Peach is a light pinkish-orange color that elicits feelings of warmth, cheerfulness, and vibrancy. In recent years, peach has become an increasingly popular color in fashion, interior design, and branding. But is peach truly a hot, trendy color at the moment? There are several factors to consider when determining if a color is hot or not. In this article, we’ll examine the history of peach, look at examples of its use in modern design and culture, analyze color psychology and trends, and ultimately answer the question: is peach a hot color right now?
The History of Peach as a Color
Peach has long been tied to the fruit of the same name. The soft orange hue resembled the flesh of a ripe peach. But the color peach was not formally defined until the early 17th century. The first recorded use of “peach” as a color name in English was in 1607. It was one of the many food-inspired colors that gained popularity during the Renaissance era. The peach fruit originated in China and the color took on cultural significance there too. In Chinese culture, peach symbolized immortality, unity, and virtue. Peach blossoms also carried meaning – they represented feminine beauty and romance.
In Western culture, peach was viewed as a softer, more romantic color than bold orange. It represented sweetness, fruitfulness, and the essence of summer. In the 18th and 19th centuries, peach became a popular decorative color for fabrics, clothing, and interior design among the upper classes. Light peach was also commonly used in paintings, particularly for rendering skin tones. The Impressionists used shades of peach to create hazy, romantic atmospheres. Pastel peach remained a fashionable ladies’ color into the early 20th century. It fell out of favor as a mainstream color during the austere years of World War I and World War II.
The Resurgence of Peach in Modern Design
Peach faded into the background for several decades but returned with a vengeance as a trendy color in the 2010s. Vibrant millennial pink and muted peach shades could be seen everywhere in fashion and interiors. In 2014, Pantone named the shade Marsala as its Color of the Year. Marsala is a rich pinkish-brown that resembles an earthy peach. Pantone described it as both natural and elegant – the perfect shade to represent the times. The rise of clean, minimalist design also brought peach back into vogue. Its soft femininity provided balance to stark white spaces. Blush peach, along with other pastels, gained popularity as part of the millennial pink trend. Millennial pink was named for the generation that adopted it enthusiastically in all aspects of culture.
| Year | Peach Color Trends |
|---|---|
| 2010s | Millennial pink |
| 2014 | Marsala (Pantone Color of the Year) |
| 2016 | Rose quartz & serenity blue (Pantone Colors of the Year) |
| 2017 | Neutral, earthy tones |
| 2018 | Bright, vibrant shades |
Peach continued gaining popularity into the late 2010s. It was one half of the Pantone Colors of the Year for 2016 – Rose Quartz, a light peach-pink, and Serenity, a soft blue. These dreamy pastels captured a cultural craving for mindfulness and tranquility. In 2017, Pantone chose the earthy neutral Greenery as its color of the year. But soft peaches and pinks remained popular accent colors to balance the green. The following year, Pantone went in the opposite direction with the bright, vibrant Ultra Violet. Peach paired beautifully with this bold purple, providing a warm pop of color.
Moving into the 2020s, peach remains very present in home decor, clothing, and graphic design. It works well with other trendy colors like sky blue, sage green, terracotta, and rich yellows. Peach gives a modern, updated twist to mid-century palettes dominated by pink and orange. It is versatile enough to stand on its own or act as a neutral. But the true test of any color’s staying power lies in the emotional response it elicits.
Color Psychology & Cultural Associations of Peach
Peach is located between pink and orange on the color wheel. It shares psychological attributes with both of these feel-good colors. Like pink, peach promotes nurturing, romance, and warmth. From orange, it takes friendliness, joy, and vibrancy. Peach manages to combine the most appealing aspects of pink and orange into a single cheerful hue.
Specifically, color psychology identifies these positive emotional associations with peach:
| Psychological Meaning | Personal Associations |
|---|---|
| Friendliness | Approachability |
| Warmth | Sincerity |
| Joy | Excitement |
| Nurturing | Compassion |
| Romance | Affection |
These positive qualities make peach feel fun, optimistic, and kind. It has enough boldness and saturation to grab attention without seeming abrasive. Peach strikes the perfect balance between eye-catching and easygoing. Its association with summer also gives it an invigorating, uplifting quality. When used strategically, peach can convey the lively energy of the season.
