A fresh lick of paint can make the world of a difference to the overall look and feel of a room. It's also one of the most cost-effective and impactful ways to update your home without committing to a permanent change.

After spending so much of the last two years within the same walls, changing things up and refreshing our homes certainly can't hurt. This chaotic time has resulted in an increased appreciation for good design and functionality. More than ever, we have a stronger desire to surround ourselves with things that are not only beautiful but also enhance our wellbeing and improve our quality of life.

But pinpointing the perfect paint colour for your space can be difficult and leave you standing at Bunnings for a solid hour flicking through countless colour charts. Enter the colour experts at Dulux, Wattyl, and Haymes Paint who have made things a little bit easier by releasing their trend forecasts for 2022.

Across the board there is a distinct focus on a range of neutrals that provide a comforting aesthetic, nature-inspired shades that are calming and help to keep us grounded, and bold hues that express a desire to seek out new experiences.

"Following months of restrictions, there’s a desire to be bold, expressive and try new things. At the same time, the lingering sense of uncertainty around what the future holds makes us seek comfort and security from our homes," say the experts at Dulux.

From warm neutrals to vibrant shades, be inspired to swathe your home's interior with 2022's most trendy shades.

The Interior Paint Colour Trends for 2022

Warm Neutrals

It's hard to go wrong with sticking to neutral shades in the home. They are timeless, calming, and will work with all interior design styles. In 2022 there will be a shift to favouring more warm-toned neutrals which help foster a feeling of intimacy and comfort.

Incorporating neutral tones into your space allows a room to appear larger, more clean, and welcoming. They are the perfect tones to use in a bedroom to promote peaceful sleeping. If you have plans to sell your home in the near future, neutral tones are appealing as they are calming and let a buyer see the potential of a room.

"Warm neutrals in ivory, greiges, and browns create the perfect cocooning colour palette," says the team at Wattyl.

The warm neutral shades you should look out for:

• Hog Bristle Half - Dulux
• Stowe White - Dulux
• New Penny - Dulux
• Clay pipe Half - Dulux
• Vitesse - Wattyl
• Dhimba - Wattyl
• Lavish Tan - Wattyl
• Beach Life - Wattyl
• Artisan - Haymes Paint
• Cockatoo - Haymes Paint
• Fuzzy - Haymes Paint
• Sand Haze - Haymes Paint
  
  

Nature Inspired

There is an understandably strong desire for us to get out and about after having been cooped up in our homes for so long. The trend toward nature-inspired hues is here to help us embrace the outside world. "Nature grounds us as we take those first tentative steps into a new future," shares the Dulux team. "This is a new celebration and acknowledgement of what joy and inspiration we can discover."

Soothing greens and earthy tones help embrace our innate need to connect with the natural environment and have appeared across all three brands forecasts.

The nature-inspired shades you should look out for:

• Natural Flora - Dulux
• Edvard - Dulux
• Natural Flora - Dulux
• Harmonious - Dulux
• Aboretum - Haymes Paint
• Intermittent - Haymes Paint
• Gumleaf Green - Haymes Paint
• Tranquil Vibe - Haymes Paint
• Colorbond Mangrove - Wattyl
• Shelter Cove - Wattyl
• Billy The Kid - Wattyl

Photo: Wattyl - Dewkist

Bold and energising

Bright and uplifting colours will be trending in a big way next year as we look to add more joy and positivity to our lives. Incorporating more lively hues into your home will inject it with a playful vibrancy.

According to the team at Haymes, this trending palette of bold and energising hues "encapsulates a newfound freedom to be yourself and challenge everything with a playful vibrancy and fresh optimism."

These carefree shades that range from bright blues to lively pinks are all about expressing yourself and embracing a sense of fun. For those who would like to incorporate colour into the home but are tentative to do so will be pleased to know that many of the trending shades are pastels and therefore not as daring.

The bold and energising shades you should look out for:

• Ice Lemon - Dulux
• Plunder - Dulux
• Pink Papaya - Dulux
• Pax - Dulux
• Red Energy - Haymes Paint
• In Bloom - Haymes Paint
• Awe Inspired - Haymes Paint
• Vitality - Haymes Paint
• Silver Tongue - Wattyl
• Invisibility Cloak - Wattyl
  
  

Photo: Dulux - Pink Papaya

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