Green Is THE Color of 2022—Here’s How to Use It in Your Home

As we look toward 2022, there seems to be one key thing that everyone—or at least practically every major paint brand—can agree on: In the coming year, the official color will be green.

From PPG to Behr to Sherwin-Williams, shades of green have dominated 2022 trendcasting reports across the industry. Green might be great, but it can also be tough to incorporate into a room in a big way, especially if you want to avoid a whole-room makeover. To make it easier, we turned to the experts to ask why green, what this means for home design, and how to make this shade work in our existing spaces.

Why Green? It’s Versatile and Timeless

“Green is a very versatile color for interiors,” explains Nicole Fisher of BNR Interiors. “It’s an easy way to bring the outdoors in and to give the room a natural vibe. I consider green a neutral when designing a space.”

Greg Voorhis, executive design director at Sunbrella, says that green is great for exteriors, too. “The attraction to green isn’t new but is certainly gaining momentum,” he says. “Previously, we talked about bringing the best of indoors into outdoor realms. But now we’re seeing a reversal of the trend, with uplifting greens and botanical motifs coming inside the home in everything from paint to pillows.”

Decorist designer Casey Hardin agrees. “We are all ready for a new start, and green represents growth, nature, and newness—think budding plants in the spring!” she says. “We have collectively seen a shift towards calm, earth-tone color palettes in the interior design industry, so green is a natural backdrop to create that feeling in the home.”

How to Incorporate Green Into Your Space in 2022

Start Small...

“If you are unsure of using green in a main room, try it in smaller spaces like powder rooms, foyers, or mudrooms,” suggests Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. “These accent spaces are great to bring in color while keeping the rest of the home neutral.”

“Bathrooms are also a great space to experiment with this verdant hue because they are smaller than most rooms and the color is a great way to break up what is often a neutral space,” Wadden says. “I love Sherwin-Williams’s Color of the Year, Evergreen Fog, for a bathroom because it helps the room feel like an at-home spa.”

“Sage is a great color for bathrooms,” adds Stephanie Pierce, director of design and trends at MasterBrand Cabinets. “The tranquil shade of [our color] Dried Thyme is reminiscent of eucalyptus leaves, which are often used in spas, making this the perfect hue for those wanting a peaceful respite in their space.”

...Or Go Bold

While starting small might be the way to go for some, Fisher tells us we shouldn’t be afraid to be bold when it comes to green. “We saw a big surge in green on furnishings in the last couple of years—especially on big items like sofas! I love to use it in a major way, like in wallpaper or with a bold paint color,” she says.

Hardin agrees. “I will be exploring green as both a backdrop paint color and as a statement color in big furniture pieces,” she says.

Consider Your Natural Light

“When you’re choosing a green paint color for a room and you’re thinking about the light in the room, you almost want to choose the color that’s counter-intuitive,” says Stephanie Purzycki, CEO and co-founder of The Finish.

“Typically, you think you’d want to brighten up a dimly lit room with a light color green, but it’s actually the opposite!" she says. "I prefer to use a darker deeper tone of green in a gently lit room to play off the moodiness. You can then brighten it up with white linens or furniture. Then, in a bright room, light sage greens or super pale mint shades work really well.” 

Hardin takes the same approach. “I love embracing a naturally dark space with an equally dark, moody paint color, so I would pick a deep, saturated green such as Benjamin Moore’s Vintage Vogue,” she tells us. “Make sure to add in plenty of lamp lighting (a fireplace is a bonus!) to maximize the cozy factor.”

But dark greens can work in bright spaces, too.

“I love a rich dark green for a room that gets great natural light,” Fisher says. “It’s super cozy and moody without feeling dark. [A shade] like Benjamin Moore’s Everest Green is unexpected for a large space and really makes a statement.”

Purzycki has a final word of warning: “If you do want to go dark green in a well-lit room, go with a darker green than you think you want, because often what will happen is the light will really illuminate the color and make it look a lot brighter than it might look in the store or on a screen.”

