Benjamin Moore chose Shadow 2117-30 as the color of the year.

Want to know how to use the color of the year in your home decor? Find out here:

First of all, I know it’s purple! Many people associate purple with decorating a little girl’s bedroom, but in this case I want to show you how you can use this dark color to bring sophistication to any space.

1. Use it on a focal wall

An accent wall can be a perfect way to break up a large room, to emphasize a particularly great architectural feature, or to instill a sense of the extraordinary in an otherwise completely ordinary space. With the use of a dramatic color like Shadow, you are sure to captivate your guests.

2. Use it in a room meant for relaxation

A deep violet like Shadow has powerful influence- it symbolizes meditation, mindfulness and quiet. It’s a great way to get in touch with your inner senses. So if you have a library, a prayer room, or even a yoga studio, use the color of the year on all the walls to get the most benefit.

3. Use it to add mood in a dining room

If you have a dining room that is separate from the rest of your living space, Shadow becomes a great color to put on the walls to add drama. Formal dining spaces can tolerate more drama because most people rarely use them regularly, but rather only on special occasions. Well, on those special occasions you’ll be sure to have a room that captures elegance and sophistication.

Just at the end of the year, I used that color in my client’s dining room, and I would eat there every day!

What do you think about the color of the year? How would you use it?