10 interior paint color trends to look out for in 2022

Color shapes our everyday lives. From the different hues on our walls, to the many shades of couch, your home's color scheme plays an important part in creating a joy-filled space.

It’s been a rocky couple of years, and it’s fair to say that our multi-everything homes are craving some reset, color-me-happy therapy. Throughout the limbo of uncertain times we have often stuck to what we know. Retreating to comfort blanket neutrals like grey, cozy cream and beige. But now, as we transition into a new year, with hopefully a little more optimism, the interior paint color trends for 2022 are sure to have a positive impact on your space.

Featuring highly of course in the latest home decorating trends and colors for 2022, these looks will recharge, break boundaries and refresh every space, to reflect how we now live and use our homes. Bring on the color.

Interior paint color trends to unleash your home's true personality

As we crave freedom, expansion, and a return to nature, interiors will embark on a bright kaleidoscope color story, balanced with emerging and restorative new neutrals.

‘Interior design in 2022 will be dominated by colour and there is lots of it, bringing vibrancy and energy into our homes. Grey, even though still strong, will no longer dominate as warmer neutrals move in, providing a restful platform for a broader immersion into colour, ultimately helping us connect with nature,’ says Claire O’ Brien, head of design, Splashback.

Interior paint color trends 2022 - what shades will shape how you decorate next year?

1. Grow green

2022 is the year of green supreme with a fresh-forest of verdant shades bringing the rejuvenating virtues of nature inside. As digital lifestyles become ever more demanding, home retreats crave a deeper connection to authenticity, rooted in raw materials, tactile touches, and nurturing, living hues. And if you needed anymore convincing, Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year 2022 has been unveiled as Evergreen Fog – a nourishing and calming grey-green.

Etsyhas chosen Emerald green as the color of the year also. Etsy trend expert, Dayna Isom Johnson, comments: ‘Symbolizing harmony and growth, along with royalty and refinement, emerald green is the perfect color to remind us to find balance this year. We’re already seeing shoppers looking for ways to incorporate this hue, with searches for emerald green items up 64%* and emerald green decor up 60%*. Even better, this rich and grounding shade compliments a variety of other popular colorways – from earthy terracottas and neutrals to luxe golds and silvers – making it easy to add into existing decor.’

2. Mint zen

Create a sanctuary of calm with muted green infusions that help to quiet our minds and bring comfort to decluttered spaces. Naturally joyful and optimistic, soft, organic shades encourage creativity and self-expression with a modern twist. It's always fun having a spring refresh with green living room ideas.

Ashley Banbury, senior color designer,Dutch Boy Paints, says: Color we are bringing into the home is affected greatly by the world around us. Currently, we are designing spaces that create a comfortable and calming sanctuary. Dutch Boy® Paints’ 2022 One-Coat Color of the Year, Cypress Garden, is all about helping DIYers create spaces that are immersed in tones of nature. Cypress Garden can infuse serenity into our daily schedules with a gentle color that complements both warm and cool undertones, in wood and accents, that we have embraced into our homes.’

3. Blue beyonds

Breathing new life into interiors, transformative shades inspired by sea to sky infinities are airy and fresh. Soothing blues promote a sense of tranquility, particularly effective in relaxation spaces like bedrooms and blue bathrooms. With so many diverse shades to choose from, blue can strike many chords. Electric blues add drama to walls, whilst cooler tones can lend an industrial mood.

Speaking of her love for blue, colorist Francesca Wezel,Francesca’s Paintssays: ‘Blue is incredibly present in our lives; the color of the oceans and the sky, it grounds and connects us to our surroundings. It is a dynamic, elegant color that can be used in every room. Incredibly versatile, its uses are endless, and it brings a radiance and happiness to interiors.’

Bright Skieswas named as theDuluxcolor of the year 2022. ‘It will be a game-changer when people use this tone on their ceilings,’ says Marianne Shillingford, creative director, Dulux. ‘It makes the ceiling just melt away. This hue is both uplifting and light, while simultaneously being soothing, familiar, and apt for a joyous safe haven.’

Martin Waller, founder of global design brand Andrew Martin, predicts that blue is the new black for 2022: ‘Blue is the new black. The boldness and warmth found in blue will continue to be prominent in our homes. Darker colours form a much better background for paintings and artworks than white, which art galleries and museums have discovered.’

4. Terracotta rouge

‘The natural world continues to offer unique and eye-catching materials for us to work with. By mixing foraged, pre-loved items, contemporary and bespoke pieces alongside explosions of abstract colour, we can design spaces that have their own distinct sense of identity,’ says Camilla Clarke, creative director at interior design studio Albion Nord.

She explains: ‘In this bedroom, the brown, red paint tone evokes a calm but serious statement. When choosing a bold paint colour for an intimate room such as a bedroom, it’s important to choose a paint that is made from natural materials as they’re much softer and chalkier in tone so the final result won’t appear too harsh. It’s important to consider the lighting in a room when painting it a colour such as red. This colour takes on slightly different tones throughout the day and the seasons. It’s vibrant and fresh in the morning, cosy and rich in the evening.’

5. Maxi dazzle

2022 interiors are getting playful with attention-seeking shades and vivid wallpaper trends that exude energy, sass and personality. Dazzling, jewel tones in highly saturated colors that derive their name from gemstones like sapphire, peridot, emerald and ruby, can be used to zone multifunctional spaces - adding bold contrast and style confidence. Opting with an extrovert jewel tone makes a trendy statement, and color blocking walls could be a good choice if you don’t want to commit to painting an entire room with a jewel tone.

