Picking out an interior paint colour for your Calgary home? Check out these interior colour trends for 2022
Current paint colour trends
When painting the interior of your Calgary home, colour choice has a huge influence over the ambient mood and personality that each room carries. It should complement and accentuate furniture while ultimately tying the whole room together. When entering the colour selection phase of your project it’s always worth checking out the current colour trends in the paint world. After all, they’re often popular for a reason.
Projected paint colour trends for 2022 show that it’s the year for subtle greens. Some of the largest paint companies across Canada including Sherwin Williams, Dulux (PPG), and Benjamin Moore have all selected a unique version of muted gray-green as their colour of the year for 2022. Green has always been incredibly versatile. From the striking and vibrant to the more tranquil, sophisticated shades that are gaining popularity, there is room in its range for everyone to connect with. An inseparable association with life and our natural surroundings gives greens a grounded and salubrious aura. About its emergence, one of our favourite Calgary designers, Melinda Gallant, had this to say:
“Green has been trending for awhile and it is going to continue. It symbolizes balance and harmony often seen in the natural world. It is calming and soothing. It de-stresses, revitalizes and is associated with growth and nature. Expect to see olive and other warm shades of green as well as richer jewel tones being incorporated through paint, furniture, plants and décor.”
Calgary designer Melinda Gallant of MG Inspired Designs
In company with gray-greens, other true colour-oriented trends include soft organic purples – particularly lavender and aubergine shades – as well as gentle and buttery yellows. Warm neutrals such as various shades of ‘greige’ and earthy tones are also continuing their recent popularity streak for interior paint colours; unsurprising considering that many people enjoy a comforting and grounded atmosphere in the home.
The origin of paint colour trends
Discussing colour trends raises the question: Where do these trends come from? The origin of colour trends is an amalgamation of countless different sources with one element connecting them: culture. One of, if not the most significant, individual influences on colour trends has historically been the fashion industry. This may be surprising to someone who isn’t well-versed in the fashion and industries but it’s true nonetheless. Top-designers will create and select certain colours to work within their collections and often those that make the largest impact will see their palettes trickle down into other design-centred industries. Think Meryl Streep’s iconic “You think this has nothing to do with you” monologue from The Devil Wears Prada, delivered to her co-star Anne Hathaway. Ruthless in the best of ways, it’s a reminder that no matter the sense of distance we feel we have from some industries, material culture connects all of us. If you’re unfamiliar with that reference check it out here.
For something to truly become a trend, however, people need to buy into it. That brings us to another one of the largest factors in determining colour trends: the contemporary societal environment and attitudes. Relevant cultural moods and beliefs play a huge role in what colours we may feel more inclined toward. People have long been assigning meaning and emotion to colours and as a result, they will tend to resonate with those that mirror their current internal and external atmosphere. In the roaring 20s, it was silvers, golds, and other bold, flashy colours inspired by the ostentatious living style many enjoyed. In the 50s with the invention of technicolour film, bright pastels were all the rage and also served to sublimate the solemn residuum that coated society following the World Wars. Several decades later came the 80s, infamous for their vibrant neons reflecting the optimistic and eclectic attitudes of the time.
In addition to these influences, our modern age of connection and information has brought about the existence of multiple international organizations that are entirely dedicated to forecasting colour trends, such as the Colour Marketing Group. Companies around the world use this information in creating their projected trends and colour formulations. It’s become an interesting paradox wherein those who predict what’s going to trend are partially responsible for what trends actually manifest.
Are colour trends worth buying into?
After all this discussion about recent trends and where they originate you might be wondering what the real advantages are of selecting a colour for your Calgary interior painting project based on 2022’s colour trends. The answer is: there aren’t any, really. As we mentioned above, trends are often popular for a reason and many of the ‘Colour of the Year’ awardees are genuinely tasteful and good-looking paints. However, they are far from the only colours that qualify as such. Again Melinda says it best:
“The colours we surround ourselves with can directly impact our emotions. Once you identify the colours you really like, based on your own preferences rather than the current trend you are more likely to love the space you are in. Trends come and go. There is no “right colour”. If you love something….go for it!”
Calgary designer Melinda Gallant of MG Inspired Designs
The paint selection process is all about you and how you want your space to feel. Checking out trends is a great idea for inspiration but they aren’t rules you have to follow. Use them as a starting point and if you’re not sold, allow your own preferences and tastes to guide you through the selection process until you land on something that speaks to you.
If you’re thinking of hiring a painting contractor in Calgary for your interior painting project, don’t feel like you should wait until the spring. Winter is the better time in Calgary to get your interior painted.
A special thanks to local Calgary designer, Melinda Gallant, of MG Inspired Designs for giving us her expert insights. If you’re in search for an interior designer you can check out her website here.
