Pantone Color of the Year 2024: Peach Fuzz

Pantone’s Color of the Year 2024 is Peach Fuzz (PANTONE 13-1023), a velvety peach-flesh tone that feels soft, tactile, and caring without tipping into candy sweetness.

What color is Peach Fuzz?

• Sits between peach flesh and a gentle pink-orange, wrapped in a “velvet blur.”
• High lightness, medium saturation; avoids neon glare or powdery pastel washout.
• Skin-adjacent warmth that signals care, rest, and softer pacing.

Why it was chosen as Color of the Year

• Post-pandemic “soft living” needs: a nurturing hue that calms without feeling dull.
• Broad acceptance across beauty, wellness, and home—crosses age and category lines.
• Screen- and print-friendly: stays warm on displays and doesn’t cheapen on paper.

Peach Fuzz values (HEX/RGB/CMYK/CSS copy-ready)

• HEX #FFBE98
• RGB 255, 190, 152
• CMYK 0, 25, 40, 0
• CSS color: #FFBE98; / --pantone-2024: #FFBE98;
• High value, medium saturation—ideal for soft backdrops or glow gradients.

Is it warm or cool? Compared with close neighbors

• Warm pink-orange rooted in skin tones; warmer than apricot, softer than coral.
• Versus apricot (#F7C9A7): Peach Fuzz is pinker and cushier, less pale.
• Versus coral orange (#FF9C8A): Peach Fuzz is lighter with less red heat, avoiding “spicy” energy.
• With cool grays or blue-greens it feels human and cozy; with woods or cream it turns hazy-soft.

Why it reads premium (color psychology & mood keywords)

• Skin/fabric association adds tactility and lowers visual aggression.
• Keywords: soothing, gentle, airy, cocooning, slow living, approachable luxe.
• Low-contrast pairings plus embossing, foil, or linen/velvet textures instantly lift perceived cost.

4 palettes (Style / Home / Brand / UI)

• Style: #FFBE98 / #FFF1E4 / #3B2F2F / #D98E73 / #6D8A96
• Home: #FFBE98 / #F5EFE7 / #574B45 / #C6A48A / #8DA3B9
• Brand: #FFBE98 / #0F172A / #F9FAFB / #B05C5C / #E7C6A4
• UI: #FFBE98 / #111827 / #E5E7EB / #FDF2F8 / #7FB5B5

How to use it in different scenes (Home / Style / Print / Web)

• Home: Sofas, throws, curtains, or feature walls; pair with off-white and wood, add brass lighting to lift depth.
• Style: Layer peach knits/shirts inside, top with smoke gray or camel; anchor with deep coffee or slate accessories to balance sweetness.
• Print: Use large color blocks on covers/packaging; add foil, deboss, or cotton/linen stock to reinforce plushness; keep type in charcoal/navy.
• Web: Hero gradients or card backgrounds; body text in charcoal or deep navy for AA contrast; CTAs in deep red-brown or soft white.

Pitfalls to avoid

• Avoid pairing with neon pinks or hot oranges—they cheapen and overheat the palette.
• On light UI backgrounds, don’t drop body text to mid-gray; keep titles dark or add subtle shadow for legibility.
• Yellowish paper will muddy it; choose neutral or slightly cool white stock.
• Large flat areas can feel bland—add gradient, grain, or fabric/velvet textures.

FAQ

• Q: How is it different from coral or apricot? A: It’s silkier and more pink-toned than apricot, lighter and less fiery than coral; more “skin” than “spice.”
• Q: Can it work in dark mode? A: Yes as an accent or secondary surface; keep the main background deep charcoal/navy for contrast.
• Q: Does it flatter varied skin tones? A: Warm, gentle peach is friendly to yellow and neutral undertones; layer with ivory or fog gray to brighten.
• Q: Do I need Pantone licensing? A: Formal brand use of the Pantone number requires Pantone approval; inspirational or editorial use usually does not.