A refreshing and revitalizing shade, Greenery, the Pantone Color of the Year for 2017, is symbolic of new beginnings. Greenery is a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring.

PANTONE Color of the Year is a symbolic color selection; a color snapshot of what we see taking place in our global culture that serves as an expression of a mood and an attitude. The more submerged people are in modern life, the greater their innate craving to immerse themselves in the physical beauty and inherent unity of the natural world.

Greenery Color Pairing

Nature’s neutral, PANTONE Greenery is a versatile “trans-seasonal” shade that lends itself to many color combinations. Greenery can be paired with neutrals, bright colors, deeper shades, pastels and metallic tones. These palettes easily cross over fashion, beauty, product and graphic design applications.

The yellow-green hue (Pantone 15-0343) represents the concept of “environment” referring to the “go-green” movement.

“There’s a growing desire to reconnect with Nature and what is real, and find ways to disconnect from technology. We need a break. We need to stop and breathe,” says Laurie Pressman, the Pantone Color Institute’s vice president.

Pantone characterizes it as “a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew.” In a statement, Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, said “Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the hope we collectively yearn for amid a complex social and political landscape. It satisfies a new desire to reconnect with nature.”

“We know what kind of world we are living in – one that is very stressful and very tense,” she said. “It speaks to what we call the ‘re-words’ – regenerate, refresh, revitalize, renew,” she added. “Every spring we enter a new cycle and new shoots come from the ground. It is something life-affirming to look forward to.”

What does the color of the year mean?

If you love the color, now is the time to stock up. It will be trending in fashion and home décor. If you’re like me and don’t care for it, ignore it. This shade of green is not flattering for many skin tones and would tough to wear. It is not a color I would want on walls. Pops of greenery would make a nice accent color if it works in your home. My preference would be a live plant. Confession: green M&M’s are my favorite since I was a child.

Make Thyme for this New Year’s Task

See what I did there? Organize your pantry including spices. Check expiration dates. Discard anything that is past its prime. Add necessary items that need to be replaced to your grocery list.