Dunn-Edwards is embracing warmer, more dimensional interiors with French Press Coffee, its 2027 Color of the Year. The deep brown shade features a subtle plum undertone that changes with surrounding light, offering a softer alternative to black, charcoal, and conventional dark neutrals. Designed for applications ranging from walls and cabinetry to doors and exterior trim, the shade reflects a broader move away from cool grays, stark whites, and flat beiges toward earthy colors with greater depth.
For Dunn-Edwards, the selection provides a central shade around which to market its broader 2027 Color Trends collection. French Press Coffee’s versatility across residential, hospitality, workplace, multifamily, and retail projects also gives the company opportunities to reach both consumers and design professionals. Its positioning as an elevated neutral could encourage broader applications while supporting demand for warmer, mood-driven palettes.
Image Credit: Dunn-Edwards
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Moody Warm Neutrals
- Deep brown, plum-tinted, and earth-based palettes create openings for paint and decor brands to redefine premium neutrals beyond gray, white, and beige.
- Adaptive Interior Color
- Light-responsive shades with subtle undertones support more dynamic environments where walls, cabinetry, and trim shift visually throughout the day.
- Emotion-led Design Palettes
- Warmer, mood-driven color collections reflect growing demand for interiors that feel grounded, intimate, and expressive across home and commercial spaces.
Where This Applies
- Paint and Coatings
- Color-of-the-year strategies give manufacturers a platform to package trend forecasting, product lines, and professional specification tools around signature shades.
- Interior Design
- Residential and commercial designers can use elevated dark neutrals to create softer contrast, richer spatial depth, and more cohesive material palettes.
- Hospitality Design
- Hotels, restaurants, and lounges gain fresh potential from immersive brown-based schemes that convey comfort, sophistication, and distinctive brand atmosphere.
