After much deliberation, the Pantone Colour of the Year 2018 has been announced. It’s Ultra Violet, a dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade that communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future, according to Laurie Pressman, VP of the Pantone Colour Institute.
The colour is symbolic of the night sky; it represents the future, the imagination and our dreams. More importantly, you’re going to find it featuring heavily in interior schemes everywhere this year, including bathrooms.

What does Ultra Violet represent?
As you would expect, Pantone have put a lot of thought into choosing Ultra Violet as this year’s colour. Purple is, of course, the colour of wealth and opulence, and it’s associated with royalty. However, another emerging trend is a longing for a return to nature and its restorative qualities. Organic shades that evoke spirituality and creativity can takes us back to basics, producing genuine emotion, a sense of calm and peace with ourselves in the world. This is how Pressman explains it:

"We are living in a time that requires inventiveness and imagination.
It is this kind of creative inspiration that is indigenous to PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet,
a blue based purple that takes our awareness and potential to a higher level.
From exploring new technologies and the greater galaxy, to artistic expressions and
spiritual reflection, intuitive Ultra Violet lights the way to what is yet to come."

Purple is a powerful colour and may not the first shade that comes to mind when designing or decorating a bathroom. However, used with care and discernment, it can be a great visual tool to help add a touch of luxury and opulence to your bathroom space. I took advice from a major bathroom supplier to find out how to incorporate Ultra Violet into a bathroom design scheme.

1. Colour washing
If Feng Shui experts are to be believed, Ultra Violet should be used with caution. It’s a high vibration colour that can easily overpower a room. If you feel that using violet throughout your bathroom is just too much to bear, how about using a variety of paler shades instead? Choose one element, say a colourful freestanding purple bath, and complement with paler lilac shades on walls, curtains and accessories.

2. Create a feature wall
Violet is a fabulous colour for colour blocking. If you want to make a stunning style statement in any bathroom, paint an accent wall in bold Ultra Violet or choose a feature wallpaper with a strong lilac motif. Keeping the rest of the space, including the sanitary ware, pared back white and clutter free, add a few chosen metallic touches in gold or silver to give your bathroom a thoroughly modern look.

3. Monochrome with a twist
Black and white is a tried and tested colour combination for bathrooms that may be in need of an update. Why not try violet and grey for a fresh twist on an old classic? Pair cool white sanitary ware with a gorgeous slate grey floor and a bold purple window blind. Add grey and/or purple towels and accessories to create a calm and luxurious ambiance.

4. Enliven with colour
If your bathroom décor is on the bland side of neutral and could do with livening up, purple is the perfect colour. Whether you get the paintbrush out or the decorators in, invest in some new purple bath towels, a fluffy bath mat and some gorgeous new accessories, it’s all you need to inject a new seductive vibe to and otherwise uninspiring space.

5. Experiment with colour combinations
In addition to the Colour of the Year, Pantone have created different colour palettes that feature Ultra Violet. They include Purple Haze which contains hazy and smoky hues largely of blues, purples and greys to create a sense of calm. Intrigue is a stronger, mixed palette of blues, greens, silver and gold that evokes a sense of mystery, while Attitude is a dramatic, bold and bright palette featuring Citrus, Raspberry, Hawaiian Surf (blue) and Oriole (orange) alongside Ultra Violet.

6. Don’t underestimate accessories
You don’t need a large budget to transform your bathroom and give it a 2018 twist. If you’re not keen on permanent purple additions such as paint, tiles or window dressings, why not just stick to accessories? It’s surprising what a difference in ambiance can be achieved with new towels, a bath rug, some artwork and a few chosen decorative objects.