These 7 Paint Trends Will Be Everywhere This Summer, According to Design Pros (2024)

While some home decor trends last for years (yes, we're talking about you, modern farmhouse style), paint trends tend to change more quickly, since painting is one of the fastest and most affordable ways to revamp a room. Of course, you don't need to change your paint with the seasons, but if your home could use a refresh, why not go with one of these on-trend colors? We asked design pros to peer into their crystal balls and predict the top paint trends of summer 2022. From baby blues to hand-painted wall murals, here are all the paint trends the experts see in our future.

The All-Time Best Paint Colors, According to Real Simple Home Designers

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Cool Blues

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"I feel like cool blues are going to be really big this summer—like aquas and baby blue. They're fun, bright, and summery," says Jessica Davis, the interior designer behind Atelier Davis. Think beyond the walls, Davis suggests, and consider painting cabinets, furniture, and other decor details.

Interior designer Lisa Gilmore also predicts that summer 2022 will be all about "off-the-beaten-path blues," as we get more creative than the classic combo of blue and white. "Using a blue that pulls a purple base is refreshing, exciting, and unexpected. To me, Benjamin Moore's Watertown 818 does just that!"

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Painted Floors

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If you follow any design blogs or magazines, you've probably seen some stylish homes with painted floors in recent months. Davis predicts that this trend will continue. "I think painted floors are going to continue to be big, but I especially see checkerboards and stripes really enjoying a renaissance," she says. Remember: Painter's tape is your best friend if you're DIY-ing a patterned floor.

Warm and Earthy Hues

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"Take fun seriously in 2022. Color is everywhere," says Annie Sloan, the creator of Chalk Paint. "Summer '22 is being led by warm, earthy spice colors. Rich yellows such as my ochre-influenced Carnaby Yellow, comforting-but-sexy spice colors such as Riad Terracotta, and the clay-like Italian plaster of Piranesi Pink. This fits with the post-lockdown trend for more personalized, characterful living spaces, whilst reflecting our desire for travel, for excitement, for the spice of life!"

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Painted Architectural Interest

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"The trend for experimentation continues, and we move further and further away from one-
color homes," Sloan says. If you want to introduce color into your space without painting all the walls, try this trick: "A great way to add color is to use a picture rail and add a new color above," Sloan suggests. "This Bridgerton-esque addition of architectural detail is witty and will add character, charm, and height in your home when done correctly. Remember: color above the picture rail will draw the eye up! Flood the same hue across the ceiling for a maximalist take on the look." If you already have any architectural details in your home (think, wainscoting or board and batten), consider painting them a contrasting color.

Soft Watermelon Shades

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"We are seeing a lot of our clients still craving a sense of calm and comfort in their homes," says L.A.-based interior designer Jenn Feldman. This desire for comfort is leading to more nature-inspired hues, such as pale ivory, greens, and blush pinks, Feldman explains. "I'm starting to call it the summer of watercolored watermelon!"

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Matte, Textured Finishes

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"We are gravitating toward flatter satin and lime wash finishes, which are feeling clean, fresh, and bright throughout the home," says Feldman. "Adding that extra layer of texture on the finish can create such a wonderful feeling that envelops a space," she adds. When selecting paints, consider some historic alternatives to traditional paints, such as lime wash or milk paint.

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Murals Make a Comeback

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"I wholeheartedly feel that artists are finally getting their moment with wall murals," Gilmore says. "For so long, people would hear the word 'wall mural' and think of a dated waterfall scene painted on your grandmother's basem*nt wall, adjacent from the wood wall paneling. However, now people have become freer and more expressive with colors, shapes, textures, and the like."

Paint doesn't have to stay inside the house, either. "Also, painted pools! Give me more painted pools," Gilmore says.