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Why It's All Thumbs Up For Pantone Colours of the Year 2021

Get inspired from these trendy rooms, furniture and accessories that adorn Ultimate Grey + Illuminating

Shristi Nangalia
Shristi Nangalia25 January 2021
Houzz India Contributor, Architect, Architectural Writer and Content Writer. Painting, craft work, pets and good food are my getaways. Cultures and colours always inspire me. Email: shristi012@gmail.com, Business profile: @decoretteindia.
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Pantone has released not one but two hues in a set as their Colour of the Year for 2021. ‘Ultimate Grey’ (PANTONE 17-5104) and ‘Illuminating’ (PANTONE 13-0647) were chosen to emphasise the notions of strength, endurance and positive spirit.
Shristi Nangalia
Pantone offers a formula guide to help designers visualise and apply the colours for graphics and prints, a cotton swatch card (as in the picture) for colourists and developers of textile and soft home products, and colour specifier replacement pages to update the Pantone Home + Interiors Colour Specifier book that comes handy for designers during palette development and colour communication.

On Houzz, we have seen the use of this feel-good colour duo in living rooms, bedrooms, study rooms, bathrooms and exteriors too. Let’s dive right in and look at how designers across the world have incorporated yellow and grey in different areas, in different interior themes.

You can click on each photo to get more information about the project and professional
SPACES ARCHITECTS@ka
1. Designer: SPACES ARCHITECTS@ka
This living room sports a lively honey-yellow on the sofas, compl-mented by light-grey chairs and walls. Wooden accents from the ceiling, tables and accessories let the yellow shine and add to the cosiness of the space.

Find professionals who can help you design or improve your home here
Khosla Associates
2. Designer: Khosla Associates
The exposed cement walls provide an understated tone of grey and the Jaisalmer sandstone on the floor punches a vivid yellow into the contemporary scheme of this home. I particularly love how the yellow is striking enough to make a presence, yet pleasant enough to create an inviting and homely atmosphere.

Want to add some organic warmth, texture and drama to your home? Try one of these colourful stone floors
Светлана Юркова
3. Designer: Светлана Юркова
Little pops of gleaming yellow from the curtains, cushions and planter adds multiple doses of oomph to the neutral dark-grey and white palette of this modern living space.

Here is a guide to choosing curtains
Karen Alagna for The Living Room
4. Designer: Karen Alagna for The Living Room
A butter-yellow wall, grey-and-yellow patterned cushions and rug, and a bright-yellow sofa throw – so many noteworthy elements in a single eclectic frame! Wooden flooring and furniture, and plenty of white on the other walls, ceiling and decorative fixtures prevent the design from feeling overwhelming.
LELLI per interior design
5. In this living area, the mystique of ash and iron-grey hues on the walls and furniture is enhanced by the introduction of yellow accents here and there, creating a charming space. The artwork doubles down on the colour scheme.

11 Reasons To Fall in Love With Grey Sofas
Cebula Design
6. Designer: Cebula Design
The yellow and grey of the soft furnishings are made more prominent by the white walls and floors of this bedroom.

Find out how to keep your cushions, curtains, carpets and upholstery in their best shape
Rethink Design Studio
7. Designer: Rethink Design Studio
The grey-patterned shower curtain and the vintage yellow vanity elevate this otherwise plain coastal bath space and give it an eclectic twist. A limited colour palette and soft lines tailor a cultivated look.

Explore these handy decorating tips to light up your vanity area
Jordan Iverson Signature Homes
8. Designer: Jordan Iverson Signature Homes
In this contemporary bathroom, the eye-catching yellow-and-grey geometric tiles that line the back wall are in good company of other yellow accents, wooden cabinetry and flooring, and white countertop.
LEIVARS
9. Designer: LEIVARS
The backdrop of this sitting area is a yellow feature wall with floating concrete shelves. A careful use of blue accent pieces and brass details adds a layer of interest to the transitional décor of the space.

Browse more spaces that shine with a slice of yellow
10. For a stronger impression, random bands of bright yellow are posed over the dark-grey wall of this study room. Adding a dash of contrasting white with the floating shelf, drawers and chairs further works to offset the colours.

5 Energising Study Room Colour Combinations
Clark and Clark Interiors
11. Designer: Clark and Clark Interiors
This chic desk space sports chairs with a floral upholstery. It is interesting how yellow and grey are introduced to the transitional setup in a fresh and voguish way, while also making other elements and colours shine.
Jennifer Brouwer (Jennifer Brouwer Design Inc)
12. Designer: Jennifer Brouwer
Coloured accessories can be the perfect accent pieces for any neutral living room or bedroom. Plus, they can be used as testers to check if the colours work with the interiors or not. Sunshine-yellow flowers, vase and cushions make an impact and give character to the cream-and-grey family room here. The low-key tones allow yellow to take the foreground, making the space an appropriate combination of calm and vibrant.

Here are 7 stunning spaces where accessories rule
Portal Design Inc
13. Designer: Portal Design Inc
Why limit the colours to indoors? This home exterior oozes a contemporary vibe, thanks to yellow and grey siding.

Read more:
Colour Combination: Why You Must Pair Yellow With Grey
When Colours Are Not What They Seem

Tell us:
What do you think about the Pantone Colour of the Year 2021? Do you have Ultimate Gray and Illuminating shades at your home? Share pictures in Comments below.
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