Every year, color experts and paint companies choose a color or color palette they feel best represents the current time. While their choices often go on to influence interior decor, design, and fashion, they’re based on much more than trending aesthetic preferences, drawing from pop culture, technology, and even world events.
For example, Pantone’s 2021 colors of the year were Ultimate Gray and Illuminating yellow, a color combination that provided the strength and energy society needed to get through the continued uncertainty of 2021.
This year, the pandemic continues to influence the colors of the year, in addition to growing preferences for biophilia and dependence on technology. But don’t take our word for it — take a look at all of the 2022 colors of the year, plus examples of stunning tile in these hues.
The 2022 Colors of the Year
Behr Color of the Year 2022: Breezeway
Behr’s 2022 color of the year is Breezeway, a sea glass green that’s relaxing and uplifting. Evoking a breath of fresh air, Breezeway creates a sense of forward motion to help us spiritually reemerge this year.
Pair Breezeway tile with gray, white, and natural wood tones for a harmonious look in any room of the house.
[Related: Tile Trend Ideas: Biophilic Tile]
Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2022: October Mist 1495
October Mist 1495 is the 2022 color of the year for Benjamin Moore. This gentle sage hue is reminiscent of the silver-green stems of flowers, providing a colorful neutral to anchor your space while also creating a canvas for complementary colors.
If you’re wondering what colors to use with October Mist, you’re in luck. This is just one of 14 harmonious colors from Benjamin Moore’s 2022 color palette, all of which embody October Mist’s grounding yet whimsical spirit. Choose various tiles in any of these colors, or one tile design with all of them, for infinite design possibilities.
Better Homes & Gardens Color of the Year 2022: Laurel Leaf
If you’re surprised that Better Homes & Gardens has a color of the year, you’re not alone. This is the first year that they’ve chosen a color, and they didn’t disappoint.
Laurel Leaf is a dusty green color that’s representative of eucalyptus in both appearance and spirit. It lends a sense of rejuvenation to your space and pairs well with light to medium wood tones, cozy beiges, and creamy whites.
[Related: We’re Green With Envy Over These Green Tile Designs]
Dunn-Edwards Color of the Year 2022: Art and Craft
The Dunn-Edwards 2022 color of the year is a warm, earthy, yet sophisticated brown called Art and Craft. It is timeless yet also evocative of a different century altogether, bringing to mind the classics, academia, artisans, and a more rural way of life.
Whatever Art and Craft makes you think of, it will imbue a sense of calm and stability in your home. Take a look at Dunn-Edwards’ six possible color palettes to decide what to pair with your Art and Craft tile.
Glidden Color of the Year 2022: Guacamole
Holy guacamole, do we like Glidden’s 2022 color of the year.
That’s right – Glidden’s color of the year is Guacamole, a bold, energetic green that still manages to be soothing. The hue has an organic feel that lends itself to numerous decor schemes, but we think it’s particularly suited for retro spaces (just take a look at the bathroom above).
[Related: Back to Nature: Ceramic Tile in Earth Tones]
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year 2022: Aleutian
Mixing things up a bit, HGTV Home by Sherwin Williams chose Aleutian as its 2022 color of the year. Aleutian is a washed indigo that perfectly balances warm and cool tones and emits a sense of restfulness and relaxation.
Pair Aleutian tile with your favorite neutrals and wood tones in any shade.
Pantone Color of the Year 2022: Very Peri
If there’s a 2022 color of the year that stands out from the rest, it’s Pantone’s.
2022 color of the year, Very Peri, a dynamic periwinkle blue with a violet red undertone. Very Peri is very much a color of the times: Daring, courageous, and curious, it paves the way for us to embrace the unknowns in the future and unleash our creativity.
In fact, this is the first time that Pantone has ever created a brand-new color for its color of the year. This inventiveness is representative of the transformation and innovation that’s taking place the world over.
[Related: Tile Color Inspiration Room by Room]
PPG Color of the Year 2022: Olive Sprig
Olive Sprig, PPG’s 2022 color of the year, is an elegant gray-green that represents resiliency and regrowth – exactly what we’ll need in a post-pandemic world. The color is grounded yet versatile, helping you to relax but also brightening your day with its liveliness.
Olive Sprig tile pairs well with natural materials such as wood tones, brass accents, unique architectural elements, and curved furniture to create an organic look.
Sherwin-Williams Color of the Year 2022: Evergreen Fog
The final green on our list, Evergreen Fog is Sherwin Williams’ 2022 color of the year. Unlike the other gray-greens featured this year, Evergreen Fog also includes a hint of blue. The sophisticated color is calming and versatile – a perfect choice for an impactful neutral.
Evergreen Fog pairs well with other nature-inspired hues, including any of the colors on the complementary palette provided by Sherwin Williams.
[Related: Ultimate Colors of the Year Palette]
Valspar Colors of the Year 2022: Nature-Inspired Color Palette
Valspar chose not one color of the year but an entire palette of colors, including 12 complementary hues:
- Blanched Thyme, a cool, organic green
- Gilded Linen, an ultra-clean neutral
- Delighted Moon, a cheerful yellow
- Lilac Lane, a soft but uplifting purple-pink
- Mountain River, a rich dark blue
- Orchid Ash, a color-infused white
- Grey Suit, a gray with red undertones
- Subtle Peach, a soft pastel peach
- Rustic Oak, a rich, warm color reminiscent of copper
- Sunset Curtains, a subtle, coral-tinted neutral
- Country Charm, a cozy neutral shade
- Fired Earth, a dark yet warm earth tone
These colors are all inspired by nature, establishing a calm and comfortable feeling in your home.
[Related: Tile Color Psychology: How Your Tile Color Affects Your Mood]
2022 Color Trends to Look Out For
Every 2022 color of the year contains a message about where we’ve come from and where we’re headed in 2022. As such, it’s no surprise that many of the 2022 colors were similar or emitted similar feelings.
For example, the growing trend of biophilia was only strengthened by the pandemic, with stay-at-home orders reinforcing people’s need to connect with nature however possible. As a result, we have numerous nature-inspired colors this year, including warm brown earth tones from Dunn-Edwards and Valspar and no fewer than seven light, natural greens.
Pastels also reigned this year, including HGTV Home’s light blue and Valspar’s light pink, peach, and yellow in addition to all the light greens. This makes sense considering the clean, pristine feeling emitted by these light and airy colors – something everyone is looking for during a global pandemic.
Pastels can also play a therapeutic role with their calming and restorative characteristics. This makes them an ideal choice when creating a home environment that supports your emotional well-being.
Pantone’s Very Peri is representative of our need to take a bold step into the unknown in 2022 as well as a growing dependence on technology. As a result of this dependence, we’re likely to see more saturated and vivid primary and secondary colors moving forward, including joyous reds, pinks, yellows, and oranges.
Color Your Home With Tile
Whichever 2022 colors of the year you prefer, we hope you’ve identified shades that will help you put your best foot forward this year. And when it comes time to implement these colors in your home, visit our Design Gallery and Pinterest boards for help finding tile in all of the above colors and more.
Happy New Year!
