As 2021 rolled into 2022, all the paint companies and Pantone began announcing the colors for the coming year. These colors are beginning to show up in fashion and home décor. Notably, many of the announced colors are vibrant hues, a departure from the more muted colors of the past few years. For the first time in 23 years, Pantone created a new hue – a vibrant shade of periwinkle. Like many of the colors projected for 2022, Very Peri symbolizes our transition from the isolation of the COVID-10 pandemic.
In a statement, Leatrice Eiseman, executive director for the Pantone Color Institute, said, "Very Peri displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression."
Greens Over Greys
WGSN (Worth Global Style Network) announced Orchid Flower – a bright magenta pink – as their color, embodying positivity and joy. Beautiful, dusty greens have replaced greys in the home, with Benjamin Moore’s October Mist, Better Homes & Gardens’ Laurel Leaf and Evergreen Fog by Sherwin Williams. Behr introduced Breezeway, PPG has Olive Sprig, and Glidden chose Guacamole. These colors are all beautiful complements to the vibrant jewel tones like Emerald and Teal, that are also trending. Greens are natural, familiar and evoke feelings of renewal and rejuvenation. Many people describe them as spa-like and relaxing.
From Grey to Cream
While these color trends will be in our closets and housewares soon, there is another color story that is shifting the way our homes will look after years of grey. Beautiful, subtle creamy whites are replacing greys for home interiors. These cream colors are more sophisticated and complex than whites of the past, with gradations that relate well to the most popular finishes for counters and floors.
These whites are a continuum and include everything from true whites to those with blue, pink, and even yellow and green undertones. Color expert, Maria Killam, offers this chart of
Complex Cream paint colors, along with her perennial favorite whites. She has chosen Navajo White from Benjamin Moore, a perennial favorite, and Casa Blanca from Sherwin Williams – both with orange/beige undertones are one of her top three colors of the year.
Everything is Warmer
These warmer whites are part of a larger trend. As she has observed, in general, everything is warming up. Grey floors are on their way out, so everyone with honey oak floors should be excited! Warm woods took the backseat to dark espresso colors for furniture and floors for many years. Then grey took over and the trend was pushed by Restoration Hardware with the deconstructed, distressed washed wood look.
This doesn’t mean your grey pieces are obsolete. These beautiful complex cream colors are ideal for transitioning away from the coolness of grey and making those pieces stand out. These creams are also beautiful compliments to white woodwork and millwork.