2021 Colors of the Year – Which One Will We See in Your Home?

Pantone, THE widely accepted authority on color for designers of every genre, is predicting that a creamy, sunny yellow (13-0647 TCX Illuminating) and a neutral, cool gray (17-5104 TCX Ultimate Gray) will be favored in 2021.

I can easily understand why decorators and homeowners alike might seize the opportunity to incorporate the upbeat soft yellow and mellow gray tones in home design and remodels. I think after the year we’ve all had, ‘upbeat and mellow’ is the state of mind everyone is looking for. Grays and yellows are associated with pure, organic elements found abundantly in nature, essentially bringing the outdoors in when we’re decorating our homes.

The experts at Pantone cite “warmth and dependability” as the traits responsible for this year’s choices. In a San Diego Union-Tribune post, the Pantone news release announcing the colors, described Illuminating as “a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power.” Ultimate Gray, like pebbles, is emblematic of “solid and dependable elements which are everlasting and provide a firm foundation.”

As a decorator’s and stager’s objective is to make a home that is For Sale look modern and appealing to home buyers, I expect we’ll see a flood of calm grays and happy yellows used in home staging as well.

In an hgtv article entitled The Psychology of Color, Jeannie Matteucci explains the power of color in home design and indeed, in your life. “Color is a powerful design tool that can make the rooms in your home feel more calm, cheerful, comfortable or dramatic. Color makes a tiny room feel larger, or a spacious one feel more intimate, without the time and expense of actually moving walls.”

“It’s all about finding the colors you respond to and that make you feel good.” says interior designer Elaine Ryan.

Somehow I can’t bring myself to embrace Sherwin Williams color of the year for 2021 dubbed Passionate. It is strongly reminiscent of the retro 80’s Mauve, a muddy purplish hue that was, along with the tedious Country Blue, as pervasive in US homes during the late 70’s and early 80’s as it was in England during Queen Victoria’s reign. ‘Passionate’ feels tired, cliched and ‘so over’, just like the entire year of 2020, and I really hope not to see it anywhere. Read on for RIS Medias Jameson Dorris’ assessment of Sherwin Williams pick.

By Jameson Doris

Created as a reaction to the chaos that has defined much of this year, Sherwin-Williams’ pick for the 2021 Color of the Year Passionate is simple. The color, as well as the full 2021 Color Collection of the Year, were created in partnership by the design experts at HGTV®.

Passionate is a bold color that’s heavy on red, natural tones, but is also mixed with softer whites. Sherwin-Williams describes the color as “rich and empowering…a bold red that’s steeped in history, merging modern design with traditional charm.”

The 2021 Color Collection of the Year is available exclusively at Lowe’s and comprises 10 different complementary colors in total. The colors are all vibrant while at the same time calming and mostly made up of earthy tones that are inspired by nature.

“The current cultural climate has created a state of overstimulation and information overload, which has encouraged trends to live life with minimalism. Consumers are eager to streamline and simplify their lives and homes, but that doesn’t mean we need to forgo having fun with color,” says Ashley Banbury, HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams Senior Color Designer.

Inspired by nature and the simplicity found outside a tech-obsessed world, each of the colors created by the design experts at HGTV® can be used to revamp a room into a dream-like space that can “transform the home from dull backdrop to an active and inspiring space that fuels creativity.”

To view the full 2021 Collection of the Year, as well as descriptions of each color, click here. This article first appeared on RISMedia’s blog, Housecall. Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2020. All rights reserved.