6. Digital dreamscapes

As we dive ever further into an escapist mindset, interiors explore a surreal world where dreams meet reality via unconventional forms in a contemporary mural of tonal colors for the living room. Harmonize evocative, dreamlike pinks with bright citrus pops and deep amethyst hues to create an artful aesthetic that plays on perspective.

‘Dreamy and fun, ‘Illusory’ curves between reality and the digital worlds of our imagination. Romantic hues of blush rose and raspberry swirl and layer color upon color. Inspiration is drawn from the free-flowing Surrealism art movement and the cute, stylized culture of Kawaii,’ says Jemma Saunders, color specialist atCrown.

7. Lilac bliss

Elegant and subtle pale violet shades evoke a magical, twilight glow and alluring beauty. Strikingly delicate blends offer flexibility and versatility for use across a variety of bedroom color ideas and design styles.

Shannon Eddings, founder and designer,Shannon Eddings Interiors, says: We are getting a lot of love for this earthy shade of purple that can go both feminine or masculine.We predict seeing more of it this winter as people are moving toward more color and looking to stay moody in their color schemes.When it’s dark, the mauve can get very calming and when the sun is out, the color reads bright and inviting. We like it for built-in bunks, library bookcases or a small scale space like a powder bath (with the trim and ceiling painted in the same color but different finish.'

Cathryn Sanders, head of creative atEarthborn Paints, explains: ‘Color is a powerful way to create a mood in any home, a mood that aligns with how you wish to feel whilst spending time in that particular room. OurLily Lily Roseis a romantic, playful color which offers great depth whilst adding an air of style and allure. This shade will create a homely, comforting sanctuary where you can switch off and relax.’

8. Natural neutrals

‘Calming neutrals will be the color trend of 2022 and probably beyond. Stress levels are at an all-time high and the last thing most people want to come home to is a home with walls painted in a color that can dramatically raise anxiety and stress levels. After a stressful day of bad news and work, you probably want to come home to clean, light hues and tones; think blues and greens. As such, colors that promote relaxation and serenity will be the interior color trends of 2022,’ says Dan Beer, CEO,Beer Home Team.

‘Sandy shades are back and at the helm of the new neutrals. Think canvas, wool, hemp and oatmeal, paired with natural materials such as grasscloth, cork, sculpted rattan and wood,’ says Claire O’ Brien, head of design, Splashback.

‘Colour has bounded back into our lives in many ways from bold colour zoning, painted wooden furniture and accessories such as lighting, colour pop door handles and flamingo pink taps. Rugs have statement designs with striking shades whilst seating is unapologetically flamboyant and bright.’

Tom Diverio, partner at Dunagan Diverio Design says:‘We find that our clients are seeking a more simplified lifestyle, with clean lines and a sophisticated palate. The days of heavy moldings and darker rooms have given way to wide-open spaces with tons of natural light. Tailored furnishings alongside beautifully designed millwork and carefully selected materials are now the standard. Interior walls become textural canvases as natural elements flow through the spaces. They believe that layers of textures create warmth in all their modern designs. They also agree that the interiors and exteriors must blend seamlessly.’

Embrace a paired back canvas with these neutral-nurturing, cream living room ideas.

9. Sunny-side-up shades

As working from home becomes the modern standard, remote workers seek to bring sunshine shades indoors, to create a mentally stimulating home office space that promotes deep concentration. A key color for 2022 interiors, uplifting yellow hues radiate contagious cheerfulness, without being overly invasive or domineering.

‘One of the biggest trends in paint colour for 2022 is a switch from cool, earthy tones to bright, sunny shades. From the pandemic, we’ve seen many people are searching for new ways to warm up and brighten the space that they spend the most time in, and painting rooms in brighter, uplifting colours is one of the best ways to do this,’ says Abbey Hesketh, color specialist, Graham & Brown.

She continues: ‘Bright yellow shades represent optimism and happiness, so they are the perfect pick for promoting positive emotions within the home.’

10. Crisp whites

It’s THE classic and timeless home decor go to, and white paint colors are back to dazzle 2022 interiors in space-opening, bright delight!

‘In my opinion, the popularity of the paint color white will continue to rise in 2022. In a world that can at times feel very heavy, many homeowners are craving spaces that feel serene, open & airy.Benjamin MooreChantilly Lace is a trending crisp white paint color with no undertones. It makes any space feel larger than it really is,’ enthuses Kelly Marohl, owner and designer ofThe Greenspring Homeblog.

Joa Studholme, color curator,Farrow & Ball, comments on the use of white: ‘A soft, off-white shade, ’School House White’ is designed to look like white in a shaded area. Muted, timeless, and comfortingly familiar, this shade evokes the nostalgia of old schoolhouses. Due to its grounded, unassuming hue, this shade would pair easily with virtually any other colour. Ideal for a background on which to feature dramatic, large scale artworks, or even vibrant, statement rugs, it’s hard to go wrong with this particular shade of white.

What colors are trending for 2022?

Green is the colour you need this year. With Pinterest searches up almost 80% year on year, green is having a real moment and it’s surprisingly versatile and easy to bring into your home.

Heather Hacket, design manager for Christy says: 'Sage and mineral-based greens bring nature indoors and enrich interior spaces.However, a whole green room can seem a bit daunting. If you love the colour but don’t want to make any permanent changes, add in pops of rich jewel-toned greens through your cushions, prints and decorative items, such as vases and candlesticks. Green towels and accessories can also add an extra level of depth to a bathroom for the colder months!'

What shades of grey paint are here to stay?

'Grey shades are going to be big this upcoming year, such as grey blues and grey greens. From what I've seen so far, grey greens are going to be the most popular out of all greyish shades. This can range from light to dark – all will be a popular choice in home decor this year,' says Randy, former interior designer and co-founder of RelaxingDecor.