Colorful 2022 - Trending Home Paint Colors

Do you ever think about what color you'll choose to paint the walls of your new construction home? Just a year or two ago, you might have said, "gray." A recent article in the Washington Post points out that gray is on its way out for most homeowners. With paint color trends shifting, homeowners are left with the difficult decision of what to paint their house in the coming year. 

If Not Gray, Then What?

Many homeowners are now turning to colors like earthy and warm shades of green, blue-gray, and even darker blues. Vibrant hues ranging from soft orange and gold to aubergine and deep red have made their way back into the palettes we see in modern homes.

You can see some of these colors in action in these articles from Dwell and Better Homes and Gardens. They're not garish or harsh - they're just beautiful. They represent a nice change from the cool, emotionally neutral gray that homeowners have used in their homes for years. 

Know Your Resources

As you think about the palette that you're hoping to assemble in your home, these resources can help:

• List of Color Palette Apps - This compilation of color palette apps can help you choose the best app for your needs. With a range of choices, you'll be able to choose a color palette app that will lead you to a palette that you can love for years to come. 
• List of Tricks for Picking a Palette - There's more than one way to pick a palette. Check out this list of tricks and methods for choosing your best palette. Remember that you can choose different palettes for different parts of the house, so don't feel limited to one method or one color scheme. 
• Psychology of Color Information - Colors cause emotions that can make us feel happy, sad, contemplative and so on. Every color is associated with its own emotional reaction. In your house, it's important to use colors that make you feel an emotion that you want to feel in your home. Look up the psychology of color in this link, where you can learn which colors are likely to bring the most joy or feelings of peace. 

Color of the Year 2022

One of the resources that can give homeowners some direction when choosing the color for their home is the color of the year 2022. Most major paint manufacturers declare their own Color of the Year shortly before the new year. At this point, the 2022 color of the year has been proclaimed by Behr, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, PPG and Glidden.

Since each paint company chooses one of their own paints as the "color of the year," each company's color is a little different. Exploring those paint colors, you'll find that the overwhelming common thread between these colors is the color green, symbolic of healing and rejuvenation.

These shades of green tend to have a light value and a softness that looks right in any room of the house, from the kitchen to the bedroom. A quote from the Washington Post article on this topic says: "Perhaps the strongest appeal of misty green-gray is its easy versatility. For many designers and color experts, it is essentially neutral." In other words, you don't have to be a slave to the color in order to paint your walls in a gray-green or light green. These hues go with a wide range of other colors. 

One color of the year to be watching for: the Pantone Color of the Year. Every year, Pantone chooses a color (or, set of colors as they did for 2021) that sets a mood and provides some direction for homeowners decorating their home in the coming year.

Pantone is not a paint company, so you can't buy their paint color of the year as you could with Sherwin Williams or Behr. Instead, use Pantone's Paint Color of the Year as a reference for your design choices. Seek inspiration from Pantone, and use it to go in a direction that's meaningful to you.

As of the writing of this article, Pantone hasn't declared their paint color for 2022 yet. Check back with the Pantone website as you plan your upcoming home construction project.   

Strategies for Choosing the Right Color Scheme

Keep an open mind when you're choosing a color scheme. Remember that the colors you choose - particularly when talking about paint on your interior walls - are temporary and can be changed. Expressing yourself with paint is one way to make your new home feel like it's yours, and that's important.

Consider Your Needs First, Trends Second

Don't be a slave to the trends, but be sensitive to the ways the colors you choose in your home will affect your perceptions of your space. For example, blues and gray-greens in the bedroom can help you wind down at the end of the day. Leave the bold, dramatic colors for the living room, dining room and formal spaces. 

Coordinate, Coordinate, Coordinate

Finally, remember that your home's color schemes don't end at your walls. Whatever colors you choose for your home's interior should coordinate with the other elements in the room, like your furniture and fixtures. This means that everywhere from your bathroom to your kitchen and bedroom and so on should be a well-coordinated space, with the color of your wall setting a tone that is amplified and reinforced by other elements in the space. 

Consider How Colors Interact From One Room to the Other

Remember that you'll be able to see colors in rooms you're not even in, as you glance through doorways. Colors throughout the house don't need to match one another, but they should make sense together, to ensure an optimal experience from one room to the next. You can make this easy on yourself by choosing to simply paint your entire house in one color, or if you pick varying colors, pick colors that won't clash.

Don't Forget the Power of Neutrals

Gray might be a trend that's currently passing, but there are many other neutrals that will do to the job. If you're not sure which colors to choose for your home, stick to colors like beige, cream and white. These neutrals match just about any decor and can make your home a soothing place to spend time. 

Work With an Experienced Designer and Home Builder As You Choose the Right Palette

Want to know another way you can personalize your new house? Work with an experienced, knowledgeable custom home builder that delivers what clients need. At Sugar Creek Homes, we've been helping homeowners to create their favorite space - their forever home - for almost 20 years. Call today to get started with your home building project.