Pantone has revealed that two colors have made the cut for 2021’s Color of the Year: Ultimate Gray and a yellow called Illuminating.

The color standards and forecasting company revealed to Vogue today the two colors expected to take the spotlight next year.

The global fashion publication reported that the shades—specifically Pantone 17-5104 and Pantone 13-0647—would take center stage, with the colors representing continuity and positivity, two things many will be hoping to find after the many challenges of 2020.

Speaking to the magazine, Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, said gray invoked “strength and resilience” and connotations of the natural world, including rocks and pebbles. Yellow, meanwhile, evoked hope, sunshine and positivity.

Pantone has been predicting a Color of the Year since 2000, to much fanfare; for 2020, it selected the “timeless and enduring” Classic Blue. The brand described the tone as being like a tonic to the busy distractions of modern life, and to the environment of sociopolitical uncertainty that many find themselves living in.

Pantone said at the time: “As technology continues to race ahead of the human ability to process it all, it is easy to understand why we gravitate to colors that are honest and offer the promise of protection. Non-aggressive and easily relatable, the trusted Classic Blue lends itself to relaxed interaction. Associated with the return of another day, this universal favorite is comfortably embraced.”

The company named Living Coral as its Color of the Year for 2019: a pink-tinted, bright hue, which it described as “an animated, life-affirming shade of orange, with golden undertones.”

Placing your home on the market requires more than simply ensuring your home is in the right condition to be sold. In order to generate buzz and increase the number of offers you receive, staging your home properly is essential.

Knowing how to effectively and efficiently declutter your home is a way to stage your home in a way that is inviting and motivating once you are ready to host your open house.

Declutter One Room at a Time

When you think of decluttering your entire home, you may feel overwhelmed and unmotivated to even get started. If you are unsure of where to begin when it comes to decluttering, start with one room at a time. Dedicate at least one hour of each day to decluttering one room in your home to prevent feeling too pressured, stressed out, or completely overwhelmed with the prospect of decluttering your entire house at once.

Categorize Your Clutter

Categorize the clutter you find while cleaning each room. Create separate piles for clutter: keep, donate, and trash. You can also organize your clutter into subcategories for even more detailed organization once you place the belongings into storage containers or boxes. Categorizing your clutter can help with expediting the process of storing, donating, or giving away the items you do not want to keep in your home while you are staging it.

Use Storage Boxes

Use storage boxes to keep track of the clutter in your home you intend to keep or even the items you plan to give away. Storage boxes are designed to withstand more weight and heavy items, allowing you to pack away your personal belongings and clutter with peace of mind. Use storage boxes to also keep track of your belongings by adding labels to the exterior of each box before moving them to your storage space or your new home.

Let Go of Unnecessary Belongings and Clutter

While it is not always easy, it is often necessary to let go of unnecessary clutter and belongings, especially if you are downsizing or moving across the country or internationally. Letting go of unnecessary items is a way for you to move with less hassle while also lightening the load once you arrive at your new home and begin to pack. Donate or throw away belongings and clutter that no longer serve a need or a purpose to you in your everyday life.

Thoroughly Clean Your Home

Once you have removed the majority of the clutter from your home, spend time conducting a deep clean. Thoroughly cleaning your home is imperative before hosting an open house or while staging your home for an upcoming tour and walk-through.

Not only is it important to vacuum, sweep, dust, mop, and complete traditional housework, but it is highly advisable to also conduct a deep-cleaning with additional tools. Steam clean your carpets, wax wooden floors, and be sure to clean all vents and baseboards throughout your home while you are in the process of staging it for a viewing.

The Importance of Functionality

Consider how functional your home’s layout and furniture design is before hosting an open house or a viewing. Functionality matters, which is why redecorating the layout of your home may help with leaving a positive impression on prospective buyers who are interested in it. Consider how guests will move through your home, the paths they will take, and how you can make your home’s layout appear extremely convenient to those who view it.

Make Your Home as Inviting as Possible

Create a welcoming environment in your home that is inviting and warm, especially if you are determined to pique the interest of those who are in a buyer’s market. Select a warm and inviting color scheme for each room in your home based on the season you choose to show your house in. Implement decorative pillows, scented wax or candles, and throw blankets wherever appropriate to bring each space together while also showcasing the possibilities of your home to prospective buyers.

Taking the time to properly declutter your home for an upcoming open house is highly recommended, regardless of the current state of the homeowner’s market. When you take the time you prepare your home for a staging, you not only show prospective buyers that you care, but you are also providing them with an opportunity to envision unlimited possibilities of their own in the space. With the right look and feel, quickly begin receiving offers and inquiries on any home you place on the market.

1. Layers of Textures

A wide range of textures dominated the Atlanta market, which is wonderful news for home design. Layers of natural and nature-inspired textures make a space decorated in a neutral scheme come alive. There were boxes made of oyster shells and bone inlay, dressers and nightstands wrapped in raffias and linens, hair-on-hide upholstered stools, faux-shagreen trays and faux-horn casework. “Faux shagreen, faux horn and lots of shell textures are very popular with our customers right now,” says Rachel Baughman of Made Goods, a California company that specializes in showstopping statement pieces like the one seen here, the Dallon buffet table in faux shagreen.

2. Velvet Upholstery and Accents

Another tempting texture seen everywhere at the market was that of a textile: luxurious velvet. Deep jewel tones like emerald green and sapphire blue were favorites, with ruby pink and topaz yellow also making an appearance. Velvet throw pillows were a favorite too. “Raised velvet patterns, also known as high-low velvet, are one of our most popular fabrics right now,” says Timothy Stroud of Signature Pillows.

3. Strong Curves

In addition to the velvet upholstery in jewel tones on furniture, curves continued to wind their way through the market this year, just as we saw at the 2018 Las Vegas Winter Market. Whether seen in the curves of an elegant piece like the Dior sofa from Taylor Burke Home, seen here, the curved slopes of an armchair’s arms or the wingback shape of a bed’s headboard, strict straight lines gave way to something softer.

4. Handcrafted Items and Artful Pieces

“Everyone wants a story behind a product, so we are definitely seeing a trend toward handcrafted items,” says Lawsen Ricketts, cofounder of Ngala Trading Co., a company specializing in furniture and decor designed in Africa and made of sustainably sourced indigenous African materials. The company’s hand-stripped leather chandeliers — like its Whisper Chandelier, seen here — are handcrafted by South African women.

5. Relaxed European Simplicity 

“We offer our blankets in a range of colors, but the majority of our customers are getting back to basics,” says Mary Maxwell of Brahms Mount, a textile company that uses only natural fibers in its products. “People are drawn to classic whites that lend a relaxed European-bed feel. Not a lot of fussy throw pillows; just simple, neutral linens.” 

And for those seeking the stories behind products, Brahms Mount’s is interesting.Its blankets and other textiles are woven from American fibers, including North Carolina cotton, on antique shuttle looms in Monmouth, Maine, continuing the centuries-old textile manufacturing traditions of the region.