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2020 was a gloomy year for all of us. Many of us sat at home, housebound, and staring at our long-forgotten interior walls. With nothing to do to keep us occupied, the handyperson in some of us came out to play. We started fixing things with gusto and re-imagining our space with more comfort in mind.

Now that 2021 is well on the way, and we have become accustomed to our new normal. We realise future lockdowns could still be on the cards, and we can plan our projects for those times. Alternatively, many of us now work from home and would like to create a more beautiful space to surround us. Using paint is one of the cheapest, quickest ways to make a big impact. What better way to bring our surrounding up to date with the latest trends?

Say hello to Pantone’s 2021 colours of the year. The second time ever that Pantone has chosen two instead of one colour. Ultimate Grey looks much like a rock grey and Illuminating yellow, which is a lovely sunshine shade of yellow. They combined these two contrasting shades to reflect a sense of optimism and resilience and to express a message of hopefulness, that uplifts us. It is a positive message, supported by fortitude.

Grey, being such a versatile, enduring, neutral shade is a wonderful choice for us to use expansively. We can use it on walls, ceilings, inside or outside successfully. Illuminating yellow gives us a pop of colour and draws the eye to focus on an aspect of a room, or item in the room. Illuminating yellow is best used on a smaller scale, as this can easily be changed to keep up to date with colour changes over the next decade.

Creating a beautiful space begins with the end in mind and happens not only when one looks at the size of the items, but also when you consider the use of colours, textures, and different objects.

By allowing these elements to talk to one another, harmony and balance can be created. The calmest spaces are those that have been carefully planned. All the various items that compose the space, and how they complement each other must be taken into consideration.

Here are some of the most effective ways we can use these colours:

1. Use it by our entrance to welcome in the year. Paint your front door with illuminating yellow, and the surrounding walls with Ultimate Grey. The notable contrast between the two creates an energetic look, and as both have warm undertones, they are tied together. An ideal combination as we look forward to brighter days.

2. Be bold and use it as wallpaper. Find a paper that decoratively combines the two colours, and uses it on either wall, or if you are very confident, on all four walls. Depending on the pattern you choose, keep the rest of the furnishings plain, so that patterns and colours do not clash.

3. Create a soothing, calm living room. This is the room where most of us hang out, so why should it not delight our senses at the same time? With walls of Ultimate Grey, and maybe even your upholstered furniture, accent the total area using ideas from point four, below. Make your serene space feel even more cosy by mixing and matching tactile fabrics in equally subdued hues of the colour. Using colours that contrast is a super way to add dimension to your beautiful space, and a great way to start a conversation.

4. Use illuminating Yellow to accent the entire area of a room with the following ideas:
– A grey stone vase filled with big, bright sunflowers.
– Yellow cushions and throws on your chairs
– A rug with an asymmetrical design in greys and yellows
– An investment piece of artwork with hues of yellow and grey.

5. The use of Illuminating Yellow as the primary colour in a smaller space, has many positive benefits such as

– In the bathroom, consider painting the inside of the shower yellow. This will result in you feeling extra alert after your morning shower.

– For a cheerful washday, you can change all your cabinets in your laundry room to Illuminating Yellow.

– Alternatively, stimulate your mind by painting one wall of your small study this yellow shade.

– Keep in mind that if you paint the entire room yellow when lights are reflecting off it, it can change people’s skin colours, making them look more greenish/yellow.

In Conclusion, Greys and Yellows have been one of the biggest colour trends of the last decade. As you can see, colour plays an important role in our moods and our homes. By seeking opportunities to incorporate hues of the 2021 colour of the year that resonate with us, we can make a great impact on our daily lives. With us spending more time at home, we have time to create the ideal place for us to live, play and work in.

What do you think of this year’s Pantone colours? Let us know by posting a comment or tagging us on our Facebook page.