Pantone’s Illuminating Yellow, A Colour That Mirrors The Awakening of Spring

With the arrival of Spring, a season that signifies the transition from dark to light, new fresh growth, and the emergence of colour on the darker winter landscape.

There has been no better time to focus on the Pantone colours for 2021 than now, as they themselves represent the awakening and colour of spring.  Ultimate Gray and Illuminating, the Pantones for 2021 were  chosen for their warmth and dependability with the Pantone Institute themselves describing Illuminating as “a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power.” Ultimate Gray, like pebbles, is emblematic of “solid and dependable elements which are everlasting and provide a firm foundation.”

Personally, I am especially drawn to this special illuminating yellow thanks to it’s bright and inspirational nature, a breath of fresh air!  It reminds me of the new spring days and the sun shining, a new beginning, a new day.  A fresh start.

Yellow is a colour that represents positivity, confidence, warmth and honesty. It is creative and welcoming, it is a fresh, vibrant colour that provides spiritual and energetic vibrations that offer wellness increasing your metabolism. Yellow will grab your attention in many wonderful ways.

As Vincent Van Gogh himself said “How wonderful yellow is. It stands for the sun.”

I love the use of yellow in reception areas, canteens and break out spaces, meeting rooms because of the impact it has on our mindset. It is welcoming, warm and inspiring.

If you are less inclined to introduce yellow in a grand gesture, it is a beautiful accent colour to introduce through armchairs, cushions, lights, accessories and throws. Or if like me, you would prefer to take it one step further, Yellow makes an exciting colour block to add to walls and carpets when trying to create some room zoning or emphasis on a certain area.

Yellow as a colour offers much flexibility as it is well-matched with Green and Orange for complementary colour themes and can also be paired with Blue and Purple for contrast.

When paired with the Ultimate Gray neutral, both colours offer a fresh, sleek and refined mood for a room.  I love the formality of this Gray – it is also on-trend with a cool tone to it which is why these two pantones balance each other well.

I was very much inspired by this quote from the Pantone Website;

“A message of happiness supported by fortitude, the combination of PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating is aspirational and gives us hope. We need to feel that everything is going to get brighter – this is essential to the human spirit. ”

I look forward to everything that yellow represents, illuminating 2021!

Connect with the Author, Lynne Casserley



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