Ready for a Room Makeover? These Are 2022’s Hottest Colors (So Far)

Each year, everyone from paint companies to individual color experts unveil their top choices for the colors of the upcoming year. Often an amalgamation of trends from fashion, pop culture, design, and technology, the colors usually represent shades that define the collective mood in some essential way.

In 2021, the top shades gravitated toward a more soothing palette: Pantone, whose color of the year is always highly anticipated, chose Ultimate Gray and Illuminating Yellow for their annual signature shades, while Benjamin Moore chose an even more soothing Aegean Teal, and Behr a warm and soothing Canyon Dusk. These colors were perhaps meant to calm and evoke tranquility in response to the previous year’s COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent societal upheaval and trauma it caused – a way to say, “relax, take a deep breath, you’re at home, and home is soothing.”

2022, however, is a bit of a mixed bag – at least when it comes to the collective imagination. Hope, though present, is still mixed with some uncertainty, and even caution. So how does this reflect on the incoming colors of the year? While Pantone has yet to announce its choice, many other brands have already put their picks forward in an effort to get a jump on inspiring us for the coming year.

For those thinking about a room makeover or two, there’s plenty here to get those creative juices flowing. Below are some of the top 2022 shades that we know so far, and some fun ways to make them work in your home:

Benjamin Moore: October Mist

For 2022, Benjamin Moore has opted for a more natural look. October Mist 1495 is pale green and slightly silvery, reminiscent of a delicate flower stem in springtime. Part of a larger color palette for the upcoming year, the shade is a step above neutral, yet remains soft and nature-inspired. The complete palette ranges in shades from off-whites to darker, deeper shades like Gloucester Sage HC-100, but all are meant to be complementary. For example, combining October Mist with a deeper blue-green shade like Quiet Moments 1563 is a great way to add complexity to more monochromatic looks.

Sherwin-Williams: Evergreen Fog

Noticing a bit of a trend here? Soft, soothing, and subtle without being noticeably neutral, Sherwin-Williams’ pick of Evergreen Fog SW 9130 is a natural gray-green tone that the company describes as a “sophisticated wash of color for spaces that crave a subtle yet stunning statement shade.” Evergreen is a great base, as it pairs well with more earthy neutrals like beiges and browns. Add a bit of interest with some textured fabrics and a touch of gold here and there to create a warm, homey space that’s distinctive, elegant, and anything but bland.

Dunn-Edwards: Art and Craft

Interior design trends tend to be skewing in a back-to-nature direction, and Dunn-Edwards is the latest to evoke those feelings of natural harmony with their 2022 color of the year, Art and Craft DET682. Warm, calm, and cozy, Art and Craft is an earthy brown with overtones of chocolate that brim with complexity. Described by Dunn-Edwards as “truly a down-to-earth color that signifies stability, comfort, and calm, a color that expresses what we all seek right now,” the choice is clearly meant to continue last year’s trend of soothing tranquility. However, what makes Art and Craft stand out is its inviting, welcoming feel that’s meant to be enjoyed by guests, not just yourself. Pair it with lighter neutrals to bring this warm brown to life, or complement it with other natural tones (like Evergreen Fog!) to mimic the popular cottagecore aesthetic.

Glidden: Guacamole

Fact: Avocados inspire happiness. Whether they’re smeared on toast or whipped into the namesake of Glidden’s 2022 color of the year, their relaxing, bright color has nothing but positive connotations. Guacamole PPG1121-5 varies subtly from the previous parade of neutral naturals through its combination of refreshing and soothing vibes. However, the brand does note that their choice was based on homeowner searches for green paint colors that have more than doubled since 2020, “[showing] our need for calm, regrowth, and rejuvenation after living through these ‘unprecedented times.’” Guacamole, though, is meant to be both calming and trendy, a true crowd pleaser (much like avocados themselves). Pair this one with classic white for a more sophisticated look, or add hints of warm browns and neutral beiges to enhance that nature-lover’s vibe. And don’t forget the plants!

Behr: Breezeway

If Breezeway has you thinking of that beach house by the ocean and walking on the shore collecting pebbles and shells, then Behr has definitely nailed what they were going for. A shade of green that’s a bit brighter than the others on this list, their Breezeway MQ3-21 is soft, yet shimmery; a light blue-green meant to mimic the color of sea glass collected on a faraway shore. Tranquil and soothing, the color is also meant to “[welcome] a hopeful sense of renewal, restoration, and healing,” according to the company. Though muted, the color also has a refreshing crispness that comes as a breath of fresh air. Pair it with stark white or deep black accents for contrast, or add in some neutral, warm wood tones to create those ever-popular relaxing nature vibes. Either way, you’ll definitely feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

So far, the colors of the year for 2022 seem to have a common (and recurring) theme of tranquility, relaxation, and soothing vibes. However, there’s also a touch of hope, a hint of brightness, and a sense of rejuvenation and healing that seems to fit the current mood perfectly. We still crave calmness, yet we strive toward renewal and a fresh start. And, as always, the colors of the year seem to reflect these moods perfectly with their warm yet crisp palettes. So get inspired, grab a paintbrush, and embrace the mood with a home makeover that’s sure to create amazing vibes all throughout the upcoming year.