Opt for Organic Accents

Joanna Mahserdjian, founder of Upstate Rug Supply, isn’t just considering how green works on our walls—she has thoughts on how to bring out its best qualities through other elements in the room, too. 

“If you’re using [a soft green] on your walls or [with] a piece of upholstery, try incorporating other natural elements in the room,” says Mahserdjian. “[Think] wood tones, marble, or iron. Antique rugs are naturally dyed and a perfect choice to ground a color palette.”

Pair Small Elements for a Big Impact

“You don’t have to paint a room entirely green to still bring in the calming, neutral effect,” says Purzycki. “Botanical prints are also really popular right now, especially in wallpaper, so [green is] becoming a really popular accent color for trim to complement wallpaper. [Green has] also been a big accent color for upholstery: drapes, throw pillows, things like that—and [in] lots of different shades from emeralds to olive to sage.”

When it comes to selecting green accents, you can be more daring with smaller pops of this hue, too. “Chartreuse and olive work well as accent colors for pillows and decor, while deeper and more neutral greens are perfect for walls or upholstery,” says Purzycki. “I’m loving moss-green velvet for sofas and drapery right now.” 

Jennifer Davis of Davis Interiors also envisions bringing more greens in through accents, including solid, textured fabrics on furniture and and patterned accent pillows. “Let’s not forget about real or artificial plants, too,” she says.

Don’t Worry About an Exact Textile Match

If you’re looking for an antique rug to complement your newly green walls or green accent pillows, you might be hard-pressed to find the right tone. 

“Interestingly, green is a more rare color in antique rugs because the wool had to be dyed twice (blue and yellow), which was expensive,” explains Mahserdjian. “Don’t feel like you have to find the exact green in your rug or other textiles—play with the green tones and bring in emerald, olive, or jade. Creating a layered palette in color and texture will add a timeless quality to your organic-feeling space.”

Try Green in Calmer Spaces

“Green is a calming tone, so bedrooms, offices, and playrooms are perfect to incorporate muted greens,” says Wadden.

If you’re thinking green is the way to go in your bedroom, Hardin suggests finding a hue that evokes serenity. “Green with blue undertones is a great choice for the bedroom as it evokes a feeling of calmness,” she says.

Take Greens to the Kitchen

If you prefer a lighter, brighter green, Fisher says this is the shade for a kitchen or dining room. “A lighter green or green/grey looks best in kitchens and dining rooms,” she tells us. “Green is actually a color that compliments food, so any space to eat in and have a dinner party is a perfect spot.”

Softer greens are also great in a naturally dark or dimly lit kitchen. In this case, Fisher suggests sage. “I love a sage green for a dim room, like Farrow & Ball’s Lichen. It looks beautiful against candlelight and creates a great moody vibe,” she says.

“The great thing about green is that it’s so versatile and you can use almost any shade in any room,” adds Purzycki. “I prefer darker shades for kitchen cabinetry right now: deep forest greens, dark sage, and olive or fatigue-inspired colors. All of those colors look gorgeous with unlacquered brass hardware and marble-look counters.”

Above all else, Pierce encourages people to find what works best for them—especially in the kitchen. “Green is one of the nature-based colors that always finds its way into our homes,” she says. “There is no one way to create a green kitchen, and people should embrace their unique style to make a space their own.”

Skip These Shades

While nearly any green will do, there are a few our experts suggest you avoid. “I am not a fan of yellow-green or chartreuse greens,” advises Fisher. “I feel it’s a little harsh for a living space and isn’t a flattering color. Stick to your warmer undertones that are flattering and look beautiful.”

“I think it’s best to avoid garish, bright greens—such as grass green—as they do not carry the same energy as the more muted earth tones,” Hardin says.

“The only greens you want to avoid are shades like lime green or neon green,” adds Purzycki. “Every other green is pretty much fair game.”

“[Avoid] acid greens or cool tone greens,” agrees Davis. “I prefer warm, rich undertones.”

Whichever shade you choose, you’re likely to be in good company. “It makes sense that there is so much interest in this warm green color,” says Wadden. “It speaks to our shared global experience like no other time in history—we are all seeking rebirth.”