The Top 7 Ways to Use the 2021 Pantone Color of the Year in Your Home
Incorporating the 2021 Pantone Color of the Year into Beautiful Residential Design
This year, people were shocked by Pantone’s selection for the Color of the Year, not so much for the hue chosen but the number of colors selected. Pantone picked two colors for 2021’s Color of the Year, Ultimate Gray and Illuminating yellow. These two unlikely choices both have a warm tone and complement each other beautifully, like the sun shining out from behind a cloudy sky. Now that the colors have been revealed, a bigger question comes into play. How do you incorporate both Pantone selections into a cohesive residential design plan? Our Texas-based architects have come up with 7 beautiful applications for these colors in your home. Get ready for a new year of fresh design and gorgeous color.
Why Pantone Picked 2 Colors for 2021
Before we discuss color applications, let’s take a moment to talk about why Pantone decided on two unusual colors for the 2021 Color of the Year. Leatrice Eiseman, the Pantone Color Institute executive director, explains that “the union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude.” Overall, this color combination is meant to symbolize strength, gratitude, resilience, and optimism – all great messages following the disastrous year of 2020, which brought distress and many challenges. Pantone’s Ultimate Gray and Illuminating yellow offer joy and stability, which provide the perfect palette for a fresh home redesign and a clean start in the new year. Let’s look at 7 ways to bring these bright and supportive colors into your home.
7 Ways to Apply the Pantone 2021 Colors in Your Home’s Design
At first glance, the combination of Ultimate Gray and Illuminating yellow may feel contemporary, industrial, and very bold. However, with the right application, Pantone’s 2021 Color of the Year can be incorporated into almost any home style. The architects at our Austin, Texas-based studio reveal 7 of the best ways to use the 2021 Pantone colors.
1. Pantone Colors in the Kitchen
The kitchen is the perfect room in the home to apply Pantone’s Ultimate Gray and Illuminating colors. Yellow is a high-energy color, and the kitchen is one of the most high-energy spaces in the house, making them perfect for each other. A great way to incorporate yellow and gray in your kitchen is through custom cabinets, tile, and appliances. For example, you could use Illuminating yellow on your kitchen island cabinets and Ultimate Gray on the wall cabinets. This combination will allow the island to stand out as a focal point and create a sense of light and drama. Bright yellow tilework is perfect for kitchen backsplashes, especially kitchens with contrasting stainless steel appliances. We also love the idea of installing a bright yellow fridge or stove from Big Chill for unexpected character and originality.
2. Pantone Colors on Built-ins
Custom built-ins are one of 2021’s top interior design trends, so why not paint them in the year’s top trending colors? Gray built-in shelving units can pack a punch with the addition of Illuminating yellow accent panels. Painting the back wall panels in a bright yellow will call attention to the shelf space and contrast with the display items. This application could work with ultra-modern built-in designs as well as more traditional designs. Consider adding a wallpaper accent to the back wall panel featuring a pattern of yellows and grays for an old-world or cottage look.
3. Pantone Colors on Accent Tiles
Accent tiles are an easy way to incorporate color into the home without spending a lot on renovations and materials. Gray tiles can be used for larger spaces or to achieve a more grounded and subdued style. Bright yellow accent tiles can be applied as a smaller decorative detail on kitchen backsplashes or smaller areas, like a powder room looking to make a bold first impression. We also love the idea of trimming the fireplace surround and hearth with yellow and gray tilework to call attention to this focal point.
4. Pantone Colors on the Front Door
In addition to being aspirational, bright, and optimistic, yellow is also a very welcoming color, making it the perfect choice for the front door. A yellow door will serve as a welcoming beacon for guests, create a bright focal point for the home facade, and anchor the approach. When selecting a door color, make sure to consider how it complements the other colors on your home’s exterior.
5. Exteriors with Pantone Inspired Color Schemes
The use of Pantone’s Illuminating doesn’t have to stop at the front threshold. Yellow and Ultimate Gray can be used on the entire exterior of your home. We recommend grounding the facade in Ultimate Gray, using white for trim work, and accenting the home with Illuminating on the front door, shutters, and any other specialty trim work. Your house will feel bright and fresh, and it will be rooted in enduring style.
6. Pantone Colors on Wall Coverings
Pantone’s 2021 Color of the Year can also be applied to interior wall coverings. Be careful using yellow, as this bold color can be intense when applied to larger rooms. Illuminating is an excellent option for smaller spaces, like powder rooms, as well as an accent on trim, paneling, and built-ins. Gray offers a calm, grounded feel that can be used in almost any space in the home.
7. Pantone Colors for Furniture and Accent Pieces
Of course, the color party doesn’t stop at paint and architectural features. To tie in the entire look, make sure to apply the colors to furniture selections, textiles, and accent pieces for a cohesive and complete space. If you’re scared to commit to painting, start with these smaller items first to get a sense of how the colors will work in your home.
Are you looking to incorporate more color in your home?