Plum Wild! Radiant Orchid is the Color of the Year.

Pantone calls it a 'modern and surprisingly versatile shade'

Published: December 05, 2013 02:00 PM

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Looking for a hot new hue to liven up the living room or add a splash of color in the bedroom? Pantone, which creates palettes for the home, fashion, and graphic-arts industries, has just named Radiant Orchard its 2014 Color of the Year, calling it a "captivating purple that draws you in with its beguiling charm." Just be sure to pair it with one of Consumer Reports' top-rated interior paints, or the color could fade before it's time is up.

Pantone's anointing of the year's hottest hue is always delivered in a larger cultural context. "An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today's society," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, in the news release. That's in contrast to last year's winner, an emerald green, which "served as a symbol of growth, renewal and prosperity."

The new hue is being added to the Pantone Universe Paint Collection by Valspar, which is sold at Lowe's. In Consumer Reports' interior paint tests, Valspar has been a consistently good performer and is recommended in all three sheens: flat/matte, satin/eggshell and semi-gloss.

But if you don't shop at Lowe's, the color-matching tools used by paint retailers have gotten incredibly accurate, so you should have no trouble getting Radiant Orchid, or any other color you fancy, in the paint brand of your choice. In our tests of dozens of interior paints, we recommend about 30 products in satin, flat, and semi-gloss finishes. Take a look at our paint buying guide to make sure you find the one that's right for you.

—Daniel DiClerico