These Unexpected Living Room Colors Are Trending for 2022

Cecilia Halling, Creative Director at Elicyon, says colors like honeycomb, lilac, zesty curry lime, olive-yellow, dark navy, cherry and maple will be in vogue in the new year. As part of a recent project for a client, Halling incorporated an acid yellow high gloss lacquer, which she describes as "leap[ing] from the interior of the bespoke dining room drinks bar whenever the doors are opened. It’s the most exciting of surprises." If you need more proof that greens of every hue are on the rise, look no further than the 2022 Colors of the Year from Behr, Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, and PPG.

"A key color trend to note is the rise of lilac in our living spaces," says designer Katherine Cohen. "As a gentle, welcoming hue, lilac will be a trending color over the next year in interiors. For playful yet creative spaces, lilac adds bright energy to any space." Just look at this cool hangout with a lilac rug from Flor.

....but don't let that focus on purple convince you the most popular neutral is "over." Architect and designer Amanda Gunawan of OWIU Studio finds that neutral colors will take over living rooms in 2022, like Sherwin-Williams' White Flour and Benjamin Moore's Swiss Coffee—at least in certain multifunctional rooms. "With so many people working from home, many former single-use living rooms have been transformed into part-time or transitional work spaces during the day; therefore, I suspect that living room colors will continue to veer neutral, as they create a sense of light and clarity while encouraging functionality," explains Gunawan. "Many of us are still spending more time at home, and our spaces should create a sense of calm."

"With an ever-important focus on relaxation and wellness, for 2022, we’re forecasting interior color trends that both combine and reinforce our connection to nature and instill a sense of cozy comfort in the home," says Catharina Björkman, Scandi lifestyle expert at Contura. "Think earthy tones like hazy greens, soft and timeless blues, soothing sandy greys, and warming muted blush hues. These nature-centric tones give a calming, serene feel to a space," she adds.

Speaking of nature-centric, a "rich and earthy crimson shade is absolutely gorgeous and will bring a touch of maturity and glamour to any room," declares James Waylett of Jacobs & Dalton."This unique shade perfectly ties in with the whole color palette and will be the staple shade to carry through into the autumn months. We think this indulgent shade would be perfect for master bedrooms or to create an accent wall in a home study or living space."

Anna Saroukhanova of the British Institute of Interior Designers predicts that "light and calming tones, greens and blues will bring calmness and comfort to the living rooms, with a pop of fun, bold and colorful accents introduced via accessories." She adds that you can incorporate this color scheme through "lighting objects, textured and patterned scattered cushions, or indeed other light furniture items such as stools or coffee tables."

"Subdued greens and mustard toned yellows are an unexpected but endearing combination," advises Betsy Smith of Graphenstone. To incorporate this trend in your own living room, Smith suggests "layering with off whites textures, such as boucle and white oiled timbers" which will "create an understated and timeless elegance."

Interior designer Jojo Bradley believes that, because of the pandemic, "our homes, which have been our sanctuaries, will be turned into calming and inspiring places." She cites neutral pops of color, including subdued shades of yellow, red, and blue as the colors to look out for next year, as these will "add simple, effective splashes to warm our homes."

Julie Clifford of Alexander James Interior Design knows that "animal prints aren’t exactly anything new, but this trend is timeless and ever-evolving, look for cool twist on the classics." One such example is a zebra print, which the designer finds to be the "leading animal print in the market."