554 patent leather pumps | multi

walter de silva | sharon satin sandals | orange

photo credits barneys and barneys

some hospitality design practitioners also think that the color coral stimulates consumption.

the coral room bar | the bloomsbury hotel | london, united kingdom | by martin brudnizki design studio

photo credits the coral room via vogue and mbds

color psychologists consider warm colors stimulating.  and, cool or neutral colors calming.

more saturated colors are also more stimulating than less intense colors.

the interior design of the coral room is a balance of warm, cool, and neutral colors.

including a cool grey, similar to metropolitan, the benjamin moore paint color of the year 2019.

benjamin moore | color of the year 2019 | metropolitan | AF-690

photo credits benjamin moore and benjamin moore

if the salon at the coral room was your living room, would you prefer to paint the walls warm, stimulating coral?  or, calming, neutral grey?