Cavern Clay SW 7701 is Sherwin-Williams 2019 Color of the Year. A warm terracotta color with ancient, elemental roots, Cavern Clay is a nod to midcentury modern style, but with the soul of the American Southwest, which together create the desert modern aesthetic. 

“We believe 2019 will be a renaissance of the 1970s—with a twist. In the coming year, we will embrace our pioneering spirits and artisan ingenuity,” says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing, Sherwin-Williams. “Our 2019 Color of the Year, Cavern Clay, embodies renewal, simplicity and free-spirited, bohemian flair.” 

Cavern Clay, a part of the Wanderer color journal that was announced earlier this year in Sherwin-Williams 2019 Colormix Color Forecast, is a perfect choice for residential and commercial settings. 

A New Element for the Home 
This warm, earthy hue is both casual and refined. It can be the backdrop of a playful, welcoming dining room or kitchen when paired with bright tiles, warm stone and sculptural greenery. Complementary materials include leather, simple woodgrains and indigenous cacti in contemporary, sleek gardening planters. 

“Cavern Clay is an easy way to bring the warmth of the outdoors in. Envision beaches, canyons and deserts, and sun-washed late summer afternoons—all of this embodied in one color,” says Wadden. 

It pairs well with other casual, balanced neutrals such as a warm gray or deep brown. Combined with Moth Wing SW 9174 or Dark Clove SW 9183, Cavern Clay evokes a carefree yet sophisticated aesthetic. Alternatively, consider a refreshed version of the popular ‘70s earth tone combinations by pairing Cavern Clay with a dusty denim blue, such as Distance SW 6243 or even a fresh avocado, such as Haven SW 6437. Even when paired with an Origami White SW 7636, Cavern Clay is decidedly fresh. 

Warm and Balanced Commercial Properties 
As designers, developers and builders aim to create more workspaces that feel like home, Cavern Clay’s warm and welcoming vibe make it a color to watch for offices, hotels and restaurants. As an interior color, it invites staff, clients or guests to open their minds and visualize mountain vistas, indigenous plants and trees. 

“Spaces like boutique hotels, restaurants and even offices are making an effort to create photo-friendly areas that are Instagrammable,” says Wadden. “Cavern Clay is an ideal color for flattering and design-forward aesthetics—it plays well with many types of lighting, and brings this visual of the expansive and free outside world to interiors, resulting in open and versatile public spaces.”