Pantone Colour of the year 2021 – well actually there’s two: do you love them or hate them?! I thought it was quite timely to chat yellow (and indeed grey), after my post last week, in which I talked about how yellow affected my mood at home.
Pantone colour of the year 2021 – contrast
The colours announced are Pantone 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and Pantone 13-0647 Illuminating and they definitely highlight the trend for contrasting, bold and bright colours that I am definitely seeing more of. There’s definitely a focus on reflecting on a – let’s face it – utterly crap year and thinking positively moving forward. Onwards and upwards in 2021!
Colour psychology – grey and yellow
The colours are an interesting pairing from a colour psychology perspective as grey is generally seen to be quite a safe, quiet and calming colour whereas bright yellow is considered uplifting and positive.
Together, they work harmoniously. Yellow adds a cheerful pop to an otherwise chilled out canvas.
Pantone say the colours express a message of ‘positivity supported by fortitude’ and the colours convey resilience and hope.
Grey is often called ‘boring’ and it definitely does have associations with being a safe, sometimes even stiff, option. However, the more positive associations with grey are that it is a calming colour; the perfect decor antidote for our busy lives. Too much grey can be a bit draining though and so yellow is the perfect match, adding an energy boost and keeping the positive feels going strong.
If you’re into bolder colours, then brave all the yellow with hint of grey instead! All the retro feels.
Yellow in the right space can be really invigorating, but remember that too much can induce anxiety and even depression, so it is better suited to rooms you aren’t going to spend a lengthy period of time in.
Pantone colour of the year 2021 at home
How to use these two colours together then? Grey and yellow isn’t a new pairing and for me, I always think Orla Kiely and geometrics. I also think it can be a colour combination that is tricky to get right; done well yellow and grey can look fabulous and done less well, it can look a bit flat and washed out.
I won’t lie, bright yellow is not a go to colour for me when it comes to decorating and I am not going to rush out to buy a sunshine coloured sofa or paint my door egg yolk coloured anytime soon. That said, yellow can still work even for me, so don’t write it off just yet.
‘Illuminating’ is a bold shade and I think it’s a fabulous colour for a piece of statement furniture or just a colour pop here and here. Even a bunch of yellow flowers – fresh or dried – will add an instant hit of colour to cheer up a room.
Here’s some inspo………
Going bold
This Look does not have an image.Keeping calm
This Look does not have an image.So will you be embracing this trend? Are you already ahead of the game?! Let me know in the comments.
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