Paint is such a versatile thing. With a swash of new color, you can immediately refresh your entire living room, or give your bedroom a completely new vibe. And that’s why, whether you’re prepping for spring 2022 home renovations, or if you just want to switch up the look of your home interior a little for the new year, choosing the best interior paint colors should definitely be on your list of things to think about.
It’s no easy task though, don’t we know it! The colors you pick have to go along with your interior design, as well as complement your existing furniture and décor. If you’ve ever stood in a paint store and gotten completely overwhelmed by the endless array of colors, shades, swatches, patches, sheens, glosses… we certainly don’t blame you!
That’s why we hope to make color selection just that much easier for you with this guide to choosing the best interior paint colors for the coming year ahead, by looking at what has been popular in 2021!
If you’re still not sure after looking at this list what colors to pick for your home project, don’t worry our team of interior painting professionals are here to help answer any questions you may have. To schedule an in home consultation click here.
Also, if you are wondering how much your interior painting project might cost you, check out our latest article covering How Much It Costs To Paint The Interior Of A Home.
Neutral Interior Paint Colors
Not everybody loves bold and loud colors, so a neutral palette is one of the best ways to create a relaxed feel that’s also homey and yet chic. Neutral paint colors are also a great pick if you’re someone who enjoys switching up styles often within a space. It serves as the perfect neutral backdrop for you to play around with adding pops of color through fabrics, textures, wall decorations, rugs or carpets, or accessories in the room, without having to do a complete paint-over.
Benjamin Moore - Simply White
Holly Waterfield of The Jackson Home Company calls neutrals “restful and grounding colors” and recommends Simply White by Benjamin Moore for its warm tones that will suit any home.
Sherwin Williams - Origami White
Sherwin Williams’ Origami White is also a wonderfully versatile off-white that you can consider as a living room color, or for any other rooms in your home. It exudes a softness and a subtle warm tone that can be paired beautifully with other colors, be it warm greens or cool greys.
Behr - Swiss Coffee
Meanwhile, Behr’s Swiss Coffee is one of Behr’s most popular neutral paint shades, and it’s easy to see why. This gorgeous warm white with a neutral base gives any room a creamy beige feel that is familiar, like a comfortable sweater that you haven’t worn in ages, but feels like home the instant you put it on.
Earthy Interior Paint Colors
Behr - Jojoba
Behr’s Erika Woelfe says that “warm and engaging earthy tones will continue to thrive” as homeowners “elevate their comfort zones with inviting and natural hues.” She recommends Behr’s Jojoba, a soft sage green hue that promotes tranquility and an innate connection of being in nature.
Dulux - Brave Ground
The color experts at Dulux are 100% behind an earthy pick as well, with their top choice being Brave Ground, a really warm and earthy brown that is reminiscent of being cocooned in the forest. Dulux UK’s Creative Director, Marianne Shillingford, hopes that “the warm and grounding tones of Brave Ground will allow us to find certainty in the strength from the very ground beneath our feet, emboldening us to go forward.”
Sherwin Williams - Origami White
Sherwin Williams’ Origami White is also a wonderfully versatile off-white that you can consider as a living room color, or for any other rooms in your home. It exudes a softness and a subtle warm tone that can be paired beautifully with other colors, be it warm greens or cool greys.
PPG - Transcend
Speaking of forests, we are in love with PPG’s Transcend, a beigey oatmeal brown that kind of reminds us of a diminutive brown fawn prancing through a woodland. This color, which was one of the top 3 picks for PPG’s 2021 interior paint color palette, gives off a natural vibe that is not only warm but also cozy and homely, like a lovely latte in your hands on a winter’s day.
Gray Interior Paint Colors
Neutral colors have definitely been getting a lot more love in 2021 than their cooler cousins, the grays. Does that mean classic gray is taking a backseat for now, or is it still being regarded as stylish as ever?
Director of Color Marketing at Sherwin Williams, Sue Wadden, has this to say about the great gray debate: “Gray provides a blank slate for homeowners to put their personal touches on a space with artwork and décor.” Noting how the pandemic has forced everyone to look at their spaces differently, she suggests that a gray backdrop “can allow a space to serve a variety of purposes,” whether playful or professional.
It’s probably true that many of us spending more time at home has created a shift towards a softer, cozier, warmer interior paint color palette. And that has likely rubbed off on our choices for gray paint color as well.
