Sherwin-Williams' 2019 Color of the Year is Cavern Clay, an warm, brown shade that evokes the look and feel of desert rock and landscapes, and is surprising industry experts.
Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams speaks on the choice, "Cavern Clay is an easy way to bring the warmth of the outdoors in," a trend gaining ground with many manufacturers leaning toward biophilic design style; she adds, "Envision beaches, canyons and deserts, and sun-washed, late-summer afternoons—all of this embodied in one color. Realtor.com writer Jamie Wiebe points out that the choice is a distinct departure from the recent jewel tone color trend dominance, like Pantone's 2018 Ultra Violet, and Sherwin-Williams' own 2018 selection, blue-green Oceanside.
For years, shades of watered-down brown were the go-to choice for risk-averse homeowners. Need to prep a house for a sale? Slather the walls with beige. Want to give your home a vaguely Tuscan feel? Turn to taupe. Sure, these bland brownish hues go with anything, but they're severely lacking in the personality department. So we were frankly rather shocked to see that a new twist on brown has taken the lead in today's home decor.
