'Caramel' Is the More Vibrant Earth-Tone That Everyone's Decorating With Right Now — Here's How to Do It

From carnival apples to cupcakes and brownies, caramel is a timeless treat. However, it signifies good taste in more ways than one. This light brown color has gold undertones that brighten up any room. Like your favorite coffee shop latté, the color caramel makes you feel warm from the inside, out.

Culinary hues are nothing new. There's cherry red and mustard yellow, and trend forecasters have even suggested that vegetal colors will be everywhere this year. These familiar — and natural — colors bring a fun, lived-in feel to your space. And because caramel is more muted, it works particularly well for the color-averse.

You can use it as a neutral that’s never boring or bland. Below, we break down what color caramel is, and some of the ways designers like to decorate with this brown in their interiors.

Caramel: Explained

So, what color is caramel? “On the color scale, it lies among the lighter browns, with influence of yellows and oranges,” says interior designer and color expert Madison Hughes — “It's like sugar cooked down to the perfect gooey texture.” And whether you’ve got a sweet tooth or not, it’s a stunning addition to any space.

How Can I Style Caramel?

Interior designers tend to love the color of caramel. Its versatility and timeless style are unmatched. Whether you play with texture or mix and match materials, there are so many ways to use this shade.

Below are some of the best.

1. Make Guest Feel Welcome

Thanks to its warm and cozy qualities, caramel is one of the best colors for entryways, helping to set the tone for the home.

"I selected a golden caramel hue to grace the entry points, which greets visitors upon arrival," explains interior designer Alessandra Smith, of the space shown above. "This inviting color not only welcomes guests with a sense of warmth, but also reflects the richness and grandeur of the home's heritage."

2. Soften a Darker Color Palette

Interior designer Alessandra Smith used a warm, gooey caramel color to employ the 'sandwich' method in this retro-style living room. A caramel-colored floor rug and wall paint flank the black-stained timber panelling, providing an easy spot for your eye to rest, and softening the overall look of the space.

Where a white paint would have appeared too jarring next to the black details, a warm caramel color ensures the space feels light and airy, while also warm and enveloping.

3. Embrace Caramel Tones Through Wood Finishes

Caramel colors can often be found through natural materials, and namely in honey-toned woods. In this modern kitchen, Laura Marion, founder and principal architect of Flight Architecture, says she found her inspiration from Japanese tradition, where forms, spaces, and colors are "understated, rooted in the natural world, and showcase light and balance overly shiny things."

"For the cabinetry and flooring, we chose this rich white oak with a range of caramel colors to add warmth which grounds the otherwise pure and modern space," she continues. "It also adds interest and depth without adding complexity. We used the same caramel tones for every fixed finish throughout the home, punctuated by changes in geometry, not color."

4. And Through Your Décor Choices

Caramel looks wonderful when introduced through your more permanent fixtures and finishes, but it works just as well when styled through your décor — reflecting the soft glow of sunlight during the warmer seasons, or making a space feel cozier when it's cool outside.

"The caramel tones were intentionally chosen to introduce warmth and depth to the space," explains Christine Stucker, the principal designer at Stewart-Schäfer of the cozy living room shown above. "They complement the natural wood elements and neutral palette, creating a sense of cohesion and understated luxury. Through the décor and throw pillows, these hues add a tactile softness that makes the home feel inviting, grounding the modern design with a touch of warmth and familiarity.”

5. Add a Bit of Glamour with Caramel

But of course, caramel can be used in a range of interior styles, and thanks to its closeness to shades of glitzy gold, often helps imbue a space with a sense of glamour and grandeur, as seen in this living space by Australian-based studio, Tennille Joy Interiors.

Its blush pink walls and caramel-colored carpet may be an unexpected combination, but it's a shade that works well as a dominant color in a space, explains designer Tennille Joy Burnup. "It can serve as a sophisticated neutral base and add warmth to a color scheme, and it pairs particularly well with gold accents for a luxury aesthetic," she adds.

FAQs

What Colors Go With caramel?

“Due to the nature of its muted warmth, caramel pairs naturally with earth tones,” says Madison Hughes. “Sage, goldenrod, taupe, terracotta, chocolate brown, and especially dusty blue can create a unified palette.”

For this reason, natural materials, like brick, wood, and stone, often look great when paired with caramel. However, you can also try a bolder color, too. Shades that are bright and warm, like zesty orange or a hot pink, work beautifully.

Once you know what color caramel is, it's easy to see how to use it in your own home. Its cozy warmth is a welcome addition, and it even looks great as an accent hue; try a caramel chair or lamp, and you’ll see what we mean.