These Are the 9 Color of the Year Picks that Companies Are Predicting Will Rule 2022

As announcements rolled out this past year, time and again the answer to the color of the year question was resoundingly and consistently a shade of pale, earthy green. Maybe it’s the soothing nature of the hue, or a continued appreciation for nature during the ongoing pandemic. Whatever the reason, brands were strikingly in unison on the shade that will define 2022. Of course, outliers existed (such as Pantone’s Very Peri), but they felt few and far between. Below, we’ve gathered a comprehensive rundown of the colors that companies like Behr, Sherwin-Williams, and more predict will rule the year to come.

Breezeway by Behr

A silvery green suitable for everything from beachside vibes to modern, contemporary settings, Behr’s Breezeway “inspires us to fully embrace the hobbies or adventures, both near and far, that excite us,” says Erika Woeful, the company’s vice president of color and creative services. A standout of the 20 shades comprising the company’s 2022 Color Trends palette, Breezeway functions as an intriguing and perfectly viable neutral for those ready to brighten a space by bringing the outdoors in.

October Mist by Benjamin Moore

Although the month that gives this color its name might conjure images of orange pumpkins or umber leaves, October Mist is among the soothing shades of green that offers a grounding connection to the natural world for 2022. Benjamin Moore director of color marketing Andrea Magno admits that October Mist “doesn’t scream green.” But much like the stem of a flower, this grayish shade blends in effortlessly while creating an opportunity for other dazzling colors to flourish.

Art and Craft by Dunn-Edwards

Though visually a departure from the parade of pale greens other brands chose to define 2022 trends, Art and Craft—a highlight of Dunn-Edwards’s Naturrensing palette—maintains a similar connection to the earth and an ability to offer something more than just the neutrals of the past. “This is a versatile color that we expect to see applied across a variety of industries and disciplines throughout 2022,” says Sarah McLean, Dunn-Edwards’s color expert and stylist, of this light and airy take on brown. “Art and Craft is truly a down-to-earth color that signifies stability, comfort, and calm.”

Olive Sprig by PPG

As the name suggests, PPG’s Olive Sprig is another of 2022’s grayish greens. The culmination of bubbling trends that were accelerated by the pandemic, Olive Sprig is “usable and also aligned with the warm, colorful neutrals that we had seen rising in popularity,” as PPG senior color marketing manager Amy Donato puts it. Tying in with notions of renewal and rebirth—a theme mentioned by multiple brands—Olive Sprig offers a chance to transition from cool grays to neutrals with a bit more personality.

Guacamole by Glidden

While parent company PPG opted for Olive Sprig, Glidden advocated for a more festive and appetizing shade of green for 2022. Made for kitchens, Guacamole looks great against a white subway tile backsplash. And now that we’re cautiously entertaining more, it’s certainly a living room conversation-starter best discussed over a bowl of chips.

Breathe by Graham & Brown

Not content to let earthier greens and browns have all the fun, Graham & Brown’s Breathe showed that the idea of connection to nature can draw inspiration from the sky as well. Fitting for a brand pushing to achieve carbon neutrality in 2022, the pale and powdery blue of Breathe also nods to wellness and sustainability. This shade works remarkably well when paired with Restore Midnight, Graham and Brown’s deep blue, naturally-inspired wallpaper of the year.

Evergreen Fog by Sherwin-Williams

Another grayish green taking its name from thick, heavy air, Evergreen Fog is what Sherwin-Williams’s in-house director of color Sue Wadden called a “universally accepted, super-versatile” color that’s emblematic of “growth, rebirth, and joy.” Capable of merging the spirit of organic modernism with the aesthetics of the ’70s, Sherwin-Williams sees Evergreen Fog playing well on walls and cabinets at home, while also fitting in nicely with some of the interior design trends that the brand expects to define the commercial spaces of a post-pandemic world.

Bright Skies by Dulux

Fitting for a year where forecasters latched onto the idea of brighter days ahead, Dulux’s Bright Skies is an airy, open tone that can reinvigorate any room through the sense of freedom and possibility it offers. Honored as the brand’s color of the year by a team of international color and design experts, Bright Skies is a fun yet functional option that pushes the boundaries of a neutral without flying too close to the sun.

Very Peri by Pantone

Last but certainly not least, industry leader Pantone announced its color of the year for 2022 in early December. The selection is a perfectly purple blue shade of periwinkle. “For those who are gun-shy about using too much color and taking that first step, it’s a great color to use maybe just on one wall instead of all four walls,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, and it’s decidedly different from any pale or olive green.