Top color picks selected for 2021

It should come as no surprise, heading out of 2020 and into a new and hopeful year, that experts in the paint and color industry have chosen colors for 2021 that are described with words and phrases including: inviting, tranquil, wellness, natural harmony, reflect, reset, and calming. Two soft watery blues suggest wellness with their spa-like style. An understated gray-brown has an anchoring quality that conveys a sense of comfort and sanctuary in bedrooms, living rooms and dens, or calm concentration in home offices–which are a definite space getting plenty of attention these days. See if you are ready to make a splash in your own home with one of these picks.

A splash of aqua makes this living room wall the center of attention.

Urbane Bronze
Bold and understated at the same time, Urbane Bronze from Sherwin-Williams is a warm, grounding shade of gray-brown intended to reflect our current need for serenity and stability.

For an updated take on minimalism, pair Urbane Bronze with other warm neutrals, including elegant bone whites.

“The home is now the ultimate retreat from the world, and color is an easy and effective way to create a personal haven,” said Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams.

This abstract painting by Ursula Brenner (40” x 40”) is from Gallery Veronique.

Gray undertones balance the earthy brown to create a dark, deeply comforting color reminiscent of burnished metal or timeworn stone.

To bring out an organic feel, pair Urbane Bronze with furniture made from natural materials, including wood, stone, and woven fabrics.

Aegean Teal
Benjamin Moore’s Aegean Teal marries the tranquil nature of blue with green’s association with wellness, while a gray undertone keeps the color modern.

A blend of blue-green and gray, Aegean Teal is a refreshing midtone that works beautifully in this kitchen.

Hannah Yeo, color marketing and development manager at Benjamin Moore, calls it “an intriguing blue-green that creates natural harmony and invites us to take a moment to reflect and reset.”

The Melange Sorell five-drawer chest from Hooker Furniture adds a soft teal accent in the living room. Available at Best Furniture Gallery, Hoffman & Albers Interiors, ID Furniture Cincinnati, and Studio J.

The color’s calming qualities make it an excellent choice for bedrooms or home offices, and its casual elegance shines on kitchen cabinetry or built-ins.

A medley of teals provides an inviting respite in this living room from Hickory White. Available at Hoffman & Albers Interiors, ID Furniture Cincinnati, and Studio J.

Illuminating Ultimate Gray
Pantone, which standardizes swatches for the design industry, has revealed two hues for its Color of the Year: the neutral Ultimate Gray and vibrant yellow Illuminating.

Pops of yellow add vibrancy to this primarily gray master bedroom.

“It’s a combination that speaks to the resilience, the optimism and hope and positivity that we need, as we reset, renew, reimagine and reinvent,” said Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute.

This hand-cut stone mosaic, Vashti, is shown in Dahlia matte and polished Goldenrod Glazed Basalto and is available at Louisville Tile.

“Two extremely independent colors highlight how different elements come together to express this message of strength and hopefulness.”

Pantone’s colors for 2021 are seen together in this Fenwick Chair and Maison Sofa by Lillian August, available at ID Cincinnati Furniture, and Studio J.

Aqua Fiesta
For its first ever color of the year, Glidden has chosen an accent color: Aqua Fiesta. The Glidden team describes it as a “vibrant aquamarine that works best in small doses when combined with other neutral paint colors.”