In my last five articles I have been exploring the 2021 colors of the year of different paint companies and comparing them in the same Edesign I created for a master bedroom. I started by exploring Benjamin Moore’s Agean Teal and Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze. I found that PPG had a color palette of 3 colors of the year instead of one as you can see in my article Ways to Use PPG’s Colors of the Year. I admitted I felt a little let down that they did not just commit to one color.

Then I checked on Behr’s Colors of the Year and found they had a palette of 21 colors!! Talk about non-committal. I highlighted 3 of my favorites in my article, Ways to Use Behr’s 2021 Colors of the Year.

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams listed their 2021 Color of the Year: as Passionate, which you can see in my last article, How to Use Sherwin William’s HGTV Home 2021 Color of the Year Passionate.

Here, I will explore using Pantone’s 2021 Colors of the Year. They have two colors, Illuminating and Ultimate Gray. Pantone does not create paint colors. They create ink used in graphics, but their color selections influence many of the colors of products you will find available such as art, accessories, bedding and furniture.

Pantone colors of the year 2021 — Pantone says these colors are “A marriage of color conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting”..

I am a little surprised at their pick of Ultimate Gray…..I feel like gray is our past and we have moved on. I am also surprised at their pick of Illuminating. It feels like the color of a yellow safety vest or a yellow warning light at a traffic signal, rather than one I would pick for accessories in my home. “Uplifting” is not a word I would use to describe it. Well, I am up for a challenge. Let us see what we can do with this combination!

The Design

In this design, I used the color data to create a room that would look like Ultimate Gray on the walls, if Pantone made paint. The closest real paint color I could find to match this was Benjamin Moore, Tucker Gray, CW-705.

I think this bedroom feels relaxing, serene but with a little bit of energy and sweetness that comes from the cheery pops of yellow. I do like yellow and gray together, although I think this yellow is a little too saturated for my taste. I prefer a yellow with a little less chroma.

In my previous designs I have played with more saturated wall colors to show what you can do with color and how it feels. Sorry, I can not bring myself to try this color on the wall….I am not going to go there!

How to Use Pantone's 2021 Colors of the Year Illuminating and Ultimate Gray — Master bedroom Edesign using Pantone’s 2021 Colors of the Year by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design

Shop this Look

Here are some of the pieces I used or alternative ideas for my designs. Some contain affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission for sharing this with you at no additional cost to you if you purchase anything.

Which Color of the Year is Your Favorite?

I enjoyed working with all these colors, and think they could each work nicely to create a relaxing master bedroom, although Big Cypress feels a little more energizing than relaxing. Of all the colors, I like Aegean Teal and Euphoric Magenta the best, how about you?

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams 2021 Color of the Year: Passionate. Edesign by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design — Sherwin Williams HGTV Home Passionate

Master bedroom Edesign using Behr Euphoric Magenta by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design — Behr’s 2021 color Euphoric Magenta

Using Benjamin Moore's 2021 Color of the Year Aegean Teal by NOrthern Lights Home Staging and Design — Benjamin Moore’s 2021 Color of the Year Aegean Teal

Master bedroom Edesign using Behr Voyage by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design — Behr’s 2021 color Voyage

PPG's 2021 Colors of the Year with Mystic Aqua — PPG’s 2021 Color Palette with Mystic Aqua.

PPG's 2021 Colors of the Year = my version — Mystic Aqua but with my my own rebel color scheme:)

Master bedroom Edesign using Behr Royal Orchard by Northern Lights Home Staging and Design — Behr’s 2021 color Royal Orchard

Ways to Use Sherwin Williams 2021 Color of the Year Urbane Bronze — Sherwin Williams 2021 Color of the Year Urbane Bronze

PPG's 2021 Colors of the Year with Transcend — PPG’s 2021 Color Palette with Transcend

PPG's 2021 Colors of the Year with Big Cypress on the walls — PPG’s 2021 Color Palette with Big Cypress.

Are You Inspired?

When your space is better, you are better.
When you are better, the world is better.

Are you ready to create the perfect space for you? Try my Aligned Design consultation. It is a wholistic Interior Design and Color consultation that considers art, science and energy to give you a game plan for your whole home. I use the art of eco-friendly Interior Design mixed with color science and consider Feng Shui, transformative design, biophilia and color psychology to make your space feel great and support the life you want to live.

Once you have your game plan, we can work on specific rooms with one of my Edesign packages.

The designs above are examples of full service Edesign, where you get a floor plan, a concept board, a 3D render and a complete shopping list with set up instructions. Or, be brave and try some new color with an expert color consultation.