Pale Oak OC-20 is a beautiful soft, warm taupe and one of the most popular paint colors in Benjamin Moore’s Off-White Collection. It sits comfortably between gray and beige, making it a pretty flexible color. It can also be a bit of a chameleon as it’s very vulnerable to changes in lighting. Let’s take a closer look at the spectral data for Pale Oak and whether it might be a good match for your project.

Photo by Rufty Custom Built Homes and Remodeling – Discover kitchen design ideas

Walls and ceiling are painted in Benjamin Moore Pale Oak OC-20.

What is the LRV of Pale Oak?

Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is a measure of how much light a paint reflects back into a room, with 100% being highly reflective and zero being not reflective at all. Pale Oak has an LRV of 68.6, which means it will reflect quite a bit of light back into your space. Pale Oak is considerably lighter than many other popular taupe paint colors. It may lose a lot of its color strength (wash out) in a very bright room. In those spaces, you may want to consider colors with a lower LRV instead (around 55). If your space is very dark, Pale Oak may look a bit dull or dirty without plenty of artificial lighting to give it a boost.

Photo by Morr Interiors – Browse sunroom ideas

What is the “undertone” of Pale Oak? 

Since everyone perceives color differently, let’s look at something a little more objective – the spectral data. We can use tools like colorimeters and spectrophotometers to accurately measure a color’s dominant wavelength, or hue angle, and other characteristics. Pale Oak has a hue angle of 92.414°. This means Pale Oak is officially part of the Yellow hue family (a warm color).

Chroma, another piece of spectral data, is a measure of a paint color’s vividness or saturation. At only 5.617, Pale Oak has a pretty low chroma value. This means that its Yellow hue is muted by a heavy dose of gray.

Does Pale Oak look purple or pink?

Pale Oak is frequently debated online. Some designers will describe it as lavender, while others refer to it as a pink-tinged taupe or a brownish plum. The reason this happens is connected to lighting.

As you can see above, Pale Oak falls within the Yellow hue family, close to Yellow-Red hues on the color wheel. In balanced, neutral lighting, Pale Oak appears as a warm gray-beige with perhaps a subtle hint of pink or peach. Under certain lighting conditions, however, colors within this range tend to take on a purplish tint. Like many popular neutral, low-chroma paint colors in the Yellow hue family, Pale Oak is highly susceptible to color shifts under imbalanced lighting conditions. This phenomenon is known as color inconstancy. 

Photo by Willow Homes – Search family room design ideas

In this living room, Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore is on the walls, ceiling, and trim. Notice how the paint color seems to shift a bit depending on where the light hits.

How does lighting affect Pale Oak?

In a room with south-facing windows or a room that gets lots of warm afternoon sun from a west-facing window, you’ll find Pale Oak looks quite warm and beige. On the other hand, rooms that have muted, eastern morning light or north-facing windows will see Pale Oak leaning a little more into its gray side. 

Photo by Morr Interiors – Search living room design ideas

In this living room, we see Pale Oak looking more gray than beige.

Using the right color light bulbs will have a tremendous impact on this color. Under soft white bulbs (2700 K), Pale Oak will look a bit warmer. Daylight bulbs (4000+ K), however, will make it look grayer and possibly more purple. We recommend using light bulbs in the 3000 K to 3500 K range for the best, most natural-looking color results. Read our blog post for links to specific bulb recommendations. 

Photo by Rufty Custom Built Homes and Remodeling – Search family room design ideas

The walls in this beautiful room are BM Pale Oak. You can see how the warmer, lower Kelvin light in this photo (these are probably 2700 K “soft white” bulbs) is causing Pale Oak to look quite warm.

Which white trim color goes with Pale Oak?

Pale Oak and White Dove are a very popular Benjamin Moore color pairing – they look quite pretty together. Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-017 is a beautifully soft, warm white paint color. It’s not too stark, nor is it overly creamy. Next to Pale Oak, White Dove looks very muted and subtle. That said, we tend to prefer the contrast of a clean, low-chroma white paint, like Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65 or Sherwin-Williams High Reflective White 7757. If you prefer a clean white that’s a bit softer with only a touch more warmth, try Sherwin-Williams Pure White 7005.

Photo by LDa Architecture & Interiors – Browse bedroom ideas

Is Pale Oak a good whole house color?

