C2 Paint has announced its Color of the Year for 2026. C2 Epernay #639 is an “earthy soft ochre with hushed mineral undertones” that is “timeless, grounded and inherently elegant,” the company said in a statement.
Named after a French village known for its vineyards and limestone architecture, C2 Epernay is meant to look like “sunlit stone, the muted richness of vintage textiles and the opulence of champagne.” The pale yellow shade was prominent in European interiors during the Beaux-Arts and Neoclassical periods.
“C2 Epernay has long been tied to European influences and is now emerging in contemporary design for its classic, versatile ambiance,” Philippa Radon, interior designer and C2 color specialist, said in the statement. “This historic hue helps us retell the wondrous stories woven through history via the inseparable threads of color, art, furnishings, and nature. It reminds us to appreciate the personal touches that make a home uniquely ours—and to live with reverence for the stories we’re creating every day.”
The En Terre Palette
C2 Paint also designed an entire color palette around the selection. The En Terre palette for 2026 celebrates nature with the tones of gardens, weathered facades and natural fibers. Featured colors in the palette include Epernay 639, the Color of the Year, as well as Parador 922; Spearmint 700; Potato Leek 914; Snowsky (BD15); and Blueberry (BD26).
The Snowsky and Blueberry palettes are from interior designer Barry Dixon’s “The Naturals” collection for C2 Paint. Snowsky is a porcelain off-white while that the C2 team recommends for walls and ceilings while Blueberry is an inky blue with blackcurrant that the team recommends for paneling, doors, and bookcases.
“These colors draw from the deepest wells of memory and materials—earth, wind, fire and water,” Dixon said. “They’re the shades of lived experience and layered interiors. I believe color, when chosen with soul, becomes the most honest form of storytelling.”
“We are thrilled to have designer Barry Dixon as part of our 2026 En Terre palette,” C2 Paint Marketing Director Tia Clarida said. “His penchant for color, attention to detail, and appreciation of the natural world authentically align with our brand.”