Here we are, winding down the final days of 2021; it’s hard to believe we’re about to begin a whole new year! I think it’s fair to say that quite a bit has changed worldwide, and amidst the challenges, it’s time to step back and look at what we have to be thankful for!
I believe we are looking at our lives with fresh eyes. The ongoing global pandemic has forced people to confront many things about their habits and reconsider what is most important to them. As challenging as the past few years have been, there have been beautiful moments for us to be thankful for.
I’m thankful for all the effort that the scientists and healthcare workers have put in so we can continue to enjoy some form of normalcy. I’m thankful for the continued art, design, cultural innovations that we witness daily from people worldwide. Of course, as a color consultant, I’m thankful for all of my clients, friends, and fellow color-enthusiasts who encourage me, are excited about what I do, and urge me to continue my color work every single day!
With that being said, I’m very excited to share my thoughts and opinions on the dominant 2022 color trends. I write an article almost every year about the coming year’s color trends, and I’m always excited to share my takes with you!
2022 Color Trends – Any Holdovers from 2021?
As I like doing this color trend on an annual basis, I wanted to take a look back at some of the predictions I had made at the beginning of last winter for 2021 color trends. One of the big takeaways from my predictions is that optimistic and hopeful color hues would be very popular, and I think that same trend will continue into 2022.
Optimistic blues, teals, greens, and yellows saw some very positive attention from my clients in 2021, and I’m sure their popularity extended beyond my work. Rich yellows and vintage golds are all about warmth, and these colors are appealing even when they lean towards more neutral wheat tones and beiges. If people have been looking for coziness and familiarity from their interior spaces, they have been drawn to the warmer colors this year. I believe that will continue as we are grasping for a sense of comfort and security in our homes as we change over to a new year.
Blue is always popular, but blue’s deeper/darker hues have been increasingly popular over the last couple of years. I would have expected lighter, airier colors to be the preferred way to go, but the opposite was true as homeowners were looking for depth while making a confident statement in both the interiors and exteriors of their homes.
As people spend more time at home, I believe people are looking at their homes with a fresh approach and are not afraid to try something a little different, a little outside the box! Delicate blues and teals provide the soothing ambiance we are often looking for, while deep blues give us the sense of a little drama, and what better choice than using a classic color choice that will stand the test of time!
Starting Fresh with a New Direction
Looking ahead towards the colors of 2022, I see us moving towards a fresh start in the design world of 2022. I see people asking for colors that are clean and pure, colors that are simple and wholesome. I anticipate us gearing towards colors that will complement the neutral, softer colors and are as carefree as they come.
What am I talking about? Creamy whites and subtle, neutral colors; the colors of everything from freshly cleaned linen to sandy off whites. Pale neutrals that are not cold and stark but warm and earthy. I see designs filled with textured fabrics in delicate neutrals, both soothing and calming. Fresh, easygoing, and pure are the words I would use to describe this new direction. Are you as inspired as I am? I can’t wait to start working with this delicate color palette!
Start 2022 Off Right With Some Eye-Catching Exterior Paint Colors!
2022 Color Trends – What Will Surprise Us?
On the surface, people could argue that 2022 could result in similar popular color choices as 2021; but I would beg to differ. Although I think we will see a continued push for optimistic colors, I think we’ll see a push for some contrast with rich colors alongside neutrals and earth tones; that’s a blog post I am excited to share with you shortly.
Another Trend: New Greens for 2022
If you recall, back in the late summer of 2021, I wrote an article about the “New Greens” and how green had once again found its way into the hearts and minds of interior designers and color enthusiasts. Well, it just so happens many paint companies feel the same way; I can’t ever recall a year where one color family nearly unanimously dominated the entire selection chart!
Seven of the major paint companies have also predicted that green would see huge favor in 2022 – the list of “Color of the Year” choices includes:
- Benjamin Moore – October Mist – a gray-green
- Sherwin Williams – Evergreen Fog – a more muted gray-green
- Behr – Breezeway – airy pale gray-green
- Dutch Boy – Cypress Garden – rich pine green
- Valspar – Blanched Thyme – olive green
- Glidden – Guacamole – fresh green
- PPG – Olive Sprig – softer olive green
As green is refreshing, relaxing, and extremely versatile, it’s no surprise to me that it’s trending as one of the most popular colors of the era. We all enjoy surrounding ourselves with colors of nature, reminding us that we are still connected to the earth. We can easily embrace the warmth of nature around us by incorporating earth tones into our design schemes. Check out my blog post on New Greens, and you will see why there is a love affair going on with the green color family right now!
There’s Still Time to Discover New Holiday Color Palettes!
The Many Pleasures of Purples
Another direction I see coming in 2022 is a resurgence for many shades of mother nature’s more playful colors such as purple. From softer whisper colors to the lighter/crisper hues like periwinkle, there is a range of colors to choose from in the purple family. A periwinkle variation was recently selected as Pantone’s 2022 color of the year; Pantone 17-3938 Veri Peri is an exciting color that does a beautiful job of combining the calm-steadiness of blue the excitement of red. There’s a need for refined energy in 2022, and periwinkle is a perfect color to represent that need for collected and positive energy!
2022 Color Trends – We All Need To Feel Like Progress Will Be Made
If there’s a theme I think will dominate the color space in 2022, it’s progress; color selections show energy and reemergence from seclusion. If 2021 was about comfort and optimism, 2022 would take that a step further with an injection of energy that is focused and ready to take on the days and challenges to come! I believe many of us see our homes with fresh eyes, and many of us will be willing to try something new. Perhaps one of the colors I listed above will be the inspiration you are looking for!
So, what do you think will be popular colors in 2022? I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions!
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Hi Amy ~ I really enjoyed reading through this post about what you think, since color is what you do everyday.
What I think is that people are ready to move forward, now, despite all the challenges new variants of the pandemic pose, and will be looking, more than ever, for paint refreshes to give them hope and optimism for the future.
In that vein, I agree with you and think the warm neutrals and greens you’ve mentioned will top the list – but I also see some of the brighter citrus colors coming on strong…like melons and oranges. These compliment the lavender of Very Peri so well, too.
Yes I think you are spot on Leslie, I am hoping to see more optimistic colors as the calendar moves forward, and the brighter colors will show us that life is getting better!
Hi Amy – I totally agree (and hope!) that more optimistic colors will continue to trend this year. I love that greens are coming on strong – though don’t love most of the COTY greens selected. But I do like the direction!
Thank you Linda, yes I love the direction we are going in and look forward to seeing how the year will unfold in so many ways!!
A great synopsis, Amy, and I totally agree…warmer neutrals, deeper classics (I would include warm black as a big player here too) for drama, and of course the continuing popularity of green everywhere. I do think the warmer corals and yellows are making a comeback as complements to the greens and neutrals and with the announcement of Very Peri, that periwinkle trend will also take off and is a wonderful color for all the reasons you mentioned!
Thanks Janet, I love your thoughts on the popular colors, and agree that the warmer colors are coming back! They will certainly boost our spirits as we move through the new year!