We've almost made it to the end of this chaotic year. Holidays are looming ever closer, and it's time to hang out with friends and fam, recharge and reflect — potentially doing so at beaches, in ocean pools, while hiking or chilling out in parks — and maybe logoff from social media for a bit. And Pantone is suggesting we do so surrounded by 'life-affirming' coral.

Living Coral (PANTONE 16-1546) has just been named as Pantone's 2019 Colour of the Year. The energising — and appropriately summery — shade was chosen by Pantone's colour experts not only because it "provide[s] comfort and buoyancy in our continually shifting environment", but because it encourages lighthearted activity and pursuit of fun — exactly what we're all hoping to do over the next couple of months (and, ideally, throughout the New Year).

Of course, coral is associated with nature, too, in animals (like flamingos) and in Australia's famous Great Barrier Reef. While we doubt it was on the minds of Pantone's colour experts, the colour is timely due to the recent, reinvigorated fight for emergency action on climate change in Australia. Hundreds of school students, just this Wednesday, descended on Canberra's Parliament House to demand action on climate change and to stop the Adani coal mine — a proposed Queensland mine, which, if it goes ahead, could have huge impacts on the Great Barrier Reef.

Then there's Living Coral's reinvigorating nature — it's said to energise and enliven. So paint your room in it, cover your body in it or just buy some snazzy coral socks — it might help you get through this crazy messed up world in 2019.

Published on December 07, 2018 by Samantha Teague