Color Palette: Ultimate Gray + Illuminating 2021 Pantone Colors of the Year

Pantone has spoken! The 2021 Colors of the Year are PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating. I have to say when I first saw their choice I wasn’t super excited, but as I create these palettes and learned the reasoning behind the choice it grew on me. It really is a classic pairing. What’s your take? Are you digging the combo?

The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude. 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.
— Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of The Pantone Color Institute

I hope you enjoy this all new color palette collection, inspired by our brand new Pantone COTY for 2021: Ultimate Gray and Illuminating, which is a beautiful yellow.

SINGING IN THE RAIN The contrast between sunny yellow and cloudy gray is perfect.   HEX CODES: #292929 #606569 #eec201 #fae12c #969a9d

SINGING IN THE RAIN
The contrast between sunny yellow and cloudy gray is perfect.

HEX CODES:
#292929
#606569
#eec201
#fae12c
#969a9d

OH, HONEY Bright yellow to deep gold and orange pair up perfectly with shades of gray.HEX CODES: #2d292a #d07c02 #ffb401 #969a9d #f9e02b

OH, HONEY
Bright yellow to deep gold and orange pair up perfectly with shades of gray.

HEX CODES:
#2d292a
#d07c02
#ffb401
#969a9d
#f9e02b

LEAVES + STONES Simple and elegant.   HEX CODES:  #505a5c #c67637 #969a9d #fae12c #d7dfe2

LEAVES + STONES
Simple and elegant.

HEX CODES:
#505a5c
#c67637
#969a9d
#fae12c
#d7dfe2

SUNNY RANUNCULUS Always a sucker for flower inspired colors.   HEX CODES: #313e2a #e7cc0d #999a9e #a1ae68 #fae12c

SUNNY RANUNCULUS
Always a sucker for flower inspired colors.

HEX CODES:
#313e2a
#e7cc0d
#999a9e
#a1ae68
#fae12c

SNOWY OWL EYED Love these cool gray blue and green paired with bright yellow and sky blue.  HEX CODES:  #29384d #4a5d5c #989a9d #fae12c #d0e8f2

SNOWY OWL EYED
Love these cool gray blue and green paired with bright yellow and sky blue.

HEX CODES:
#29384d
#4a5d5c
#989a9d
#fae12c
#d0e8f2

LICHEN BARK Nature is magical! Such beautiful bark.  HEX CODES: #534e3a #eacb10 #969a9d #fae12c #ebece6

LICHEN BARK
Nature is magical! Such beautiful bark.

HEX CODES:
#534e3a
#eacb10
#969a9d
#fae12c
#ebece6

FIELD OWL What could be sweeter than an owl in yellow flowers?  HEX CODES: #3c3930 #555a32 #a45e5f #848c8d #dedfdb

FIELD OWL
What could be sweeter than an owl in yellow flowers?

HEX CODES:
#3c3930
#555a32
#a45e5f
#848c8d
#dedfdb

ILLUMINATING Classic gray and yellow all the way.   HEX CODES:  #2a2a28 #969a9d #fdb143 #fae12c #eff0eb

ILLUMINATING
Classic gray and yellow all the way.

HEX CODES:
#2a2a28
#969a9d
#fdb143
#fae12c
#eff0eb

LEMON FIZZ Shades of navy blue feel regal next to the bright yellows!  HEX CODES: #050424 #112152 #999a9e #fae12c #f5f5f5

LEMON FIZZ
Shades of navy blue feel regal next to the bright yellows!

HEX CODES:
#050424
#112152
#999a9e
#fae12c
#f5f5f5

SUNNY BICYCLE RIDE Doesn’t get much happier with bold yellow shades, grounded by gray and a pop of red!  HEX CODES: #bb0116 #969a9d #fbcb0b #f9e02b #ebeced

SUNNY BICYCLE RIDE
Doesn’t get much happier with bold yellow shades, grounded by gray and a pop of red!

HEX CODES:
#bb0116
#969a9d
#fbcb0b
#f9e02b
#ebeced


I also wanted to share these lovely Ultimate Gray + Illuminating yellow color inspiration images!


I hope you enjoy checking these out and I would love to hear how they inspire you! Let me know which is your favorite and what you would use it for (interior decorating, wedding colors, branding, wardrobe, painting, etc.) in the comments.


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Beauty is everywhere.