This warm terracotta paint color will cozy up any room that it is painted in. Cavern Clay Sherwin Williams pairs with surrounding warm tones or compliments cool undertones.
Cavern Clay looks great as an accent color and works in many color palates. You can see why this beautiful color won the color of the year for Sherwin Williams in 2019.
Cavern Clay SW 7701
The color Cavern Clay by Sherwin Williams falls into the orange color family with red and brown undertones. This terracotta color is bold, but the brown undertones help to soften the color a bit.
Brown undertones allow the color to easily blend with many color palette options. Since Cavern Clay is more of a muted shade of orange it pairs well with creams, tans, neutrals, and various greens.
Cavern Clay is a great option to bring in a little color without overpowering the space. Instead, the color compliments the surrounding tones in the room.
Cavern Clay Hex Code: #AC6B53
RGB: 170 / 107 / 83
LRV: 20
Light Reflective Value (LRV)
The light reflective score has a rating system between 0 and 100. If a paint color has a score closer to 0, this means the color absorbs light and will make a room feel dark.
A paint color with a score closer to 100, would give off a bright and light feeling. This would help make a room feel larger and give off a light airy feeling.
Cavern Clay has a reflection score of 20 making this a dark, bold color option that can absorb a decent amount of light in a room. This color would be best in a well light area or as a smaller accent wall if light is an issue.
Does Cavern Clay Have a Red Undertone?
SW Cavern Clay is not considered red, but it does have a reddish undertone mixed into the paint. The red in this paint color is subtle, so it will not easily show through the paint unless the paint is surrounded with other red tones.
Cavern Clay Undertones
The undertones in Cavern Clay are warm, red and brown which give this color a cozy terracotta appearance. This color is the right combination of orange, red, and brown which is why it was selected as Sherwin’s color of the year in 2019.
What Accent Colors Go With Cavern Clay?
Cavern Clay coordinates with cool light greens such as Sea Salt or dark greens such as Pewter Green. This bold orange color also pairs nicely with creamy warm whites such as Pure white or dark brown-black such as Urbane Bronze.
Trim Color that Pairs with Cavern Clay?
Cavern Clay pairs well with the color Creamy by Sherwin or Pure White. Both of these trim color options have a slight yellow undertone that brings out the warmth in Cavern Clay. A stark bright white paint color wouldn’t be the best option as it would be a bit dramatic against this warm orange color.
Wood Stain Colors that Compliment Cavern Clay?
Almost any stain color will compliment Cavern Clay, but be mindful of more red-orange stain colors. If you are trying to tone down an outdated orangey oak banister, avoid painting Cavern Clay in this area.
Instead it would be better to go with a dark stain like Kona or Espresso. If you are looking to enhance the look of orange or red stain colors, Cavern Clay would help bring out the warmth in these stain colors.
Where Should I Avoid Cavern Clay?
It is best to avoid this paint color in a dimly lit room or a room with low natural lighting. This paint color has a low light reflective score, so it will absorb most of the light.
Another place to avoid this orange paint color would be near orange oak stains. Unless you are looking to enhance the orange look this will work prefect, but if you are trying to tone down the orange in the stain, its best to avoid Cavern Clay here.
Similar Paint Colors to Cavern Clay?
Similar Sherwin William paint colors to Cavern Clay are Spiced Cider, Wheat Penny, and Pottery Urn. Behr paint colors that are similar to Cavern Clay are Canyon Dusk and Orange Flambe.
Conclusion
After painting my basement this color over 5 years ago, I find myself still enjoying the look and feel of Cavern Clay. The color is the perfect shade of orange that is bold, but not too bold and warms up my drab basement.
If you aren’t quite ready to commit to a bold room, you can try an accent wall, paint the lower half of a room with the color, or use the color in a smaller space. Using a bold paint color in a small space like an entryway table, cabinets, or the back of a bookcase is a fun and unexpected way to bring a pop of color.