Paint trends 2022

Applying a new lick of paint to your walls is an excellent way to give your interiors a fresh-faced makeover. But which color sample pots should you be buying, and what are the biggest paint trends for 2021?

Global color authority, Pantone, announced their selection for Color of the Year 2021 and it's a combination of two. The shades chosen are Ultimate Gray and Illuminating – a rock gray and a sunshine yellow, respectively.

This clever combination of colors brings the message of strength and reliability paired with the joy of sunshine filled days to come.

This is only the second time ever that Pantone has made the bold move of naming two Colors of the Year.

'Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope,' says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. 'We need to feel encouraged and uplifted, this is essential to the human spirit.'

The Dulux Colour of the Year 2021, called Brave Gound – is a warm neutral that feels both comforting and grounding. It’s not a ‘wow’ shade, but that’s the beauty of this neutral hue – it’s the understated allure which we are being inspired to draw upon.

As Dulux explains, ‘Brave Ground flexes in tone depending on the time of day and setting. Creating a subtly responsive environment that’s reflective of our growing desire to align how we live with our planet.’ 

Over at Benjamin Moore, the Colour of the Year 2021, called Aegean Teal, is a warm blue-green with gray undertones. It has a unique quality wherein it lends a fresh, crisp feel to a scheme, while simultaneously creating a relaxed and soothing atmosphere – exactly what we need in the current challenging climate.

THE TOP PAINT TRENDS 2021

We've teamed up with a host of colour experts to bring you the most exciting paint trends in the year ahead. Brushes at the ready...

1. TURN UP THE HEAT

Grey is the versatile and much-loved neutral and teamed with zingy yellows it can create an energising feel to a room that works with any style.

'The selection of two independent colors highlight how different elements come together to express a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting, conveying the idea that it’s not about one color or one person, it’s about more than one,' says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute.

2. SET THE SCENE WITH A SERENE SCHEME

Benjamin-Moore-Color-of-the-Year-2021-main

(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)

The cool paint color – Aegean Teal – was selected for its ability to add balance and calm to spaces, whether used on cabinetry, walls or woodwork. 

Helen Shaw from Benjamin Moore says: 'As we spend more time at home, it’s important to create a space that feels warm and welcoming. This year's Color of the Year is a balanced and soothing hue, softened with a touch of gray to create spaces with a casual elegance.' 

Aegean Teal teams beautifully with neutrals, like warm beiges and soft cream hues, while the gray undertones ensure spaces retain a sophisticated and super smart feel. The amount of natural light it receives will change the color, too, switching from a fresh, cool hue in bright light to a richer, muted blue-toned gray in moodier spaces.

3. INTRODUCE A SENSE OF SMART SOPHISTICATION

Paint trends 2021

(Image credit: Sherwin Williams)

Earlier this year, Sherwin-Williams announced its 2021 Color of the Year, to be named Urbane Bronze SW 7048. 

A warm, sophisticated bronze, the color inspires all of us to find sanctuary in any space. Urbane Bronze is a rich anchor that grounds the mind in calm and stability with its ties to the natural world. 

'The home is now the ultimate retreat from the world, and color is an easy and effective way to create a personal haven,' said Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. 

Urbane Bronze encourages you to create a sanctuary space for mindful reflection and renewal – something we all aspire to at present.

4. CHOOSE A HERITAGE COLOR

Paint trends

f Farrow & Ball’s Sap Green was food it would be the most delicious pea soup, true to its organic state, with layers of depth and a surprising intensity. In paint form it ticks the same boxes with its earthy appeal. Not surprising, as it was created in collaboration with the Natural History Museum, one of 16 new hues rooted in nature. 

The collection is inspired by Werner’s Nomenclature of Colors, the breakthrough colour guide published in 1814, which helped Charles Darwin on his voyage aboard HMS Beagle. Balance this green with colors like stone and milky white for freshness or with accents of navy for extra drama.

5. INTRODUCE A WARM AND INVITING LOOK

Sophisticated and inviting, Sorrel from Bauwerk Color brings in warmth and a cocooning feel. Its rich, textured caramel tones elevate it from just another brown, making it surprisingly tranquil, particularly in bedrooms. 

The earthy shade sets off the vibrancy in colors such as peony pink and apple green, but also highlights classic stone and white. It’s the perfect foil for ceramics, too, as shown here with the new Bayham collection from Neptune.