‘There is something inherently human in the colors that we are attracted to for 2022,’ says Farrow & Ball’s color curator, Joa Studholme. Following a turbulent era, she expects our future schemes will draw from ‘the modest character of the world of folk and craft’ that allows us to inject mythical majesty into the everyday. It’s the paint trend prediction we have waited for, but where can you begin? Joa’s five significant shade suggestions are the perfect place to start. ‘They are an eclectic mix of the pure and the humble that evokes the warmth and harmony of a more innocent age while celebrating life today,’ she says, in the discussion of the new palette. ‘Function goes hand in hand with ornament, using colors and finishes in unusual ways to celebrate the principles of utility, kindness, and honesty.’ Here are Joa’s picks that will be big news in the months ahead.
1. Babouche (No.223)
The sunshine hues of Babouche (opens in new tab) epitomize the welcome return to (a sense of) normality through its bright yet refined charisma. When licked with this dusty golden tone, spaces feel instantly more optimistic and whimsically folksy without appearing overpowered. Joa recommends pairing alongside School House White, the second of the five shades, for a simple kiss against the striking aesthetic.
2. School House White (No.291)
For a nostalgic journey to a time gone by, look to the Victorian allure of School House White (opens in new tab) – perhaps the most versatile of the collection. For an easy paint idea, Joa suggests creating a chequerboard patterned floor by combining this subtle hue with Stone Blue or Breakfast Room Green (in washable Modern Emulsion) on the lower walls (above). It’s beautifully ornamental, simple, and timelessly stylish.
3. Breakfast Room Green (No.81)
Your morning breakfast may set you up for success for the rest of the day, but with Breakfast Room Green (opens in new tab), your interiors will never fail – whatever the size. Yes, Breakfast Room Green works particularly well in a small room, where Joa suggests using the color on both walls and woodwork to ‘make a room look bigger by disguising the limits of the space.’ Its organic tones similarly act as the perfect backdrop for art or upcycled furniture, similar to the scene above.
4. Stone Blue (No.86)
The allure of a vintage-inspired aesthetic shows no signs of wavering in 2022, and Stone Blue (opens in new tab) is the exact shade you need to indulge in its eternal beauty. Its traditional aura can be injected sparingly into unorthodox corners of your home, from a tired kitchen unit to a statement door. Stone Blue has already fueled our living room paint ideas – with an ageless twist.
5. Incarnadine (No.248)
The color that screams pure indulgent, pleasure, Incarnadine (opens in new tab), is the answer to our roaring 2020 fantasies. Incarnadine’s crimson tones have the power to drench a space in stylish sensuality, but it’s also designed to work alongside softer colors that keep your scheme fresh and clean. For a bold paint idea for every room, pair Incarnadine with School House White to maintain serenity through stripes or Breakfast Room Green to create the ultimate party space for 2022. This is a year of colorful celebration, after all.
