Green Is the Top Paint Color for 2022
Major paint companies reach a rare consensus, anointing various shades of green as their 2022 color of the year choices
Jennifer Ott
14 October 2021
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's work has been featured in many print and online publications. Her recently-published book, "1000 Ideas for Color Schemes," is a beautifully illustrated and easy-to-navigate guide that takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect color palette for your home or special event. For more information on Jennifer Ott Design, visit http://jenottdesign.com/.
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's... More
Green is about to be seen — everywhere. Most major paint brands picked a neutral green as the color they think will define 2022. If you happen to like any of these hip hues, this year will be a good time to update your home, even if it’s in small ways. That’s because these paint color picks mean that green will also soon be everywhere in home furnishings, so it’ll be easier to find items in these shades, if you happen to be a fan.
Let’s take a closer look at these colors of the year and see how you might want to use them in your own home.
Let’s take a closer look at these colors of the year and see how you might want to use them in your own home.
1. October Mist by Benjamin Moore
First up is Benjamin Moore’s just-announced neutral green selection, October Mist. This light-to-mid-value green has a good bit of gray in it but also some yellow, which gives it a nice touch of warmth. October Mist was chosen to serve as a background hue to support the other nature-inspired colors put forth in the brand’s 2022 color trends collection.
It’s a bit of a Goldilocks color — neither too warm nor too cool, too light nor too dark, too bold nor too blah. It’s just right for a bedroom or living room space where a soothing and relaxed vibe is desired.
Find an interior designer near you
First up is Benjamin Moore’s just-announced neutral green selection, October Mist. This light-to-mid-value green has a good bit of gray in it but also some yellow, which gives it a nice touch of warmth. October Mist was chosen to serve as a background hue to support the other nature-inspired colors put forth in the brand’s 2022 color trends collection.
It’s a bit of a Goldilocks color — neither too warm nor too cool, too light nor too dark, too bold nor too blah. It’s just right for a bedroom or living room space where a soothing and relaxed vibe is desired.
Find an interior designer near you
2. Evergreen Fog by Sherwin-Williams
Depicted on the walls in this living room, Evergreen Fog, Sherwin-Williams’ pick for its 2022 color of the year, is another soft and neutral green color. I recently had clients with beautiful olive trees on their property and I color-matched the leaves to a hue similar to this for their primary suite. It’s a gorgeous, comforting green that has richness and depth.
Depicted on the walls in this living room, Evergreen Fog, Sherwin-Williams’ pick for its 2022 color of the year, is another soft and neutral green color. I recently had clients with beautiful olive trees on their property and I color-matched the leaves to a hue similar to this for their primary suite. It’s a gorgeous, comforting green that has richness and depth.
3. Olive Sprig by PPG
Three’s a trend! On the same wavelength as Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams’ picks, PPG has put forth a similar organic green for color of the year. Olive Sprig, used for the screened porch here, has yellow undertones so it veers a bit warmer than Evergreen Fog. This hue works well with other warm colors such as yellows, burgundies and rusts.
Shop for outdoor lounge furniture
Three’s a trend! On the same wavelength as Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams’ picks, PPG has put forth a similar organic green for color of the year. Olive Sprig, used for the screened porch here, has yellow undertones so it veers a bit warmer than Evergreen Fog. This hue works well with other warm colors such as yellows, burgundies and rusts.
Shop for outdoor lounge furniture
4. Breezeway by Behr
Lighter and cooler than the previous three picks, Breezeway from Behr is described as reminiscent of green sea glass. Because it’s a brighter, cleaner green than the rest of the bunch assembled here, it’s a great choice in rooms low on natural light.
Lighter and cooler than the previous three picks, Breezeway from Behr is described as reminiscent of green sea glass. Because it’s a brighter, cleaner green than the rest of the bunch assembled here, it’s a great choice in rooms low on natural light.
5. Cypress Garden by Dutch Boy
Here’s another “clean” green, this one with a bit more saturation than the previous examples. I refer to it as clean because it’s more of a pure green, with minimal gray or brown undertones. Because of this, it doesn’t work as well as a neutral compared with October Mist, Evergreen Fog and Olive Sprig. But it can still be easily paired with a variety of other colors in the blue, yellow, brown and gray families.
