Try an Easy Spring Refresh With 2022 Colors of the Year

The Pantone Color Institute also deviated from the green palette and chose Veri Peri, a shade of periwinkle, as its 2022 Color of the Year. It’s the first time the international color forecaster has created a brand-new color. (In previous years, Pantone has selected a Color of the Year from its existing Pantone Color System).

“We’ve been drawn to natural colors lately, which you can see from the other Color of the Year recommendations [that are] in the green, teal and blue families,”  says color expert Amy Wax, past president of the National Association of Color Consultants. “Veri Peri, a periwinkle blue, takes that direction and adds life by giving you an option that is fresh and uplifting.”

Wax notes that even the outliers are nature-inspired, organic colors that create a sense of warmth and comfort in a space.

Adding hues in creative ways

Courtesy Behr; Courtesy PPG. Bottom row: Courtesy Glidden, Courtesy Benjamin Moore

Bringing in new and unexpected colors to your living space can mean painting a wall or incorporating a pop with pillows, drapes or accessories. The lively Veri Peri works “brilliantly” with neutral colors from gray to greige and tan to white, Wax says. She suggests using periwinkle “alongside quieter colors to give it the chance to stand out.”

When it comes to incorporating the green hues chosen as colors of the year into your home, Wax suggests viewing the soothing shades as neutrals and pairing them with colors across the spectrum from cream and light gray to orange and plum.

Shades like Olive Sprig, Evergreen Fog and October Mist work well almost anywhere in the house. These greens can create a sense of warmth in the living room and make the space feel soothing and relaxed for entertaining; Wax also likes the “fresh and clean” feel of green hues for the kitchen and the calming vibe of the Colors of the Year for a home office.

“What’s exciting about this line of colors is that greens are versatile,” Wax says. “These are colors that are easy on the eyes and can work well in spaces where you spend a lot of time.”

Research shows that shades of green are linked with reduced stress, improved sleep and an enhanced sense of calm. Paint an entire room with this year’s color, add an accent wall or just incorporate a few accent pieces like a chair or throw pillows in 2022 colors. Feeling bold? Wadden suggests using the Color of the Year on trim paired with white walls.

“How you choose to use this year’s colors of the year in your own home will be determined by how much you love the colors,” says Siefkin. “There’s no right or wrong way to use color in interior design; it’s all about creating an atmosphere that makes you feel at home.”