Subtle and Old-World-Inspired, Evergreen Fog Is Sherwin-Williams' 2022 Color of the Year
Upon first glance, Sherwin-Williams' 2022 Color of the Year, Evergreen Fog, reads similarly to sage, a shade experiencing quite the renaissance. After your eyes adjust, however, its green-forward notes meld with the gray—and you quickly realize that this hue is far more nuanced than the muted springtime pastel. Evergreen Fog, a true mid-tone, holds its weight: It's subtle and reassuring (green is, after all, a color we know well; it is the grass, the earth, the very essence of nature), but statement making, too. Despite its familiarity, it's easy to imagine the shade splashed across a modern kitchen, complete with sleek brass or even matte black faucetry and finishes.
Courtesy of Sherwin-Williams
It isn't, however, one-note. "Evergreen Fog's versatility lends itself to just about any style, from organic modernism to rustic and farmhouse, and everything in between," Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, tells MarthaStewart.com. "It works especially well in rustic environments because it has an Old-World vibe and an ephemeral connection. It is a fresh and reimagined version of a nostalgic green. It brings that pastoral vibe back into the home."
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Courtesy of Sherwin-Williams
As for where to use this "nourishing and sophisticated" color in your own house? Inside, it's a "fresh hue for cabinetry in a mudroom," notes Wadden, who also suggests coating walls in serene spaces, like living rooms, bedrooms, and primary bathrooms, with the shade. It's just as lovely out-of-doors: "It's also a beautiful exterior color, either for a whole home or on shutters and trim," she explains.
Courtesy of Sherwin-Williams
The shade also has a direct connection to the state of the world, as we strive, little by little, to define our collective "new normal" in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic; in some ways, it signals that the "fog" is lifting. "From a color psychology standpoint," notes Wadden, "green is the color of nature, revitalization, and growth. It is naturally emblematic of newness." The brand's Color of the Year for 2021, Urbane Bronze, created a sense of sanctuary and security at a time when we needed it. Evergreen Fog continues this storyline. "It signals growth, emergence, and new beginnings. The hue is not overly verdant. It's a little softer and delicate," adds Wadden. "If you think of a seedling emerging, it doesn't come out intense—it's subtle. Evergreen Fog helps us to begin again."
