As every December, Pantone announces the colors, selected by a special committee, that will accompany us throughout the year. The colors they present then appear in a variety of spaces, including penetrating into fashionable interior design.
Will the current season be similar? What colors will appear in the most fashionable residential designs of the coming months?
In previous seasons, the jury’s verdict was unequivocal and pointed to one particular color. For example, in 2020 we were accompanied by a classic shade of dark blue.
In 2021, the situation became a bit more complicated. This is because the committee decided that the colors of the year would be simultaneously two, strongly contrasting colors – a subdued gray and an intense, sunny shade of yellow.
Such a combination combines what is classic with optimistic color, adding some light and energy to any, even the most classic interior.
The color combination proposed by Pantone promotes the use of raw materials and the simplicity of extremely ascetic solutions.
In such arrangements, metals and glass are most often used, which appear against the background of smooth, gray walls or elements of structural concrete, not covered with a layer of paint.
Sometimes this type of juxtaposition is complemented with colorless glass or furniture, made of natural wood, with visible grain, which allows to significantly warm up any arrangement.
An interesting accessory, of course, become fabrics and ceramic elements – used as functional objects and striking decoration.

This type of color combination is ideal for minimalist geometric arrangements. They can be used, for example, in Scandinavian-style interiors, which like to use such contrasts of subdued and intense colors.
Equally interesting effects are achieved through such a combination in austere industrial spaces, where color becomes the primary decoration and a way to build a cozy, user-friendly interior.
The combination of gray with shades of yellow can enliven any classic room, giving it a slightly more distinctive and individual look.
And let’s not forget about styles that are a bit more eclectic, such as global nomad or boho. In both cases, contrasting color combinations are readily used as a basis for building interesting arrangements with a strongly personal character.
The choice of such contrasting colors gives a wide range of possibilities for creating original and beautiful interior arrangements. How to use them to get the most interesting results?
Usually, base and neutral colors are the basis for building a space for everyday functioning. Again, the dominant shade remains a subtle gray. Variants of yellow are introduced only in accents and single decorative elements.
What does this look like in practice? Gray is used, for example, on the walls and in the basic parts of the furnishings. On the other hand, juicy and energizing yellow is ideal for details, such as textiles, especially pillows, curtains, rugs or other decorative accessories.
Lighting products remain a separate issue. How to use Pantone colors in their case? In particular, it is worth reaching for lamps in yellow, which are a functional and beautiful decoration of any space. For example, you can bet on simple and extremely impressive wooden lamps with textile lampshades. They are encountered in most geometric and minimalist styles. Another option is geometric metal lamps, often painted entirely in yellow.
Such products in fashionable interiors make sure that balance is maintained, as well as the appropriate distribution of accents in the apartment.
Every year Pantone announces the colors that accompany us for the next 12 months. However, there is no order to use the selected shades. It is, however, an interesting suggestion, a way to play with the arrangement and introduce some changes to the home interiors, especially when the colors are as energizing as this year’s proposal.
It is therefore worth applying them to your own interiors as well – not necessarily to blindly follow fashion, but rather to have fun with trends at home.