Sherwin-Williams’ 2022 color predictions: cocooning, joyful and downright brave

Sherwin-Williams has just released MODE, their Colormix Forecast or 2022, and the future looks beautifully bright. 

For more than a century, the Ohio-based paint manufacturers have set the tone for color trends worldwide, but their current predictions are the most daring yet – ranging from blooming botanical hues to cool retro colors. 

Aptly named MODE, the long-awaited forecast welcomes a new way of preserving each seasonal transition. 

The collection of 40 shades promotes a refreshing new way of living beautifully through four primary palettes: steady Method, daring Opus, ethereal Dreamland, and nostalgic Ephemera. These four categories are expected to reshape our paint ideas for every room.

‘We told a story of balance and rhythm through color last year as we transitioned into a time of stillness,’ begins the director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, Sue Wadden. 

She continues in her discussion of the predictions: ‘We are holding that balance in one hand and embracing growth and adaptability in the other as we move toward a new vision and discovery of our world. Embracing the idea of MODE in design inspires a new way of being as we explore beyond what has been the familiar.’

However, which of these palettes will work best in your home? We have explored each selection further, so you prepare for the year ahead with the fun-filled scheme that accentuates your interior’s aesthetic. 

1. The opulent aura of Opus

With its mysterious regency, the Opus palette (above) offers decadent living room paint ideas for schemes that are sumptuously dark and luxurious.

The collection pays homage to modern maximalism through its bold metallics and rich, fruity offerings – including the fairytale-inspired hue, Blackberry (SW 7577). Pair this shade alongside the industrial tones of Iron Ore (SW 7069) for a mystical pairing that showcases an edgy twist on traditional creative expression.

2. The modernist allure of Method

Perhaps the most earthly of the four categories, Method draws from organic processes to pay homage to verdant hues and raw yet refined luxury. The selection is a cocktail of art deco hues with 1980s post modernism and contemporary organics to create a delectable sensation for the senses. 

Sherwin-Williams recommends pairing the subtle Shoji White (SW 7042) with the contrastable sensuality of Über Umber (SW 9107) to create a juxtaposition that will impress throughout 2022 and beyond. 

3. The playful charm of Dreamland 

Just as the youthful name suggests, the Dreamland palette combines pastel forms with Scandi-cool minimalism to create a fantastical aesthetic that turns your home into a modernist theme park. 

The spectrum ranges from biophilic greens to dusty berry shades, including Rosé (SW 6290) and Cucuzza Verde (SW 9038), whose pairing creates a sugary sweet utopia in all homes. Cotton Candy or rosé is sadly not included. 

4. The retro ambiance of Ephemera 

Go back to the future this 2022 with Ephemera – a fashionably nostalgic palette that encourages optimism for the future whilst drawing from the chicest colors of our past. Unifying retro-futurism, meaning, and memory, Ephemera merges shades reminiscent of a former world, including Sierra Redwood (SW 7598), Peace Yellow (SW 2857), and Basque Green (SW 6426). 

These easy paint ideas are rooted in the glory of the past, but we expect they will envelop your interiors long into the future. 

All colors from the Colormix Forecast 2022 are available at Sherwin Williams stores across the US and online internationally.