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Many of the things we have come to expect have changed in 2020, but thanks to Pantone, we don’t have to guess at the color of the year for 2021. They choose the color every year by the end of the previous year, and for 2021, it is a split choice between Illuminating (a yellow shade) and Ultimate Gray.

CNN reported on the news, saying that our attitude about 2021, considering what we went through in 2020, helped to fuel the decision. Ultimate Gray is a somber, safe, and perhaps bleak choice, but Illuminating, with its yellow hue, offers sunshine and optimism just ahead.

It really doesn’t matter what you consider when you think about 2021, the combination of these colors from Pantone is sure to match your mood.

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According to the announcement post, “The union of Ultimate Gray + Illuminating is one of strength and positivity.” They are calling the combination both warming and optimistic, so it offers us resilience and hope.

Pantone has suggested a neutral shade as one of the colors this year, which is the first time that has happened. It isn’t the first time that two colors were selected, because that happened in 2015 when they selected Rose Quartz pink and Serenity blue for 2016.