It certainly can be, depending on the lighting in your home. Pale Oak can be a great choice for many traditional, transitional, and contemporary homes in living rooms, entryways, bedrooms, bathrooms…just about anywhere. However, the color shifts in different lighting can make it tricky to work with. There are a lot of other lovely, low-chroma neutrals that may be a better fit (see comparisons below). Be sure to hang sample swatches to compare in different rooms and evaluate under different lighting conditions. 

Remember, your quality of light changes throughout the day so you must view a large sample of this paint color on all walls in a variety of artificial and natural light before committing to it. (We mail 8″ x 10″ paint swatches of our recommendations to our Virtual Color Consultation clients.)

Is Pale Oak a good exterior color?

Pale Oak is a beautiful, flexible choice for many types of exteriors, from modern to traditional to Mediterranean. It also works well on a variety of surfaces, including brick, siding, and stucco. You may even want to consider this color for trim or other architectural details, like columns or windows. Pale Oak will look even lighter than you might expect in an exterior environment. Be sure to hang up test swatches on exterior walls before committing to this color.

Photo by Richard Wallace Builder, Inc. – Discover exterior home design ideas

This exterior is painted BM Pale Oak. Trim is a “builder’s white,” according to the home builder.

What color goes well with Benjamin Moore Pale Oak?

The soft, subtle lightness of Pale Oak makes it ideal for coordinating with darker colors. Navy, black, charcoal, and even deep dark greens or reds form a beautiful contrast next to the quiet warmth of Pale Oak. We’ve created a sample Pale Oak color palette for you below.

What other paint colors are similar to Benjamin Moore Pale Oak?

If you like Benjamin-Moore Pale Oak OC-20, be sure to only get it mixed in a genuine Benjamin-Moore paint product. I never, ever recommend color matching between brands. Differences in pigments, chemical composition, and paint viscosity between brands mean they will be different. You cannot color match between brands and expect to get identical results. But if you’re looking for a paint color with a similar vibe as Pale Oak and need to use another brand, we’ve got you covered. Here are a few dupes that are a pretty close match to BM Pale Oak based on their spectral data: 

• Sherwin-Williams Limewash 9589 (only available in SW Emerald Designer Edition paint)
• Sherwin-Williams City Loft 7631
• Behr Campfire Ash N320-1
• PPG Silent Smoke PPG1025-2

Comparing paint colors that are similar to each other can be a useful tool when deciding what works best in your space. Here are a few popular comparisons and how they stand out from one another:

Benjamin Moore Pale Oak vs Edgecomb Gray

Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray HC-173 is another popular taupe that’s similar to Pale Oak in terms of lightness and hue angle. Because of this, it tends to have that same vulnerability to changes in light. You might see a hint of purple or pink in certain qualities of light. In short, Edgecomb Gray is slightly warmer and darker than Pale Oak.

Benjamin Moore Strand of Pearls vs Pale Oak

Strand of Pearls CSP-395 is a beautiful greige that’s part of the Benjamin Moore Color Stories line. Both colors are in the Yellow hue family with similar hue angles (95.02° and 92.41°). However, Strand of Pearls has a higher chroma value (7.75). That means you may see a bit more yellow/beige and less gray than you’d see in Pale Oak. The most noticeable difference between the two, however, is in terms of lightness. With an LRV of 72, Strand of Pearls is a much lighter, more reflective color.

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist vs Pale Oak 

Balboa Mist OC-27 is another Benjamin Moore favorite that’s very similar to Pale Oak in terms of color and lightness. Like Pale Oak, Balboa Mist lives on that same part of the color wheel that makes it vulnerable to lighting. That means it can sometimes look a wink purple in certain light. Pale Oak’s hue angle and slightly higher chroma value (5.6 vs. 4.9) mean it’s just a bit warmer than Balboa Mist.

Pale Oak vs Revere Pewter

Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter HC-172 was a super hot color several years ago, and it’s still going strong. Comparing their spectral data, we see these colors are both Yellows with very similar hue angles (91° and 92°). With an LRV of 55, Revere Pewter is quite a bit darker. This might make it a better choice for a bright room that gets lots of direct hits of natural sunlight. Revere Pewter also has a higher chroma (7.3 vs 5.6), meaning it’s more colorful (saturated) than Pale Oak.

