Introducing Pantone's Bold Color Duo of 2021 Into Your Home

Pantone Color Institute, the renowned color management company, released not one but two colors for its 2021 color of the year choice.  It is only the second time Pantone has released two colors in its color of the year award history.  The two colors, Ultimate Gray and Illuminating Yellow, were chosen to be used together as an uplifting and enduring combination.

Ultimate Gray is a neutral color and is grounding enough to be used in larger spaces and as a primary wall color.  Illuminating Yellow is a bright and sunny shade that is an excellent choice for smaller areas and items such as kitchen island stools and dining chairs.  Ultimate Gray and Illuminating Yellow both work well with light or dark wood finish.  The Pantone Color Institute suspects that Ultimate Gray and Illuminating Yellow will show up in interior design, primarily in textiles and decorative accessories.  

Here are a few easy ideas for implementing this bold, intriguing color combination into your home decor.  

Kitchen

Gray is a timeless selection for kitchen color due to its being neutral and having a grounding effect on other colors. Ultimate Gray is no different.  It works perfectly for large spaces like walls or cabinetry.  Introduce Illuminating Yellow in smaller doses, using it on kitchen island stools or kitchen towels and dishcloths.  For a bolder, more stunning look, use the Illuminating Yellow on kitchen cabinets with the Ultimate Gray on the walls as a grounding backdrop.  Another way to use Illuminating Yellow in the kitchen is to find floor tiles that feature the sunny shade.  

Bathroom

Bathrooms are a great room choice for color experimentation because they are usually smaller, less frequently used areas of the home. Like the kitchen, using Ultimate Gray on the walls and Illuminating Yellow on the cabinets would create a dramatic and energizing bathroom space. Additionally, a small powder room would be a great area to reverse this design idea, using Illuminating Yellow as the primary wall color and the Ultimate Gray on the cabinetry.  Lastly, using a tile backsplash or flooring featuring Illuminating Yellow would also fit wonderfully in a bathroom or powder room.  

Living Room

Interior Designers and Instagram influencers have cautioned against using Illuminating Yellow in large doses, such as using it as a primary wall color in a large living room.  The shade affects lighting so that can cause issues with the atmosphere in the room.  However, the living room is a great area to add pops of the bright, sunny color through decorating with throw pillows, throw blankets, and even area rugs. These color pops will be grounded if used with Ultimate Gray as a primary color in the design.  

When you’re looking for more ways to incorporate color into your space, we’d love to help!