Cavern Clay Color Review

Cavern Clay For the Win

I am super excited about this month’s Color Review! Every year, each paint company comes out with a “Color of the Year.” Sherwin-Williams’ COTY for 2019 was Cavern Clay, a rusty clay color that I happen to really love. Especially paired with my fav color, blue! So, this month I am focusing in on this vibrant, earthy color to give you some tips on where to use this color on your exterior and interior.

Even though we have completed the Color Wheel, that doesn’t mean I’m gonna stop highlighting colors! There are so many other colors that I haven’t written about that deserve some time in the spotlight. I hope to spotlight at least 1 Sherwin-Williams color each month. So reach out and let me know which color you want to see next! For now keep reading this post for my Cavern Clay review!

If you would like to view my past posts on the Color Wheel Featured Colors and reviews you can go HERE. But also be sure to check out the Color Wheel complete with my hand-picked color schemes for the entire Sherwin-Williams color deck! There are over 1700 colors and each color has 4 schemes for you to explore using in your space.

Cavern Clay SW 7701 Review

Cavern Clay has an orange-brown undertone that is best described as a baked clay/rust color. I like that it is a bold color without being super bright. Not only is Cavern Clay a perfect accent wall for any room in your house, it also works as a front door color or even as the color inspiration for more decorative items (pillows, artwork, etc.).

As I mentioned above, I love Cavern Clay paired with blue! My favorite way to coordinate blue and Cavern Clay is by adding subtle pops of blue with a bigger piece of copper clay furniture. However, there are many ways to mix Cavern Clay with blue to create a fun and exciting color palette. Leave me a comment or send a picture if you have used this palette in your home, I would love to see!

For convenience here are my hand picked color schemes for Cavern Clay. Be sure to visit the Cavern Clay color scheme page and leave a question or a comment!

Now that you have a basis for Cavern Clay and have seen my color schemes, check out my Pinterest gallery for some inspiration. See below and let me know which one you like the most. If you have your own pictures, send them to me and I will post them!

Where to use Cavern Clay SW 7701

Since Cavern Clay is a more saturated color, the best way (in my opinion) to use it is as an accent wall. But the fun with Cavern Clay is not limited to just accent walls. As I describe below, Cavern Clay can be mixed into color palettes for a kitchen, a bathroom, used above a wall trim or used on exteriors.

Cavern Clay as an Accent Wall

A perfect place to add an accent wall is in the entry. Truth be told, I have been doing fewer accent walls as of late. However, when I want to highlight an important nook or architectural feature, accent walls are the ticket. In this case, a lone entry wall can be a good place to add a pop of color. I love how the soft blue-gray console table and light art contrast the copper colored accent wall nicely in the inspiration picture below.

A few more spots for an accent wall are in living rooms against a cream or light colored sofa or as a dramatic backdrop in a bedroom behind an upholstered headboard.

Cavern Clay in the Kitchen

One way to add some spice in the kitchen is by painting the front of your island in a contrasting color. Cavern Clay adds warmth and coziness and is an ideal option for any kitchen!

Cavern Clay works particularly well in this kitchen as the focal point. The majority of the selections are warm or off-white so it really lets the rusty clay color have its moment in the sun! Adding a touch of rustic in the vent hood helps tie in the natural feel of Cavern Clay.

Cavern Clay above Wall Trim

If you aren’t crazy about painting a full wall in Cavern Clay, consider adding it above some crisp white trim. This is a designer trick that I have used often when desiring to add some color without overwhelming the space.

You all know by now my love for a crisp white! In my old home, I had some charming beadboard trim in my dining area. What do you think I did? Of course, I painted it a crisp white in my fav: Extra White! I used a soft neutral color in the majority of my house, but I love the idea of using Cavern Clay above some crisp white trim in a dining room or bedroom.

Cavern Clay in Bathrooms

I like to add drama and interest to smaller powder bathrooms. One way to do that is by adding a darker paint color, like Cavern Clay. If you are going to go all in and paint an entire room in Cavern Clay, a powder room is a good place to do it. Let yourself have some fun in an unexpected way with a bold color in your powder!

White trim and a neutral tile floor helps to ground the copper color. Try adding some blue accents through artwork or even towels, to create a complementary scheme.

Cavern Clay on Exteriors

I’m a huge fan of fun colors on front doors. Especially since a lot of exteriors are trending very neutral with the main all-over color! Front door colors can be a challenge when trying to coordinate with the rest of your home. Cavern Clay is gorgeous with an all-white exterior and black trim on windows, like in the inspiration picture below. I also love this orange-y tone paired with a blue-gray exterior.

If you happen to live in a place that has a “desert vibe,” or if you have an adobe style home, Cavern Clay is perfect on stucco as the main body color. There are times to use a brighter color on your home! However, I do suggest making sure your color coordinates and doesn’t clash with your neighbors. 😉

Wrapping up

To wrap things up, there is a reason that Cavern Clay was named the COTY by SW. I keep seeing rusty clay colors in interiors and not just on walls! Sofas, artwork, pillows and more are ravishing in this earthy neutral. Teals and aquas are also still trending and are a perfect pair with Cavern Clay.

If you are considering Cavern Clay, the best way to find out if it is right for your space, is to grab a Peel & Stick Paint Sample and test it out. Our paint samples are handed painted with 2 coats of the real Sherwin-Williams color and are perfect for sampling color before you take the dive into gallons of paint. Our Peel and Stick Paint Samples make it easy to have confidence in your paint color choice and will save you time, effort and money while testing colors in your space. Get started now with Cavern Clay!

If you are still having trouble deciding, contact me for a Color Consult to nail down the best color for your interior or exterior. I have a passion for color and love being able to help clients find the right color to make their home beautiful!

Leave me a comment if you have Cavern Clay or would like to try it. I would love to hear from you! Also, stay tuned for the next featured color from the Color Wheel.

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If you are need of some color help check out my Interior and Exterior Color Consultation packages. I also have many different eDesign packages for all your interior needs. And for those DIYers check out my eBook on how to select paint colors for your home.