Pantone's colours of the year are a joyful yellow and a reliable grey

23 Dec 2020

Pantone has named not one but two colours of the year for 2021. The international colour institute chose the yellow and grey combination of Pantone 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and Pantone13-0647 Illuminating as they "highlight how different elements come together to support one another" said a spokesperson.

The colours symbolised the union rock-solid grey with warming an optimistic yellow showing strength through the global pandemic's uncertain times and hope that everything is going to be brighter in the new year.

"Each year, our Pantone colour of the year is a colour we see crossing all areas of design," said Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute. "It's a colour that serves as an expression of a mood or an attitude on the part of the consumers, a colour that will resonate around the world, a colour that reflects what people are looking for and what they feel they need that colour to answer."

Walls in Resene Chenin are paired with the floor in Resene Mellow Yellow. The artwork frame is in Resene Blank Canvas and the two-door cabinet is in Resene Double Spanish White. The sofa is from Freedom Furniture and the side chair is from Nood. 

Pantone's colours change from year to year. The 2020 colour of the year PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, chosen for its relatable and comforting qualities.

"Because the mood or what is taking place in our society changes or evolves from one year to the next, the colour we select will always change," Pressman continued. "Colour is a language that expresses what is taking place in our global culture."

You can bring Pantone's chosen colours into your home with the Resene Multifinish colour collection. Resene Energy Yellow is a joyful uplifting yellow and Resene Quarter Scarpa Flow has reassuring stability seen in strong foundations.

Published: 23 Dec 2020