PPG’s 2022 Color of the Year Is the Tranquil, Soothing Shade We’ve Been Craving

Resiliency and tenacity were defining terms of the last two years: the world ached, rebuilt, and revived itself into a new version of normalcy. We’re craving that sense of connection and peace now more than ever, and when it comes to design, the events of the past year are certainly defining the color choices for 2022.

After tumultuous times and the need for fortitude, homeowners, designers, and the like are ready to exhale and reset, and paint brand PPG aimed to evoke just that in their color choice for 2022. Their pick to define the new year is Olive Sprig—a grounded, versatile, and adaptable green-grey. With its soothing quality and connection to nature, this choice was meant to represent regrowth and resiliency in a post-pandemic world, according to the brand.

“DIYers, property managers, designers, and architects are shifting away from the stark, neutral palettes of yesterday and opting for color in all forms,” Amy Donato, the senior color marketing manager for PPG paint, says. ”Call it rebellion, but we are certainly here for the resurgence of optimistic colors to guide us into a new era of home design.”

Call it rebellion, but we are certainly here for the resurgence of optimistic colors to guide us into a new era of home design.

It’s no secret that green is one of the hottest color choices for the upcoming year in the design world. In this olive/sage form, it works almost like an elevated neutral, one that pops just enough to provide visual interest without busying a room. Olive Sprig is relaxed but enticing, a color that emulates the feeling of nature and infuses a space with organic liveliness. 

Making décor selections alongside this color is all too easy. Olive Sprig lends itself perfectly to be paired with natural materials and unique architectural elements. It has a dual function: to make minimalistic décor and furniture pop, and to allow furniture with antique patina or intricate details to really shine. This is the perfect color choice to complement other greens throughout the home in the form of furniture or plants as well.

The color can be used in any room, according to PPG: it creates a sanctuary in a bedroom, encourages focus in an office, and offers the perfect neutral backdrop in a busy and bustling kitchen.

A fresh coat of paint might just be the best way to invite freshness into your space in the upcoming year. We’ll be considering Olive Spring for our next home project—and we’re definitely seeing green in 2022.