Setting the tone for interior architecture

It’s official – the colours of the year for 2021 are Ultimate Grey and Illuminating Yellow.

So say the experts at the Pantone Colour Institute, who’ve been investigating colour trends in fashion, home furnishing, graphics – and architecture – for more than 20 years.

Their selection for this year is described as ‘a marriage of colour conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting’.

Not just plain old grey and yellow then.

“Colour is one of the most fundamental and influential aspects of interior design,” said Box architectural assistant Ellie Corcoran, “and colour psychology is a powerful interior design tool that arguably has more of an impact on the mood of a room than any other factor.”

For evidence, says Ellie, one need look no further than one of Box’s most notable projects of the last 12 months, the Elsworthy Collection in Camden’s Primrose Hill. While the exterior of the building had to comply with Camden’s strict planning requirements for what is a sensitive conservation area, the inside of the high-end residential development makes a positive statement.

Added Ellie: “It’s an excellent example of how ‘pops’ of colour can be used effectively alongside a neutral and minimalist colour palette to introduce creative vibrancy within our living environments and fortify ourselves with positivity.”