Culturally, peach retains ties to concepts like sweetness, innocence, and health. In Asia, the color peach brings to mind attributes like immortality, femininity, love, and courage due to long-standing color symbolism. Interestingly, in Western cultures, calling someone “a peach” is a compliment on their sweetness and attractiveness. Peach continues to be linked with sweet flavors and scents in marketing. Overall, peach simply makes people feel good – its cheery vibes are difficult to dislike.
Examples of Peach in Modern Popular Culture
Peach has become a star color in recent media, products, and promotions. Here are some noteworthy uses of pretty peach tones in contemporary culture:
| Industry | Notable Uses of Peach |
|---|---|
| Fashion & Beauty | Schiaparelli’s Fall 2022 Haute Couture peach collection |
| Glossier’s website and packaging | |
| Celebrities wearing peach on red carpets | |
| Interior Design | Peach accents in minimalist homes |
| Blush sofas and armchairs | |
| Peach-colored walls | |
| Food & Beverage | Peach-flavored products |
| Blush wine and champagne | |
| Peach emoji🍑 |
On the 2022 Haute Couture runways, vibrant peach was a dominant color in Schiaparelli’s whimsical collection. Designer Daniel Roseberry leveraged the fun, playful nature of peach for impact. In beauty, the brand Glossier uses a distinctive peach hue throughout its website, packaging, and stores. The color helps cultivate their image as fresh and friendly. On the red carpet, celebrities like Zendaya and Olivia Rodrigo have worn striking peach gowns and suits as a way to stand out.
In home decor, shades of peach offer warmth and softness. Blush sofas, chairs, pillows, and wall colors keep things light and airy. Peach makes an energetic accent color that pairs beautifully with patterns and wood tones. In food and beverage, peach is used to convey flavors like sweetness, tanginess, and summertime. Peach emoji and illustrations can be found on everything from clothing and accessories to packaging and ads. Overall, the prevalent use of peach across industries speaks to its mass appeal and ability to capture current consumer interests.
Peach Color Trends & Forecasts
As discussed, peach has built up impressive momentum over the past decade in the world of design and branding. Current signs indicate that peach will remain a popular color choice moving forward.
In one of the first color trend forecasts for 2023, Pantone included a soft peach shade called Viva Magenta. Although not the standout color of the year, Viva Magenta is predicted to make waves in fashion and beauty. Experts at the trend forecasting agency WGSN also chose a light peach nuance called Mango Mojito as one of their top colors for 2023. They describe it as cheerful and fun.
Looking more broadly at forecasts from leading color experts:
| Color Forecast | Prediction for Peach |
|---|---|
| Pantone Colors of the Year 2023 | Viva Magenta (pinky peach) is a top color |
| WGSN Color Trends 2023 | Mango Mojito (light peach) is a key color |
| Sherwin-Williams 2023 Color Trends | Peach tones featured as upbeat accents |
| Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2023 | Raspberry Blush (peach-beige) selected |
While bold Viva Magenta may take center stage in 2023, the inclusion of its peachier cousin indicates continued demand for soft pink-orange hues. Warm peachy neutrals are also predicted to rise in popularity for interior paint colors. Benjamin Moore chose the subtle Raspberry Blush as their Color of the Year for this reason. The peach-beige hue provides a comforting, energizing vibe. So while fluorescent “hot” colors may come into vogue, peach appears to be settling in for the long haul as a versatile neutral.
Conclusion: Yes, Peach is a Hot Color Right Now
In reviewing peach’s history, use across industries, color psychology, and expert forecasts, the evidence points to peach being a definitively hot, trendy shade at the moment. Some key takeaways:
– Peach has shed its sleepy pastel reputation and become a vibrant accent color in modern design. It adds cheerful pops of color without seeming overbearing.
– Positive emotional associations make peach universally appealing. Its ability to convey warmth, joy, and energy gives it widespread likeability.
– Peach works as a versatile neutral. It can provide a soft backdrop as well as stand out boldly when needed. This flexibility contributes to its popularity.
– Leading color experts have highlighted peach in their forecasts for 2023. Its continued momentum is further confirmation of its trendiness.
– Peach has staying power beyond short-lived fads. It evokes perpetually popular themes of summer, fruitfulness, and femininity. This gives peach an enduring quality.
So don’t be surprised to see peach everywhere in the coming seasons. Its flattering hues match the current zeitgeist of playful, feel-good design. Much more than a sweet accent, peach has blossomed into a standout color that packs a visually powerful punch. For all these reasons, yes, peach is undeniably a hot, of-the-moment color right now.
