Given what all of us have been through over the last year, and what we know we are still in for in 2021, the arrival of the annual Pantone Color of the Year has been a flicker of inspiration. This year, two colors,
Ultimate Gray and Illuminating (yellow), deliver a feeling of hope – and positivity – at a time when we can all use a bit of it.
The Pantone Color Institute is in the business of forecasting global color trends as the trusted source for product color and brand visual identity. Through seasonal trend forecasts, color psychology, and color
consulting, they help companies put the emotion of color into their design strategies.
“The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude. Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color
combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted; this is essential to the human spirit,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.
According to Soleil Tierney, part of Darvin Furniture’s in-house designer team, the Pantone Color of the Year is something she really pays attention to. “As moods change, people’s tastes will evolve in color and design.
As we go through the pandemic, people are looking for something stable and solid, yet optimistic,” she says. “Gray has always been a practical go-to for many homeowners. Yellow is a fun color that pops while being sunny
and friendly.”
Tierney says the two colors will be prevalent in home interior design in 2021 and she is excited to begin seeing how she can help Darvin customers incorporate the hues into their homes.
“The combination creates a fresh take on neutrals. The subtle purple tint of this year’s Ultimate Gray and the pale citron of the Illuminating yellow really provide an opportunity to transition—it’s really a
forward-looking take on 2021,” Tierney says.
Already, she is seeing a more optimistic outlook for the coming year as customers schedule her to come into their homes to bring needed change in the shape of new furniture, artwork, accents, and area rugs.
“Gray is a great cool-neutral tone that can be used in almost any d?cor. Many people are finding that it’s a way for them to update their new design, leaving behind those warmer beiges and browns of the past several
decades,” says Tierney. “I consider yellow to be a happy accent color—it evokes a cheerful mood, even if it’s just a pillow, rug, or other accessory in an otherwise neutral space. It complements the gray, giving it
some excitement.”
No doubt, life can be hard enough. A new year means new hope. Finding some way, whether it’s through the use of color, texture, or design, your home should be hopeful and joyful.
Visit: Darvin.com
