By Contributor,R. Daniel Foster
Copyright forbes
Krylon’s Matte Coffee Bean, when paired with C2 Paint’s pale ocher Epernay, evokes restorative calm.
Color of the Year releases, which commence in late summer, are highly anticipated by interior designers, fashion industry professionals and home decorating enthusiasts. C2 Paint and Krylon (a spray paint and adhesives brand), announced their picks today, September 16.
C2’s choice is Epernay #639, a hue that the company describes as an “earthy soft ochre with hushed mineral undertones.” Krylon has chosen Matte Coffee Bean, an earthy brown that the company says signals relaxation and wellness.
C2’s Epernay: French-Inspired Quiet Luxury
C2 Paint has chosen Epernay #639 as its 2026 Color of the Year.
By chance, the two colors pair exceptionally well, the tones mirroring the organic color relationships found in nature. Krylon’s rich brown provides a grounding anchor, adding depth and richness, while C2’s ochre highlights the heavier neutral.
C2’s choice is named after the Northern French village, Epernay, known as the capital of Champagne. The paint company hopes to conjure French charm in its pale yellow selection, which was prominent in European interiors during the Beaux-Arts and Neoclassical periods. The shade was seen as embodying classical ideals, evoking a Mediterranean warmth. During its heyday, the light yellow was warming, but not as potentially ostentatious as gold.
In short, the color represented what today’s culture experts term “quiet luxury.”
“C2 Epernay has long been tied to European influences and is now emerging in contemporary design for its classic, versatile ambiance,” says interior designer and C2 color specialist Philippa Radon. She calls Epernay a “historic hue” that recalls the French countryside and the culture of color, furnishings, decor and nature.
C2 Paint describes its Color of the Year as an “earthy soft ochre with hushed mineral undertones.”
C2 has assembled an “En Terre palette” to complement its choice. It includes Blueberry BD26, “a cultivated, inky blue with blackcurrant depth,” that looks especially striking on paneling, doors and bookcases. Also: Snow Sky BD15, a porcelain off-white with “a whisper of sky” that’s said by C2 to be perfect on walls and ceilings.
Other pairings include the clay and stone-colored C2 Parador, C2 Spearmint, a mineral-washed green and the “herbal-toned” neutral, C2 Potato Leek.
C2 Paint is North America’s first and only dealer-owned paint brand—billing itself as a “rebellious and creative collective.” The company was founded in 1998 by Thomas Hill III, “a disillusioned paint chemist” who was “dismayed by the industry’s dwindling quality standards,” according to the C2 website.
Using a 16-colorant system, C2 Paint has established itself as an exclusive, more expensive brand, with gallons of paint priced from $35.99 to $92.99.
Krylon’s Matte Coffee Bean Embraces The ‘Underconsumption’ Trend
Krylon has chosen Matte Coffee Bean as its 2026 Color of the year.
Krylon takes a similar tack as C2 Paint in terms of a color that broadcasts ease and comfort, but it leans more heavily into earthy aspects.
“Consumers continue to turn inward, creating home environments that promote relaxation and wellness,” says Lisbeth Parada, color marketing manager for Sherwin-Williams, which owns Krylon. “They’re craving deep, calming tones.”
The “underconsumption” mindset was foremost in Krylon’s choice of Matte Coffee Bean. The company cites a rise in frugality triggered by an uncertain economy, and the return to restoring vintage furniture and decor.
Krylon’s Color of the Year choice is said to convey ease and comfort.
The color also evokes a “grit and grind” mentality, marked by the rise of trades and homesteading. “Matte Coffee Bean captures the rugged charm of hands-on work in a way that is quietly stylish and authentic,” according to press materials.
Matte Coffee Bean pairs well with 2026 colors chosen by Krylon’s sister brands: Valspar’s Warm Eucalyptus and Minwax’s Special Walnut.
The Rise of ‘Café Core’ Design
Coffee-inspired colors are indeed trending—witnessed by Pantone’s 2025 Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse. “Café core” is among 2025’s design trends, embracing the aesthetic and lifestyle of coffeehouse culture.
Krylon’s choice reflects the design trend, Café Core, which embraces the aesthetic and lifestyle of coffeehouse culture.
“Café core often blends warm, inviting interiors with vintage and artisanal elements,” according to Elle Decor writer Rachel Silva. “It features soft lighting, rustic wooden furniture, eclectic décor, and an ambiance that encourages relaxation and creativity.”
Krylon’s Matte Coffee Bean also hearkens to the feel of the early sustainability movement of the 1970s. “During that time, we started to see browns in the home, and avocado greens,” says Parada. “The resurgence of these colors speaks to a connection to nature and wellness. Colors always cycle through, they come back.”
Palette pairings for the color include Satin Khaki, Metallic Gold and Hammered Black, which is Krylon’s 2025 Color of the Year.
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