The sense of nature has been in the forefront of people’s minds during these turbulent times, and this is reflected in the colors they choose to paint their homes. After all, we have spent much more in our homes during the pandemic, and many people have looked to create a sense of calm and nature in their surroundings.

C2 Paint has noticed the same trends, and the family-owned Buffalo, NY paint specialist has selected Tiramisu (C2-600) as its 2023 Color of the Year. Tiramisu has a woodsy cedar tone, which allow it to fit anywhere in the home; it pairs particularly well with C2 Paint’s two additional 2023 capsule colors, Stout (C2-965), a full-spectrum near-black, and En Pointe (C2-851), a graceful off-white.

“We chose the theme origins because it brings us back to our roots as a company,” said Tia Clarida, C2 Paint marketing director. “Our colors are classic, but our unique, full-spectrum process gives them each a distinct personality, both in name and formulation.”

“The more we experimented with Tiramisu, the more we felt connected to its rich, restorative color and reference to earthy elements like clay and soil, which are naturally complemented by the full spectrum of the natural world surrounding them,” said Philippa Radon, C2 Paint color and design specialist. “Tiramisu’s versatile cedar tone reflects our need for connection and grounding, especially when we were all physically disconnected. Also, to keep us grounded in a digital world, we wanted a color that reinforces a sense of self and provides a lifeline to the world outside.”

Radon noted that with an eye on helping people choose the right colors, C2 Paint intentionally provided a trio capsule to make color planning easy.

“All the colors (Tiramisu, Stout, and En Pointe) are interconnected and interchangeable,” she observed. “Based on your comfort level with color, you can mix them in any fashion by choosing a dominant color and one or two accent colors.

“For the color shy, perhaps choose En Pointe for your primary color to stay within your comfort zone (a very fluid and modern take on off-white) and use Stout on the millwork (which is an easy way to add a sophisticated touch). If you aren’t comfortable painting with a third color, you could introduce Tiramisu-inspired accents, like furniture, rugs and pillows. We love the idea of using all three colors in a cool, color-blocking way. Tiramisu can also be used as a dynamic exterior color to achieve a Mediterranean feel in warmer climates.” 

Radon also observed that Tiramisu can work with many other colors: “You could confidently introduce a blue like Harmonic (C2-976) or a soft green like Peppermint (C2-714). One of my current favorite accents for Tiramisu is Rice Paper (C2-900), a soft, pale pink,” Radon noted.

“We like to pair it with materials of similar strength and warmth to create balance and love it with a range of natural wood tones, especially cerused wood,” added Radon. “Accents like lambs wool or any kind of exaggerated boucle and a sparkle of a metallic add a level of modernity. As for hardware, the more handcrafted and unique, the better. A matte black perhaps or a custom hammered or knurled bronze with texture and an uneven line and surface.

Radon noted that C2 Paint colors are ever classic; you won’t find any jarring or unnatural colors in C2 Paint’s palette because the paint specialist wants them to all be usable and versatile—and due to their full spectrum nature, they integrate with each other and with other design elements of your space.

“We are one of the few brands that does not use black ink so when we deepen our colors, we use a thoughtful, artful process of combining darker pigments,” she added. “That process, combined with our finely ground pigments and multiple colorants creates a very luminous, durable color that reflects the full range of natural light. We believe that classic color combined with quality equals longevity.”

The selection of the Color of the Year takes quite a lot of effort, with a variety of factors taken under consideration. The C2 team is constantly researching and taking notes on color, design and lifestyle trends.

“As color and trend experts, we combine and research a variety of industries and consider the political landscape and lifestyle trends around the globe to determine a general direction of color,” Radon observed. “We then collect multiple colors to see what resonates with us personally and professionally, asking ourselves questions like: How does this color make us feel? Is it usable and versatile? Does it breathe new life into the home? Is it inspiring, creative, and hopeful?”

Tiramisu is a logical follow-up to previous C2 Paint Colors of the Year and continues to connect us with nature.

“Our 2022 Color of the Year was Olive Branch, which focused on heart, home and human nature, specifically our need for human connection during the pandemic,” said Radon. “The nature-inspired color brought a powerful combination of ‘nurture’ and ‘nature’ into the sacred spaces where we seek refuge and recharge our spirits — our homes. Olive Branch, C2-938 was (and is) an organic, iconic, and soulful color that illustrates the lovely dichotomy between strength and softness and speaks to the symbols of humanity, hope, vitality, and peace.

“Carrying on from that, we wanted our 2023 color to be approachable and natural with the ability to add drama based on its use, so while we’ve seen a lot of bright, whimsical colors that reflect the digital world, we felt the need to speak to home as a place where we become grounded…a place where we restore and renew mind, body, and soul and nurture our authentic selves (much needed in a world full of filters and likes, curated feeds, and metaverses),” added Radon. “The pandemic forever changed how we view and utilize our homes.”