How to Mix Colors and Make It Work
Here’s another “clean” green, this one with a bit more saturation than the previous examples. I refer to it as clean because it’s more of a pure green, with minimal gray or brown undertones. Because of this, it doesn’t work as well as a neutral compared with October Mist, Evergreen Fog and Olive Sprig. But it can still be easily paired with a variety of other colors in the blue, yellow, brown and gray families.
How to Mix Colors and Make It Work
6. Guacamole by Glidden
Cleaner and greener than the avocado green that was so ubiquitous in the 1960s and ’70s, Guacamole is a crisp vegetal green with yellow undertones. It’s one of the more vibrant greens of the batch and works well as a kitchen or bathroom accent color.
Cleaner and greener than the avocado green that was so ubiquitous in the 1960s and ’70s, Guacamole is a crisp vegetal green with yellow undertones. It’s one of the more vibrant greens of the batch and works well as a kitchen or bathroom accent color.
7. Colors of the Year 2022 by Valspar
A couple of paint brands opted to go with an assortment of color trends for their 2022 selections rather than one color. Valspar offers 12 hues that range from soft pink and peach to dark blue and warm black. But it also has a muted green that stands out.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
A couple of paint brands opted to go with an assortment of color trends for their 2022 selections rather than one color. Valspar offers 12 hues that range from soft pink and peach to dark blue and warm black. But it also has a muted green that stands out.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Blanched Thyme by Valspar
Similar to Olive Sprig by PPG, Blanched Thyme by Valspar is a neutral green with slight yellow undertones. A soothing, organic hue, it works well as a wall color in a bedroom or office. I can also see it being used as a kitchen cabinet color paired with warm metallic and wood tones.
Similar to Olive Sprig by PPG, Blanched Thyme by Valspar is a neutral green with slight yellow undertones. A soothing, organic hue, it works well as a wall color in a bedroom or office. I can also see it being used as a kitchen cabinet color paired with warm metallic and wood tones.
8. Colors of the Year 2022 by Dunn-Edwards
Dunn-Edwards chose a whopping 60 colors divided into five different collections. Shown here is its color collection Mysa, which includes several green hues.
Dunn-Edwards chose a whopping 60 colors divided into five different collections. Shown here is its color collection Mysa, which includes several green hues.
Desert Sage by Dunn-Edwards
Desert Sage is a mid-value green that suggests arid landscapes. It’s a toned-down neutral green that works well with warm or cool colors. I could see this paired with turquoise or navy, as well as honey gold or rust hues.
Desert Sage is a mid-value green that suggests arid landscapes. It’s a toned-down neutral green that works well with warm or cool colors. I could see this paired with turquoise or navy, as well as honey gold or rust hues.
Why Is Green Suddenly So Trendy?
I’ve been asked by many homeowners why green is suddenly so hot in and on homes, and I think it’s for a variety of reasons. For one thing, after so many years of pure white and cool shades of gray and blue dominating interiors, I think folks are looking for warmer hues. Green can go warm or cool, but it’s especially good at taking the chill out of a room when paired with white or cool colors.
It also partners well with wood tones and natural fibers, and it brings with it an outdoor vibe, which everyone seems to be craving these days.
Finally, green represents rebirth and growth. It’s a nurturing color that signifies hope for the future.
More on Houzz
Read more color stories
Browse photos
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I’ve been asked by many homeowners why green is suddenly so hot in and on homes, and I think it’s for a variety of reasons. For one thing, after so many years of pure white and cool shades of gray and blue dominating interiors, I think folks are looking for warmer hues. Green can go warm or cool, but it’s especially good at taking the chill out of a room when paired with white or cool colors.
It also partners well with wood tones and natural fibers, and it brings with it an outdoor vibe, which everyone seems to be craving these days.
Finally, green represents rebirth and growth. It’s a nurturing color that signifies hope for the future.
More on Houzz
Read more color stories
Browse photos
Find professionals
Shop for products
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I love green and now it seems to be one of the best decisions for interior designs.
I just painted a north-facing bedroom Bejamin Moore’s Maidenhair Fern
and I love it.
I love the color green! I have touches of green throughout my home: 2 sage green bathroom vanities, and a mint green kitchen stool. Most recently, i and my husband painted our newly installed Therma Tru triple locking fiberglass entry door. We chose Behr paint, color: “Baby Spinach”.