What should we pair with Marsala . . . that rich, naturally-robust, hearty, full-bodied, red-brown earthy shade that is Pantone’s color of the year? In last week’s blog Marsala Tablecloths we explored several different fabrics and colors of tablecloths available at Bright Settings that fall into the category of Marsala. This week, we’ll check out some coordinating colors that would look great as napkins and table runners.

Pantone says that Marsala “combines dramatically with neutrals, including warmer taupes and grays.” And because of its burnished undertones, Marsala is “highly compatible with amber, umber and golden yellows, greens in both turquoise and teal, and blues in the more vibrant range.” Wow, there are a lot of choices! Let’s see if we can help.

Pantone has several suggestions for coordinating colors. For each collection from the chart above, let us tell you about the colors that are available for sale or for rent from Bright Settings. Clicking on the linked color names will take you directly to the napkin rental page which may be especially helpful if you are planning a wedding or other event this year.

1st Row — Lilac Marble, Ashes of Roses, and Daybreak: The basic polyester colors that most closely match the Pantone colors in the first row of the chart above are Lilac, Charcoal, and Periwinkle. They seem to bring out the earthy browns of Marsala.

2nd Row — Golden Ochre, Gold Earth, and Calypso Coral: The basic polyester colors that most closely match these Pantone colors are Gold, Peach, and Watermelon. These colors accentuate the reds in Marsala.

3rd Row — Silver Pink, Terra Cotta, and Cornstalk: The basic polyester colors that most closely match these Pantone colors are Light Pink, Dusty Rose, and Cafe. These colors seem to bring out the burnished undertones of Marsala.

4th Row — Toasted Coconut, Orchid Haze, and Shadow Gray. The basic polyester colors that most closely match these Pantone colors are Toast, Lilac, and Silver. Once again, the earthy browns seem to come forward with this combination.

5th Row — Silver Fern, Apricot Brandy, Fennel Seed, and Tapenade. The basic polyester colors that most closely match these Pantone colors are Sage, Burnt Orange, Olive, and Copper. These colors bring out the purples in Marsala.

6th Row — Lemon Grass, Cress Green, Sauterne, and Medal Bronze. The basic polyester colors that most closely match these Pantone colors are Maize, Acid Green, Gold, and Copper. Once again, these shades of green bring out the purple tones in Marsala.

7th Row — Lily Pad, Teal, Aqua Splash, and Marina. The basic polyester colors that most closely match these Pantone colors are Slate, Teal , Turquoise, and Cobalt. This is my favorite color combination!

You can’t really rely on your computer monitor or printer for accurate color matching. But that’s not a problem at Bright Settings. You can get free fabric swatches for just a $1.95 shipping fee. Here’s a video explaining our free sample program.

Still not sure? Let our knowledgeable sales staff answer all your table linen questions. Call 800.327.6025 or click on Live Help during regular business hours for prompt, professional customer service. They might not be experts on wine, but they can certainly help you pair your Marsala tablecloth with the perfect table runner and napkins.