
You’ve probably already heard the big Color of the Year announcement from Pantone for 2020. Classic Blue is well, a classic color. But how can you make sure that your blue color choices are fab and not drab? How to match this blue with other shades in the same color family and which other colors can you use to accent your beaded jewelry so that this blue will be electrifying rather than a snoozefest?
Read below to find out! Or click through here and see some beautifully inspired bead color combinations based on Pantone suggested color palettes!
And now for a limited time only a selection of blue colored beads and components are 20% off with the coupon code CLASSIC . Coupon expires 1/28/2020 at 11:59PM EST. Click here to shop the sale!
Pantone Color of the Year 2020 Inspiration
Instilling calm, confidence, and connection, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.
Pantone Institute
According to the Pantone Institute, the choice of Classic Blue for 2020 was inspired by the times in which we find ourselves. “A timeless and enduring blue hue, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue is elegant in its simplicity. Suggestive of the sky at dusk, the reassuring qualities of the thought-provoking Classic Blue highlight our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.”
The color is “imprinted in our psyches as a restful color, Classic Blue brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit, offering refuge. Aiding concentration and bringing laser like clarity, Classic Blue re-centers our thoughts. A reflective blue tone, Classic Blue fosters resilience.”

What does this mean for your Beaded Designs?
With Classic Blue expected to be found all over the runways for the forseeable future as well as appearing in home goods, accessories and textiles, jewelry designers and beaders have several options for picking colors.
The first, of course is to jump on the bandwagon, pull out your stash of bluest beads and get to work! For those who follow color trends and fashion religiously but don’t have the budget to revamp our wardrobes every season, buying and wearing jewelry in the latest trendy colors is where there is room to splurge. For this reason a smart designer will keep up with trends and offer up just what discerning customers (or very lucky friends!) will be looking for in 2020. On top of all that, blue is a perennially popular color in its own right, so you don’t have to worry about making jewelry in a color that will quickly become passé and then difficult to sell.
The second option is to pick any secondary color that will pop against all that blue. With fast fashion all the rage, it’s easy for fashionistas to pick up entire blue outfits (or at least one!) to stay on trend. With all the blue everywhere, accessories that contrast with the dominant color will add visual interest and may make your items stand out among the sea of blue (pun intended!). So take your pick or use both strategies for your color choices when it comes to jewelry design for 2020. Scroll below to see some innovative color palettes and specific bead suggestions!













I love blues, especially when combined with gold and rusty pink and done with a combination of Swarovski and delica 😍
Love deep royal blues, so I think it is a lovely colour to start the 2020’s
I love this blue color! Its like a calming blue that can go with so many different things!
Sometimes color ideas are hard to come by thank you so much for doing this.
You’re welcome! Thanks for reading Jeanette!
I love working with blues, thanks for the great inspiration on how to keep it interesting!
Thank you for sharing the different ways to use these colors together.
💖💖💖💖
Excited about the contest…. hope there is something in the color of the year in the Swarovski box.
Such a vibrant color. Love blues.
I admit: I don’t like this shade of blue. It looks gaudy to me.
What’s your preferred color palette, Janet?
I’m looking for one of the Delica bead colours in this blog – SIZE-11 #DB2308 FROSTED GLAZED RAINBOW PINK ROSEWOOD MATTE AB – but can’t find it on your website
Hi Linda, I think the name for this item was changed to SIZE-11 #DB2308 MATTE OPAQUE GLAZED TRILLIUM RED AB Delica Miyuki Seed Beads (7.6g)