It’s official and the winner has been announced: Benjamin Moore’s color of the year for 2022 is October Mist 1495.
The paint company describes the color as a “gently shaded sage” that evokes the “silver-green stem of a flower.”
October Mist is one hue of Benjamin Moore’s 14-color trends palette, chosen by color and design experts who determine the common threads across domestic and global cultures and the aesthetic disciplines of design, art, and fashion.
PAINT COLOR IS KEY
Choosing a paint color for a room is often the most challenging design decision for homeowners, says Merrick-based interior designer Marlaina Teich, of Marlaina Teich Designs.
“Even if it is easy to change out, it can feel like a big commitment and we want to get it right the first time,” Teich says.
Some colors, like blues and grays, are restful and have become more popular in recent years. Yellow, in contrast, though bright and happy, can be overstimulating and therefore is not advised for a nursery, Teich says.
A paint color can serve as a backdrop, blending into the background in a room where furnishings take center stage, or it can define the mood of the space, from romantic to fun, energetic or moody, notes Teich.
“This has less to do with the hue itself or even the tone, but more to do with the relationship between the walls and the furnishings,” she explains.
Pairing dark walls with light decorations can create a sleek, monochromatic design scheme where the wall color is as important as that of the furnishings. Yet with bright colors and prints that draw the focus to the furnishings, dark walls become a neutral backdrop.
A RESTFUL HUE
October Mist, Teich opines, is a versatile color that gives off a restful, meditative vibe.
“October Mist can be used in a Zen meditation space to set a sleek, calm mood, or as effectively in a farmhouse for a modern homespun feel,” Teich remarks.
When paired with other neutral tones and in dim light, the shade can appear more gray-brown. Paired with flashier colored accents in brighter lighting, it looks more green-sage, and would be perfect for a shabby-chic space or kids’ playroom, she says.
Teich recommends October Mist in a guest bedroom with fluffy white bedding, sheer window treatments, and soft lavender accents.
“A vase with fresh lavender or eucalyptus on the bedside table and crisp white linens folded on a luggage rack at the bed’s end would be the perfect way to welcome houseguests,” she says.
DECORATING WITH OCTOBER MIST
For ceiling and trim paint in an October Mist-painted room, Teich suggests Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17, in a matte finish.
“Though I am a fan of high and semigloss in general, this color is a rare exception that calls for a more rustic application,” Teich explains.
For furnishings, look for minimal, organic pieces: white upholstered sofas, chairs, and headboards; driftwood-colored wood floors; and wooden tables and surfaces. Accent with brushed silver hardware and silver sculptural objects.
Next, turn the focus towards nubby textures that blend well with October Mist, such as a woven-wool area rug on top of wood flooring.
The color would also look great opposite an accent wall of grass-cloth wallpaper in a beige or deep brown for a more naturalistic texture and contrast for increased visual interest, says Teich.
For lighting, wall sconces with an abstract, naturalistic motif and chandeliers made with natural, earthy materials such as wood over metal — all on dimmers — set a moody tone for the space.
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