Green and Greener Paints, The 2022 Color of the Year Ain’t So Simple After All (Oops!)

Wait, wut? Well, we did mention that many paint brands have chosen various shades of green as their 2022 Color of the Year, unlike Pantone Very Peri which we happily featured in a previous post.

So, if you're struggling to imagine using a very periwinkle hue as the foundation for an upcoming interior design project, the industry has created options for you. (Whew, no ‘splaining why you chose it to a client – if you feared such a bold color might be.)

Then again, it’s doesn’t seem impossible to imagine using shades of both green and one of the four color palettes designed to complement the dynamic purple/blue hues of Very Peri from Pantone. After all, creativity is the hallmark of a sharp designer and, when a client shares their confusion about the conflicting opinions on colors of the year, your ingenuity and resourcefulness will ensure you have answers ready for them.

Why Is Green Suddenly So Trendy?

Both the question and answer are available in an article at Houzz.com. As San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer Jennifer Ott explains:

“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. (Or periwinkle?)

“It also partners well with wood tones and natural fibers (Or periwinkle?), and it brings with it an outdoor vibe, which everyone seems to be craving these days.

“Finally, green (Or periwinkle color palettes?), represents rebirth and growth. It’s a nurturing color that signifies hope for the future.”

Wow, that’s an awful lot of responsibility to place on a paint color, don’t you think? And yet, it is true that the color green has been used to generate a sense of renewal along with feelings of being home for decades. This blends smoothly with the “holistic and harmonious blend of nature-infused shades” you can find in the Pantone color palette they named Wellspring.

Paint Makers’ Color of the Year for 2022

Moving on, let's take a look at a few of the variously shaded greens these paint manufacturers have declared their 2022 Color of the Year.

2022 color of the year Sherwin Williams

Evergreen Fog by Sherwin-Williams – Whether used as an accent or employed as a statement color Evergreen Fog, Sherwin-Williams’ 2022 color of the year, is a soft and neutral green color. They accurately describe it as “a versatile and calming hue, a chameleon color of gorgeous green-meets-gray, with just a bit of blue. It's a simple but sophisticated wash of beautiful, organic color for spaces that crave a subtle yet stunning statement shade.”

Beyond gorgeous, Evergreen Fog SW 9130 from Sherwin-Williams is a deep, rich, comforting shade of green that seems versatile enough to use from the living room to the bedroom in any home.

2022 color of the year Dutch boy

Cypress Garden by Dutch Boy – Bold without being overwhelming, Dutch Boy’s choice for 2022 Color of the Year is more of a pure shade, presented with minimal gray or brown undertones. Also offered in an array of color palettes, Cypress Garden 424-4DB is an extremely versatile hue that is “Understated, clean and familiar, these neutral hues help to quiet our minds and bring comfort to decluttered spaces.”

We see Cypress Garden as a clean and honest expression of the base color, making it a bit less neutral yet easily paired with a variety of other colors in the blue, yellow, brown, and gray families. (Oooooh, do we see hints of periwinkle in this image?)