62 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • NOVEMBER 2021
OCTOBER MIST COLOR OF THE YEAR
BY ARLENE GROSS
It’s offi cial 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 fl ower.”
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 fi rst 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 paired 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 eff ectively 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 fl ashier
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 fl uff y 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 fi nish.
“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; drift wood-colored
wood fl oors; 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 fl ooring.
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.
INSIDE JOB
(Courtesy Benjamin Moore.com)
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