Every year, color trends experts, paint manufacturers, and design enthusiasts identify particular shades or palettes that will influence home design in the year to come. The various color companies typically select a range of different hues, with maybe one or two in the same color family, but for 2022, one color is pushing to the forefront for many: green.
“Green has become such a popular color because people are wanting to add life to their spaces and bring nature inside,” says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. “We went from seeing bolder, jewel-toned colors trending the past couple of years to seeing warmer, nature-inspired hues trending in 2021 and into 2022.”
As a result, Sherwin-Williams named Evergreen Fog, a nourishing and sophisticated gray-green, as its color of the year for 2022. “Evergreen Fog itself is not overly verdant, it’s a little softer and delicate,” continues Wadden. “If you think about a seedling emerging, it doesn’t come out intense, it’s subtle. Evergreen Fog helps us to begin again and feel optimistic about the year ahead.”
Ashley McCollum, associate color marketing manager at PPG, says during PPG’s Global Color Forecasting Workshop resilience and the need for connection and inspiration from nature were also recurring themes.
“It was clear to our color experts early on that green would be popular in 2022, given that it symbolizes growth and rejuvenation, something that we’ve all been craving after the last two years,” states McCollum.
With all of this in mind, PPG chose Olive Sprig, a relaxed yet enticing green that represents regrowth, as its 2022 color of the year. Additionally, Glidden paint chose Guacamole, a spirited green that is the perfect mix of soothing and energizing, as its 2022 hue.
Beyond its symbolism, consumer research also says green works well in a variety of spaces around the home. According to a survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Glidden, more than three in five (62%) Americans would be willing to use green paint somewhere in their home.
“It can serve as a sophisticated backdrop for a home office and is a soothing hue for spaces where you want to relax, like a bedroom,” states Wadden. “It can also be applied to wooden furniture for a subtle pop and is a fresh take on cabinet storage in a mudroom.”
At Behr Paint Co., Erika Woelfel, vice president of color and creative services, agrees. “Adding cool greens to a family room or casual dining area can encourage you to unwind and get comfortable,” she says. “Bedrooms, office spaces, and private nooks that need a little more zen or calmness can also benefit from a coat of green.”
Color experts also love green for its versatility. The color pairs well with neutral shades and lends itself to just about any style, from organic modernism to rustic and farmhouse, and everything in between, says Wadden.
Cool greens like Breezeway, Behr’s color of the year selection, can be used alongside other cool or warm natural colors including taupes, browns, blues, and neutrals. Warmer greens with more yellow in their composition will complement cooler neutrals like blue-gray or charcoal, and deep greens can be utilized as dramatic accents for walls and are a popular choice for cabinetry.
In addition to paint companies, BlueStar, an appliance manufacturer, jumped on the green color trend. The company teamed up with interior designer and HGTV star Alison Victoria to select Green with Envy, a dark forest green, as its 2022 color of the year.
Other industry sources, such as Zillow and the National Kitchen & Bath Association, and home builders, including Ashton Woods, have all acknowledged the green trend in their 2022 design predictions as well.
“Whether for its calming qualities or its health benefits, green is a staple for well-being, and people continue to see it as a way to bring the outside in,” concludes McCollum. “This feeling and yearning is here to stay even as we return to a “new normal.””