In fact, as more homeowners opt for warmer grays and beiges, “greige” is gaining in popularity to create homes that are inviting and cozy, sort of like a great big hug!
Benjamin Moore - Classic Gray
When in doubt which gray to get, Benjamin Moore’s Classic Gray is as classic as it gets. A popular choice amongst interior designers, this favorite classic interior paint color can even be used to paint even your whole house, and not just individual rooms. In darker areas with less natural light, this gray really shows its true color, that of a deeper, darker, truer gray.
Sherwin Williams - Dovetail
If you’re in for even darker gray walls that don’t look off-white in sunlight, then consider Sherwin Williams‘ Dovetail. It’s a color that goes perfectly well with neutrals, whites, and even other darker colors.
Sherwin Williams - Urbane Bronze
And if you’d like to combine a deep, dark gray with earth tones, then Sherwin Williams‘ 2021 top pick Urbane Bronze is an excellent choice. Although it’s classified as more of an earthy brown with black and green tones, it can also definitely pass off as a gorgeous gray that’s perfect for use as an accent color. It would be an amazing choice for cabinets, for example, as a softer alternative to black.
Colors On Your Walls
Benjamin Moore - Aegean Teal
Just because neutrals, earthy colors and grays are getting a lot of love right now, it doesn’t mean that choosing brighter colors for your home is a no-no. There’s a reason why Benjamin Moore picked out Aegean Teal as their Color of the Year 2021, and that’s because while it is intriguing and vibrant, it is also at the same time also harmonious, soothing, and oh so homely. When we look at this color we think soft linen sheets in the bedroom, and cookies baking in the kitchen.
PPG - Misty Aqua
Following the footsteps of this blue-green deliciousness, one of PPG’s three top picks for the year was also Misty Aqua, a watercolor cerulean blue, which provides a breath of fresh air against warm wood tones of your furniture, or the neutrals and earthy tones that have been so popular in 2021.
Behr - Voyage
Rounding off this palette of blue and green hues is Behr’s Voyage, an absolute must-have if you love a soothing, peaceful blue which calls to mind an idyllic sky and ocean view. We might not be able to go on any extended voyages now, but that’s even more reason to make our home feel like a home away from home!
What Does This Mean For Interior Paint Colors in 2022?
2021 was a sign of things to come and it showed us that our home is going to be our best sanctuary away from all things Covid. It is going to be our office, our gym, our playroom, and so much more. So when choosing interior paint colors for 2022, we should probably take into consideration our home’s new functionalities.
One trend is clearly forming from the top 2022 picks from paint companies, though, and that is that warm, neutral, earthy hues are here to stay, and forest greens seem to be the talk of the town!
Sherwin Williams - Evergreen Fog
Just take Sherwin Williams‘ 2022 Color of the Year: Evergreen Fog. This earthy color has neutrals, grays, and greens all interwoven into one, evoking a spirit of nature and tranquility all at once. It feels a little bit like living in a treehouse in the middle of a rainforest!
Benjamin Moore - October Mist
Interestingly enough, Benjamin Moore‘s 2022 Color of the Year, October Mist, is a very similar shade to Evergreen Fog, albeit a little lighter, and with an extra sprinkling of nature – think more green, less gray undertones.
Valspar - Blanched Thyme
Valspar seems to be following suit with their pick of nature-inspired shades, including Blanched Thyme, a mid sagey green that’s both nourishing and inspiring, sort of bringing nature indoors right into your home.
Behr - Laurel Tree
Not to be outdone, Behr’s Laurel Tree rounds up the nature picks for 2022, a fresh green that’s almost a modern take on olive green. It gives a resort kind of feel without having to leave your home, perfect for pretending you’re already living on a paradise island!
Just because these big paint companies are opting for green tones doesn’t mean that you have to create a jungle theme at home! The trending paint colors of warm neutrals, grays, and earthy tones are all here to stay, yes, “greige” included.
One trend is clearly forming from the top 2022 picks from paint companies, though, and that is that warm, neutral, earthy hues are here to stay, and forest greens seem to be the talk of the town!
Our Team At Aaffordable Painting Is Here To Help!
If you’re still unsure what colors to pick for your living room, bedroom, kids’ bedrooms, kitchen or family lounge space, don’t worry! We’re here to help. Give us a call and our Trusted Aaffordable Painting team will be happy to help. Call us at 303-469-4124 for a consultation today!
