7 Interior Design Color Trends 2022

The colors of 2022 take inspiration from nature, bringing a calm, serene and centered presence into your home. So far this year, experts have seen a shift to prioritizing health and wellness in the house and it’s a trend that most expect to see growing in 2022. From dusty blues and delicate greens to grounded earth tones, design and home color trends are all brimming with optimism and serenity. These trendy, yet timeless, colors will look modern for years to come.

1. Nature-Inspired Greens

Colors that set the tone for 2022 will reflect our homes’ craving for comfort and nature. Greens will add a spin to timeless classics and work as a new neutral anchor for most indoor spaces. Interior stylist Sarah Nelson is also predicting green will be the color of the year. “I think sage green is an obvious choice! It’s so versatile. You can choose a subtle hue or a more vibrant one depending on the room,” Nelson told Forbes Home. Expect to see cool, organic greens that work beautifully with wood and other natural elements that will be trending as well in 2022. Natural greens help us refocus and prioritize our mental well-being, something most people will continue to do next year. These shades promote a space that feels grounding and connects the inside with the outer world. Top green colors to watch for:

• Benjamin Moore: Fernwood Green, October Mist and High Park
• Sherwin Williams: Evergreen Fog, Rosemary, Cucuzza Verde and Basque Greens
• PPG: Olive Sprig
• Glidden’s: Guacamole
• Valspar: Blanched Thyme

2. Warm Linens and Whites

Ultra-clean neutral colors that organize and connect spaces throughout the house will prevail. This color trend aligns perfectly with interior design trends focusing on extreme minimalism aesthetics. There’s new importance for multi-use and open-plan spaces that pair well with simple colors. “In 2022, we are ridding ourselves of the grays and blue and swapping it for the creamy-white and beiges blended with jewel tones,” predicts Laetitia Laurent of Laure Nell Interiors. Expect whites in entries and hallways to connect spaces throughout the home. Popular neutrals and whites for 2022:

• Benjamin Moore: Steam, Natural Linen and Morning Dew
• Sherwin Williams: Accessible Beige, Shoji White, Beige, High Reflective White and Alabaster
• Valspar: Gilded Linen and Subtle Peach

3. Bright Yellows

With retro 1970s styles coming back, we’ll see cheerful pops of color in yellows and pastels to create a modern and playful look. Colors that keep the mood bright and joyful make their way into the spotlight. As we spend more time at home, it’s all about designing spaces that embody happiness. Yellows play well with textured accessories, luxurious textiles and other interior design trends we expect to see rising in 2022. The most popular yellow tones for next year:

• Benjamin Moore: Pale Moon
• Sherwin Williams: Chartreuse and Peace Yellow
• Valspar: Country Charm and Delightful Moon

4. Reimagined Blues

While we’ll see soft blues and iridescent blues, daring hues will be used as accents throughout the home, with Pantone’s 2022 Color Of The Year being Very Peri, an intense version of the classic periwinkle blue. Next year, blues are reimagined to display carefree confidence to encourage inventiveness and creativity. After everything we’ve been through, in 2022, blues are meant to help us embrace this ever-changing reality and open us to a new land of opportunity. This is why interior designers call for more daring interiors that move away from the norm or expected. Popular blue colors trending in 2022:

• Benjamin Moore: Quiet Moments
• Sherwin Williams: Aleutian and Moody Blue
• Pantone: Very Peri
• Behr’s: Breezeway
• Graham & Brown: Breathe

5. Muted Grays

Elegant and balanced, grays are the warmer alternative to classic whites and neutrals. Perfect to work with natural elements and accents to create a comfortable look. Gray with green and red undertones shift the mood making spaces feel more dependable and comfortable—a common reason we see in interior design trends for 2022. Muter grays can be balanced with other neutrals and natural materials to create a coordinated look that feels modern yet timeless. Top gray tones to try in 2022:

• Sherwin Williams: Samovar and Felted Wool
• Valspar: Grey Suit

6. Dark Earth Tones

“Earth tones will be on the rise in 2022 borne from a desire to bring the outside in. From color palettes, we will see the incorporation of natural and warmer colors such as sage green and wood tones,” explains Claire O’Connel of The Flipping School. Dark yet approachable shades will add a level of sophistication to otherwise basic spaces. Dark hues give us stability, something many are craving after two years of uncertainty. Earthy tones help us feel comforted no matter what’s happening in the outside world. With the rise of nature-inspired decor and natural elements, earth tones will continue to be trending. Trending earth tones to consider:

• Benjamin Moore: Gloucester Sage and Mysterious
• Sherwin Williams: Urbane Bronze and Iron One
• Valspar: Rustic Oak and Fired Earth

7. Modern Primary Colors

Rich, darker shades that bring a sense of stability will be expected in bedrooms and living rooms. As our “new normal” keeps shifting, jewel tones add a familiar touch of luxe that feels comforting and consistent. Combined with soft wood tones and contrasting pastels, these tones can create a soothing and welcoming vibe that works perfectly for intimate areas like the bedroom. Top jewel tones to try in 2022:

• Benjamin Moore: Wild Flower
• Sherwin Williams: Bakelite Gold, Red Bay, Blackberry, Naval and Sierra Redwood
• Valspar: Mountain River

forbes.com