Resilience & Hope: Pantone Names Two Colors, “Ultimate Gray” and “Illuminating,” as the 2021 Color of the Year

Representing strength and promise after a year like no other, “Ultimate Gray” and “Illuminating” were unveiled as the Pantone® Color of the Year 2021. This is only the second time in the 22 years that Pantone has been choosing a color of the year that two colors have been selected. It’s also the first time ever for a gray to earn the title and only the second time for a yellow.

After a somber year, the cheerfulness of Illuminating, “a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power” according to Pantone, is aspirational – the light at the end of the tunnel or the sun shining through a cloudy sky. The reassuring Ultimate Gray balances the yellow with the fortitude and thoughtfulness we need to harmonize with our optimism. And choosing two colors rather than one evokes the lessons we’ve learned about how much stronger we are together.

“The union of Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude,” said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute®, “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.”

Marrying gray and yellow in your home design establishes a mood of sunny dependability. In this “Vivid Hues” Jackson Design and Remodeling kitchen, our designer’s forward thinking color combination meets in a bold juxtaposition of the hues. Imagine gray and yellow in other areas of your home such as a bright yellow front door with a gray exterior, pops of yellow pillows and blankets in a neutral gray living room, or yellow tile and gray walls in a bathroom. The possibilities are endless when you work with a professional team to reimagine your home.

Our unified team of architects, designers, and construction professionals love helping you discover color as a way to express your individuality in your new home or whole home remodel. From neutral minimalism to vivid swaths of color, we’ll guide you through the many ways color infuses your home with personality during the design build process.

About the Pantone Color of the Year
For over 20 years, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home furnishings, and industrial design. The Pantone Color Institute is a consulting service within Pantone that forecasts global color trends and advises companies on color in brand identity and product development. The Institute is recognized around the world as a leading source of color information.