While the focus is shifting away from the pandemic, its legacy continues. Across the country, home improvement projects skyrocketed throughout 2020 and 2021. Perhaps a result of people having nothing else to do during lockdown, or maybe it was the sheer amount of time we all spent staring at the same four walls that prompted an immediate need for change to breathe new life into tired old spaces. So as 2022 rolls on, what colour trends are emerging?
I love this year’s colour themes because while they’re bold, they’re also classic and will add a style and sophistication to spaces that won’t quickly date. The strong colours of 2022 are a nod to our desire to reinvigorate ourselves after a bleak couple of years and a symbol of our need to be connected to nature. As a result, we’re seeing earthy hues and neutral tones dominate this year.
My top five picks are:
Dulux introduced three new colour palettes for 2022 titled Flourish, Restore, and Wonder. Wonder is full of cheerful colours inspired by the 1980s, and the shade Pink Papaya really stands out to me. It’s a creamy rose-pink hue that is playful but not in your face. I used this colour extensively when designing this hotel concept because it’s impactful yet not overbearing. It goes well with light powder green tones and can be used to dress up a bathroom or stairwell to give the space a wow factor.
2. Evergreen Fog by Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams’ Colour of the Year 2022 is a subtle green shade charmingly titled Evergreen Fog. The shade is calm and elegant and conjures up feelings of nature and the outdoors. With biophilic design an increasing element of home planning, this colour reflects our growing desire to bring the outside in. This concept photographed bv Sherin Williamshighlights this marriage well.
From Dulux’s Restore collection, New Penny is a soft brown that fits well with the current trend for neutral earthy shades that remind us of nature. This interior photographed by Lisa Cohen incorporates these clay browns in a way that solicits a visceral response due to the expansive way they are used.
Clay Pipe Half is a light neutral shade with a warm pink undertone – a perfect colour to add variety if I’m working with a neutral colour scheme. Wavelength and the project by Three Birds Renovation is a good example of how it can be used to create a harmonious space that has the minimalist feel of white with the warmth and depth of a more noticeable colour.
And last but definitely not least.
Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2022 is a deeper version of periwinkle – a beautiful hue cross between blue and purple. While it’s not in line with the other neutral tones from nature, it is an excellent colour for a statement wall in a bedroom. After a year (or two) in which few of us let our hair down, this colour is a playful attempt to add a bit of flair back into our lives, with Pantone saying it’s a colour “whose courageous presence encourages personal inventiveness and creativity”.
As the world realigns itself to a post-pandemic existence, it’s exciting to see what designs unfold among this year’s collection of sophisticated statement colours.
