The OLYMPIC Paints & Stains brand of PPG has named soft violet Cloudberry (OL677.3) the 2017 Color of the Year.

“Home décor trends for 2017 are reflecting society’s urge to find a space apart from constant connectedness, and to create balance by establishing our homes as places to refresh,” said Dee Schlotter, PPG senior color marketing manager, Olympic Paints & Stains brand. “Cloudberry is the perfect complement to the minimalist style that is strongly trending in the year ahead.”

According to Schlotter, Cloudberry appeals to individuals who increasingly find joy in pulling back from advertising, social media, the news cycle and other forms of information “noise” that throw off balance and harmony. The soft violet is serene and calming, helping people focus on family and professional pursuits without distractions from the outside world. To create this essence in your home, pair Cloudberry with classic neutrals – grays such as Flagstone (OL154), whites such as Delicate White (OL107) and blacks such as Black Magic (OL116).

Cloudberry also serves a double role as an ideal partner to gray-blues such as the Olympic Paints brand’s Stargazer (OL167), and gray-greens like Wandering Willow (OL200) and Misty Meadow (OL188). Schlotter recommended pairing key neutrals with Cloudberry to harmonize a room. In rooms with Cloudberry-colored walls, try trim and ceiling colors such as white-gray Mountain Gray (OL183), soft gray Solstice (OL202) or serious gray Simmering Smoke (OL107).

“Cloudberry conveys retreat from the pressures of daily life, encouraging meditation and mindfulness, inspiring more focus and less stress,” Schlotter said. “Imagine creating a room in your home that embodies a Zen persona with an engineer’s intellect. The mood is set through minimalism and purity of design, for environments and interiors that mimic the simplicity of an airy yet sophisticated beach lifestyle.”