Here’s to Pantone’s 2017 color of the year

Drumroll, please. 

And the Pantone Color Institute’s 2017 Color of the Year is … Greenery.

Every year, the design community waits with bated breath for Pantone to forecast the hot color trend that will permeate the worlds of fashion, graphic design and home décor. The choice of Greenery, which Pantone describes as “a fresh and zesty yellow-green shade that evokes the first shades of spring,” came about partly as a tonic for our times.

“Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the reassurance we yearn for amid a tumultuous social and political environment,” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, explained in a statement. “Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate and revitalize, Greenery symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose.”

Personally, I love Greenery. It’s not a retro avocado green, or a dark emerald green. It’s a bright, happy color that I have always called “leaf green.” In fact, one wall in my studio has been painted that color for more than five years, so I guess I was a bit ahead of the curve.

The good news for do-it-yourself decorators who want to introduce some Greenery in their homes is that it goes with everything. Just as green is the most prevalent color in nature — notice how green leaves look great with every color flower — this Pantone color will complement practically every other hue in your home. 

Here are some helpful tips to easily incorporate Greenery into your decorating — in 2017 and beyond. Your neighbors will be green with envy.

Scatter the green

An entire room of green would be a bit much. Green works beautifully when it’s distributed judiciously, adding a pop of green throughout the home. A pillow here, a candle there. Spread around the happiness.

Pair it with other colors

This particular shade of green really does complement other colors well, so mix it up with some of your other favorite colors. Think of it as nature’s neutral. Green and orange? Yes, please. How about green and purple? Sublime. Almost every color combination gets the green light.

Bring in real greenery

It’s easy being green. Just add a few potted plants into your home, and presto, you’ve introduced Pantone’s Color of the Year organically. And remember that plants add more than beauty to our interiors — they help clean the air, absorb carbon dioxide and help relieve stress. 

Spruce up old pieces with paint

Don’t want to buy anything new? Great. Take something you already own and spray-paint it green. High-gloss spray paint is one of my secret weapons in decorating. It can transform tired accessories into works of art. 

Don’t forget the pets

If you have dogs or cats, consider treating them to a new bed or food bowl in Greenery. Contrary to popular belief, pets aren’t color blind. They want to be in on the trend, just like you. And their tails will be between their legs if their pet accessories are still sporting last year’s colors. 

Jonathan Fong is the author of “Walls That Wow,” “Flowers That Wow” and “Parties That Wow,” and host of “Style With a Smile” on YouTube. You can see more of his do-it-yourself  projects at