As we get ready to ring in the new year, paint companies and color experts are celebrating in their own traditional fashion by rolling out their picks for the best colors of 2022.

According to Better Homes & Gardens (BH&G), color choice often reflects trends in fashion, pop culture, technology and global design. So far, we’ve seen a selection of muted greens and comforting earth tones from paint manufacturers like Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams. One of the most highly anticipated annual color announcements, however, comes from esteemed color authority Pantone.

For 2022, Pantone’s color of the year is “Very Peri,” a bright shade of periwinkle that deftly combines soothing blue and energetic violet-reds. According to the company, the cheerful hue is designed to reflect our emergence out of the isolation triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. The selection of this year’s shade was so important that Pantone actually engineered a new hue instead of choosing from its vast library of existing colors—a first in the company’s 23-year history.

According to a statement from Leatrice Eiseman, executive director for the Pantone Color Institute, "Encompassing the qualities of the blues, yet at the same time possessing a violet-red undertone, PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression."

If you're wondering how to use Very Peri in your home, BH&G suggests pairing it with lush green tones for a refreshing twist on nature-inspired looks for your living room or home office, or combining it with muted shades of mauve or terra-cotta for a soothing look that’s perfect for bedrooms. You can also have lots of fun with this color by using it with bright shades of pink and yellow for children’s rooms.

No matter how you choose to use it, Very Peri is sure to add joy and optimism to any space in your home.