At the end of each year, certain companies break out their color forecasters to predict the upcoming “color of the year” for the year to come. These highly anticipated hues are closely watched by designers across the spectrum from fashion, home furnishings, to industrial design. The most well-known are color connoisseurs Pantone, whose annual color of the year prediction usually shows up everywhere from shirts to pillows, to toasters. But in the home design space, many more companies are announcing their picks, especially color experts at paint companies, ready to predict what will be the popular choices for bedrooms and kitchen cabinets. Let’s take a look at what are the hot picks for the 2021 color of the year.

Benjamin Moore 2021 Color of the Year: Aegean Teal

Announced earlier this October, Aegean Teal is a tremendous choice for 2021 interior decor. Disembarking from the last several year’s dominance of grey in interior paints, this vibrant tone is a refreshing dose of color, without pushing the bar too far. It is simultaneously soothing and colorful, creating a compelling yet cozy environment for our increased time spent at home as of late. It’s warm, grounded, and focused on the home being a sanctuary to escape these turbulent times.

This color can be used anywhere: kitchen cabinets, an accent wall, or a bathroom vanity would all be stunning choices. You can pair Aegean Teal with the other sun-baked hues in the matching Benjamin Moore palette to complete the vibe. Warm white, sunny yellow, natural wood tones complement the shade. Earthy and natural, these colors immediately bring about a sense of comfort and effortlessness much like an afternoon on a Mediterranean beach.

Sherwin Williams 2021 Color of the Year: Urbane Bronze

This dark shade of grey brings warmth to any space with its woodsy brown and green undertones. Sherwin Willaims describes Urbane Bronze as a pure and minimalist expression of nature. It looks beautiful paired with natural elements like wood, leather, metal, and stone. As an added bonus, it works wells with both modern and antique furnishings. It’s a great choice for minimalists but also isn’t too cool or sterile, making it a fantastic accent choice for any style.

Urbane Bronze echos the soothing, meditative feeling brought about by Benjamin Moore’s color palette, but with a decidedly different personality. According to Sherwin-Williams:

“Now more than ever, our homes have become the backdrop to our lives, reminding us that the moments worth cherishing have always been right in front of us. As we’re looking to create the ultimate retreat for reflection and renewal, we’re turning to a hue whose natural simplicity and nature-inspired energy cultivate a sense of calm from the ground up.”

Pantone 2021 Color of the Year: Illuminating Yellow and Ultimate Gray

Instead of settling on just one hue, the color authority Pantone named two tones to represent 2021. Ultimate Grey, a steadfast and everlasting shade juxtaposed with Illuminating, a cheerful and sunny yellow. Together the colors reflect the difficulty of our current world and inspire a hopeful future.

Yellow is the color of sunshine, joy, and energy. Grey is a thoughtful, neutral color. Paired together, the yellow energizes quiet spaces with bursts of optimism. The joining of two opposing colors is just the sort of unification message that we need going into the next year as our country hopefully begins to heal from the intense division seen in 2020.

According to Pantone:

“A message of happiness supported by fortitude, the combination of Ultimate Gray + Illuminating is aspirational and gives us hope. We need to feel that everything is going to get brighter – this is essential to the human spirit.”

Fine Paints of Europe 2021 Color of the Year: Willow

Finally, we look to one of Red House’s favorite brands of paint, Fine Paints of Europe, for their color of the year. This cheerful shade of mint was inspired by the “New Room” at George Washington’s Mount Vernon farmhouse. Willow is reminiscent of spring and brings about a feeling of rebirth and new growth.

A soothing and uplifting color, Willow can be a delightful shade for a living room, dining room, or office. It is simultaneously soft and effervescent, sure to improve the mood of anyone in the room.

According to Fine Paints of Europe Colorist, Emmett Fiore,
“Studies show that simply looking at images of trees reduces stress; we suspect that Willow, a serene green with positive energy flow, will have a similar effect on your environment.”

Look Ahead to 2021

Above all, it is evident that in 2021, our homes are meant to inspire our moods and comfort. Socially our collective fate is still unknown; will life continue in limbo or start to bounce back? But one thing is for sure, our personal space will remain a constant in our lives and it’s important to define it to meet our needs. Design can reach us on a deeper level and affect our lives for the better. To learn more about designing your home with these ideas in mind, contact us.