PPG 2020 Color of the Year: Chinese Porcelain

It’s that time of year again that all of us paint geeks start to get giddy as the colors of the year begin to get released. The first color out of the gate is PPG’s 2020 Color of the Year, which is Chinese Porcelain. The colors of the year give us a sneak peek into what colors paint manufacturers think will trend in the coming year.

I wanted to highlight PPG’s 2020 color pick, show you some beautiful ways to use this color and also talk a little about what I’m seeing for 2020 color trends and where we are heading in color. Just to give you a little background, last year, PPG selected a deep moody green (Night Watch) as their color of the year for 2019.  You can see my post here about this color.

PPG’s 2020 pick (Chines Porcelain) is a very interesting color selection. On one hand, various shades of blue have been one of the biggest trends over the last 5-8 years.  On the other hand, this particular complex shade of blue with a violet and slight green undertone (this reminds me of what we called “Country Blue” back in the early 90’s) is pretty fresh and a hue I haven’t seen used very often. At first glance, you think it’s a true blue but if you look closer, it’s a pretty complex color with several different undertones in play.

This is one of those rare colors that’s perfect for layering a space using the various light-to-dark shades of a particular color.  All of the shades of Chinese Porcelain are stunning and fantastic for using as a color palette for a space.  Let me show you what I mean.

Below are all the colors found on the same PPG color strip as Chinese Porcelain:

See how pretty all those colors are on their own and layered together? Next, below I have pulled together key decor pieces in the various shades of found on the Chinese Porcelain color strip to really show you what I mean about layering from shades of colors found on one color strip. You can find the links to the products directly below the image (affiliate links).

 

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Working off of one color strip is the easiest way to add contrast and a beautifully layered look in a space and the best part is that you know that the colors compliment each other because the colors are found on the same color strip.

Next, let me show you some beautiful ways to incorporate pops of Chinese Porcelain in a home.

Chinese Porcelain via PPG

Cabinetry 

Cabinetry is the perfect spot to add a pop of rich blue like Chinese Porcelain. While this color below is not Chinese Porcelain (it’s close), you can see the drama it brings mixed with a neutral kitchen.

Accent Walls

One of the prettiest ways to use a rich color like Chinese Porcelain is on one wall as an accent wall. Verandah Interiors did a beautiful job of adding this rich blue grasscloth wall covering and mixing it with greenery and blue and white pots. Again, this is not the same hue as Chinese Porcelain but you can see the impact.

There’s nothing prettier than rich blues mixed with greenery. So easy and such a beautiful impact!

Home Decor

If the interiors of your home are neutral, Chinese Porcelain or similar shades of blue are a fantastic color to think about incorporating via art and accessories because blue mixed with white or light warm gray wall colors is a magical combination.  While the art below isn’t quite the same shade of blue as Chinese Porcelain, I wanted you to see this combination against the wall color which is Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray. Isn’t this stunning?!

Adding pops of blue via accessories in a neutral home really adds drama and interest like these beautiful cobalt blue lamps.

Exterior

This rich shade of blue is a fantastic exterior color because you WANT a blue that has a tad bit of warmth to make sure the blue doesn’t go to cool in direct sun. Whether used on the body of the exterior or a small pop maybe on the door or trim, this is such a beautiful blue to consider.

I LOVE PPG Chinese Porcelain on this front door. Perfect color against the cedar shake.

via PPG

I took this picture of a new home painted in blue while I was Utah a couple weeks ago.  I think this is the best way to use blue as a body color mixing it with crisp white on the exterior.

While I’m not ready to paint a whole room with Chinese Porcelain, I do think it would be pretty on the walls of a small powder room, laundry room and mudroom. Where would you guys use Chinese Porcelain?

As we head into the color forecast season for 2020, I know one thing for sure.., we’ll be seeing a lot of interesting colors predicted for 2020 by the paint manufacturers. I’m really seeing color used more and more in new construction this last year and I was really blown away by how much color I saw this year at the Kitchen and Bath Show in Las Vegas earlier this year (you can see my recap here).

While I don’t think we’ll see a lot of highly saturated bold colors when the paint manufacturers come out with their Colors of the Year (and forecasts), I do think we’ll see more muted or dusty colors. I also think we’ll still be seeing some neutrals forecasted like clay, muted browns and gray/blush colors. Stay tuned!

I’m still loving all of the 2019 Colors of the Year and if you haven’t seen those, you can see them all here.

Thanks for stopping by today friends!

Cheers!

Cyndy