PPG Releases 2021 Color Palette

Pittsburgh, PA, September 8, 2020- The PPG 2021 Palette of the Year “Be Well” was unveiled, consisting of hues Transcend, Big Cypress and Misty Aqua. 

“With the world sheltering in place for the better half of the year, we have begun to crave human connection and embrace simple activities, including walking, hiking, baking and gardening,” said Dee Schlotter, PPG senior color marketing manager, architectural and industrial coatings. “This organic and hopeful palette represents what we have been longing for after decades of overstimulation and overconsumption – simplicity and restfulness.”

Transcend, a mid-tone oatmeal-colored hue that draws on earthy influences and nostalgia, grounds the palette. The antidote to an era of cool grays, this cozy neutral emulates the feeling of a warm latte on a cool morning or warm sand on a sunny summer day. Big Cypress, a shaded ginger with persimmon undertones, is the equivalent of a big, comforting hug for your home. Misty Aqua, a watercolor cerulean blue, provides an unexpected pairing of freshness against the other warm, earthy tones.

In addition to the Be Well palette, PPG color experts identified two additional color stories that will resonate in 2021:

Be True: Anchoring reality 

This palette celebrates authenticity and connection by imitating an artisan’s touch and renewing traditional know-how by layering vintage-inspired colors and recycled and contemporary touches. The palette is a mixture of organic and heritage influences with warm, earthy tones combined with jewel box hues. Enchanting Eggplant, a rich maroon with chocolate undertones, grounds the palette alongside Gargoyle, a glass-bottle green, and Transcend.

Be Wild: Activating optimism 

A mood-boosting combination of colors, these hues are a celebratory expression of individuality and reclaiming power. Included in the playful, expressive and creative palette is PPG’s Transcend, which brings an earthy element to French Lilac, an unexpected periwinkle, and Mediterranean Blue, a marine aqua-blue with a deep-water undertone.