Cinnamon Slate 2113-40 became Benjamin Moore’s 2025 Color of the Year, and the reactions split fast — some people saw brown, others saw purple, and nobody could agree on what they were looking at. I painted an accent wall in my office and a powder room with it. Here’s what you’re actually getting.
What Is Cinnamon Slate 2113-40?
Cinnamon Slate is a dark, earthy plum-brown from Benjamin Moore with an LRV around 20. That’s firmly in the darker range — deep enough to make a real statement without going as heavy as a true dark. BM describes it as a mix of heathered plum and velvety brown, and that’s the most accurate two-word breakdown you’ll get.
It works on accent walls, full rooms with good light, cabinets, front doors, and exteriors. The appeal is that it brings warmth and depth without being a standard brown or a predictable gray. It has personality — a color with layers. It’s moody but not grim, warm but not sweet.
Is Cinnamon Slate 2113-40 Brown or Purple?
Both, and that’s the whole point. The purple-brown split is the defining characteristic. In warm light, the brown dominates and Cinnamon Slate reads like a rich, warm neutral with a hint of something more. In cooler light, the purple comes forward and you see the plum — muted and earthy, but clearly there.
I toggled it against a straight warm brown on Coloraw under different lighting, and the purple was easy to spot in every setting. It never fully hides. Even at its most brown, there’s a violet warmth underneath that separates it from a standard taupe or chocolate. If purple in any amount makes you nervous, this isn’t your color. If you like the idea of a neutral that has depth beyond brown and gray, the purple is what makes it interesting.
Cinnamon Slate vs. Chelsea Gray — Which Should You Pick?
Chelsea Gray HC-168 is the comparison for people who want something at a similar depth but without the purple. Both are popular BM darks — Chelsea Gray sits around LRV 22, close to Cinnamon Slate’s 20. But the undertone difference is stark.
Chelsea Gray is a cool, neutral dark gray. Clean. Straightforward. No purple, no brown warmth. Cinnamon Slate is warm and layered — brown and plum woven together. If you want a dark neutral that disappears into the background and lets everything else do the talking, Chelsea Gray is the safer pick. If you want a dark neutral that adds warmth and has its own personality, Cinnamon Slate goes further. I’d pick Chelsea Gray for a modern kitchen and Cinnamon Slate for a bedroom, study, or powder room.
How Does It Look in Different Lighting?
South-facing rooms bring out the most balanced version. Warm light and Cinnamon Slate work well together — you see the brown warmth clearly, and the purple adds depth without taking over. It looks rich and grounded.
North-facing rooms push the purple forward. Cool indirect light amplifies the plum side, and the color can feel noticeably more violet-gray than warm brown. It’s not bad — some people specifically want this version — but it’s different from what the chip shows in warm store lighting. East rooms shift through the day. West rooms glow warm in the evening, which brings out the brown.
For bulbs, 2700K to 3000K LEDs keep the balance point. Warmer bulbs push the brown. Cooler bulbs above 4000K amplify the purple and can make the color feel colder than intended.
Does Cinnamon Slate 2113-40 Work on Exteriors?
It does, and the depth holds up well outside. At LRV 20, Cinnamon Slate has enough weight that sunlight won’t wash it out. In full sun, the brown warms up and the color reads as a rich, earthy dark neutral. You see brown more than purple in strong light.
In shade, the plum shows more. North-facing walls and areas under overhangs will read darker and more purple. The variation gives the house some character, and on most styles it looks intentional. Front doors are a strong application — Cinnamon Slate against white siding creates a warm focal point. Full exterior siding works on smaller homes and cottages. It pairs well with warm stone, natural wood, and cream-toned trim.
What Colors Pair Best With Cinnamon Slate?
For trim, White Dove OC-17 is a natural partner. Its warmth echoes the brown in Cinnamon Slate without fighting the purple. The contrast is clean and flattering. Simply White OC-117 works for a slightly brighter edge. Chantilly Lace OC-65 gives you maximum contrast.
On surrounding walls, light warm neutrals work best. White Dove, Pale Oak OC-20, or Classic Gray OC-23 all complement without competing. I checked Cinnamon Slate 2113-40 on Paintuma against several coordinating colors on real room photos, and warm neutrals consistently looked the most grounded. For hardware on Cinnamon Slate cabinets, warm brass feels intentional and echoes the brown warmth. Matte black works for a more subdued look.
What Are the Closest Matches From Other Brands?
Sherwin-Williams Poised Taupe SW 6039 is the closest comparison in spirit. It was SW’s 2017 Color of the Year and lives in the same warm taupe-purple space. But Poised Taupe is lighter and less saturated — it reads more as a warm gray-taupe with a purple whisper, while Cinnamon Slate has more depth and more obvious plum character.
Exact matches are tough because the specific brown-purple ratio is particular to this formula. Most dark taupes from other brands either lean too gray or too brown without catching that violet warmth. If you need to match at a non-BM store, bring a large painted swatch. The purple undertone is hard to see on a small chip under store lighting.
Should You Sample Cinnamon Slate Before Buying?
This one needs a sample more than most. A color that shifts between brown and purple depending on light is going to surprise you in at least one room. What reads as a warm brown in the store can look noticeably purple on your north-facing wall.
Paint a large swatch — at least a foot square — on two walls. Live with it for two full days. Watch it in morning light, afternoon light, and under your evening lamps. Pay attention to which version you see more of. If both the brown face and the purple face work for you, commit with confidence.
For a quick preview, paintcolorvisualizer.com lets you upload a photo of your own room and test the color for free. It works for interior and exterior. It won’t capture the undertone shift perfectly, but it’ll show you the depth and warmth level before you buy samples.
Bottom line: Cinnamon Slate 2113-40 is a warm plum-brown that earned its moment as Color of the Year. Test it in your light, pair it with warm neutrals, and lean into the purple — it’s what makes this color worth choosing.
