You can find images of these celebrated tones below, along with their CMYK values. As you will see, these recognisable hues are very effective in contrast and look distinctively handsome when placed side by side.

With many of us looking to the future – a future characterised, we hope, by a move beyond the many hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic – Ultimate Grey + Illuminating is a blend that signifies both hope and rejuvenation. Ultimate Grey offers a grounded, practical and contemporary ethos which is offset by the vibrant cheer of Illuminating, a telling choice of name which signals a newfound positive outlook.

To commemorate these choices, we’ve put together a guide on using shades of grey and yellow to bring a similarly inspiring touch to your interiors.

Using Grey and Yellow in the Home

The benefit of these colours is that the latter stands out vividly against the former. Grey is often regarded as a soothingly neutral colour, but the sheer variety of tones available means that pairing different shades can add real depth to a room. Combine this versatility with the brightening effect of yellow, and it becomes apparent how easy it is to make focal points, or to run transformative veins of colour throughout.

Particularly dark greys are especially striking in juxtaposition with bright colours, which means that accenting fixtures through the addition of yellow furnishings can be very effective. Yellow, with its bold overtones, can be used to foreground certain items while more neutral shades offer a balance. For example, a row of colourfully upholstered stools at a bar readily draws the eye and emphasises comfortable places to sit.

Stitch Bar Stool Yellow

Alternatively, lighter greys can be used when designing an airy living space, preventing yellow surfaces from creating too much saturation. Again, the most suitable method tends to be backgrounding a cool, paler shade, with pops of colour then affording visual interest and a playful influence.

Candy Dining Chair Yellow

One of the most desirable aspects of this fusion is how contemporary this can appear in situ. An obvious example would be use in Scandi inspired furnishings, often synonymous with trendy modern homes, which frequently look great in profile with both colours. The combination of sunny yellows, bold greys and rustic wooden textures and finishes makes for a warm feeling, seasonal interior, as can be seen in the image below.

Drift Oak And Yellow Bar Stool

If you’re feeling particularly daring, the modernity of grey-yellow combinations also lends itself to urban themed décor. Concrete, distressed or otherwise patterned textures, when contrasted against a vivid yellow, can produce a signature industrial look in a kitchen or dining area. Experimenting with metals or metal tones on top of this blend can also be rewarding.

On the other hand, the classical associations of certain gold or mustard tones allows for a more sophisticated impression where required. A traditional setting which uses these colours can be improved with touches of soft fabric or velvet, or with dark greys for a striking contrast.

As a final thought, and for even greater originality, you can try incorporating other colours alongside a grey-yellow scheme, maximising your room’s potential. Black is famously adaptable and putting together an interior where black furnishings mediate between vivid yellow surfaces and lighter grey accents can mean greater definition. White is also a fantastic choice, with this years Pantone choice offsetting the more clinical aesthetic that white walls and fixtures can sometimes have and lending a refreshing balance.

Histories of Grey and Yellow

While the combination of Ultimate Grey + Illuminating may be considered a sign of the times, it’s interesting to look at the changing historical connotations of grey and yellow given the reasons for their ‘Colour of the Year’ status.

In the Middle Ages, grey was the colour typically worn by the peasantry as well as certain religious orders, including the Franciscan friars of England and Scotland who eventually became known as the grey friars. As this was the colour of undyed wool, it was associated with humility.

During the 17th century however, the use of grey became increasingly common in portraits such as those by the artist Rembrandt, due to how useful it was as a background for gold pigments and skin tones. An oil painting technique called grisaille, derived from the French word gris meaning grey, involved composing a painting in duller shades, and then adding thin glazes on top. This would make the shading beneath visible through the layers of coloured paint and allowed for greater detail as well as an emphasis on the brighter overlaid tones.

By the mid-19th century, grey had burst through into the world of commercial fashion as well, with light grey business suits becoming popular among men in the summer and dark grey suits becoming more of a norm in winter months. This would have been due, in no small part, to perceptions of grey as a colour which was disciplined and sensible, and this is clearly still the case today.

Ultimate Grey and Illuminating may be Pantone’s favourites for 2021, but our attractive range of bar stools and dining chairs includes many different kinds of grey and yellow, with many different styles and materials on offer. Why not take a look through our extensive selection and start planning a fresh new look for your home?