Want to learn how to simply and accurately identify a paint color’s hue family? Curious about how to use chroma? In my online course, Color By The Numbers™, I show you how easy it is to locate spectral data and how to use it to evaluate colors.

Need help choosing a color?

Need help finding the right paint color? Order a Virtual Color Consultation Report from the color professionals at Three Bears Home Staging to get a custom, curated palette and guidance for your next painting project.

Order Your Virtual Color Consultation Report Today!

Whether you’re looking for a complete refresh of your space, experimenting with a new style, or just need a little professional guidance to help narrow down your paint color choices, our online color consultations can help!

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About Vannessa Rhoades

Vannessa Rhoades is the author of Just Right! Easy DIY Home Staging and the founder of the award-winning firm, Three Bears Home Staging®. She specializes in providing positive, empowering virtual consultations that help homeowners and real estate agents all across the country sell more quickly and for more money.

Last week, Benjamin Moore unveiled Blue Nova 825 as its Color of the Year for 2024. This captivating fusion of blue and violet ignites a sense of adventure, uplifts, and broadens horizons. Drawing inspiration from the radiant glow of a recently born star in the cosmos (awww!), Blue Nova invites us to explore uncharted territories in pursuit of fresh and exhilarating encounters. In our paint color review, we’ll do a deep dive into why they chose Blue Nova, what color it really is, and how to use it in your home.

Why Is Blue Nova Benjamin-Moore’s Color of the Year 2024?

Blue Nova makes a bold statement without being overpowering—it’s a comfortably dialed-back hue that encourages people to experiment with color. This color marks a significant departure from last year’s vibrant Raspberry Blush 2008-30, a lively coral with pink tones. Current trends seem to indicate consumers are feeling more confident with colors, and Blue Nova strikes just the right balance. It’s not timid; it stands out on its own yet remains a color that people can comfortably integrate into their living spaces due to its mid-tone nature. Think of it as a refreshing alternative to navy, offering a blend of approachability and innovation, embodying the spirit of exploration. 

“Blue Nova 825 is an alluring mid-tone that balances depth and intrigue with classic appeal and reassurance,” said Andrea Magno, Color Marketing & Development Director at Benjamin Moore. “The Color Trends 2024 palette tells a story of duality – juxtaposing light against dark, warm and cool, showcasing complementary and contrasting color pairings. These contrasts invite us to break away from the ordinary to explore new places and collect color memories that shape the hues used in our homes.”

What Color is Blue Nova? Is It Blue or Purple?

Blue Nova is obviously quite blue, but it’s important to remember that everyone perceives color a little differently. For that reason, we like to look at something a little more objective – the spectral data. We use tools like colorimeters and spectrophotometers to accurately measure a color’s dominant wavelength (or hue angle), chroma, and other characteristics.

Blue Nova has a hue angle of 278.512°. This means Blue Nova is officially part of the Purple-Blue hue family. Frankly, it’s closer to Purple on the color wheel than it is to Blue! It’s also got a pretty high chroma value (21.331), which means that this color is super saturated with lots of vivid color. In other words, it’s not toned down with a whole lot of gray.

What is Blue Nova’s LRV?

Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is a measure of how much light a paint reflects back into a room, with 100% being highly reflective and zero being not reflective at all. Blue Nova has an LRV of almost 17, which means it’s quite dark. While many paint colors in this range lose a lot of their intensity in a darker space, Blue Nova is not one of them. Its high chroma value (color saturation) keeps it popping and sparkling, even in the dark. 

What Other Paint Colors Coordinate with Blue Nova?

Blue Nova 825 is the standout hue in the Benjamin Moore Color Trends 2024 collection, designed to make a bold statement in homes. The Color Trends palette for 2024 features ten distinct hues reminiscent of a sunset sky, including oranges, yellows, and light blues. These colors are “softly saturated with a nuanced approach to contrast.” They all blend traditional and modern design styles harmoniously: Blue Nova 825, White Dove OC-17, Pristine OC-75, Topaz 070, Teacup Rose 2170-50, Honeybee CSP-950, Regent Green 2136-20, Antique Pewter 1560, Polar Sky 1674, and Hazy Lilac 2116-40.

How to Use the Benjamin Moore 2024 Color of the Year Blue Nova in Your Home

Trying to figure out how to incorporate this vibrant hue into your home? We have a few suggestions!

If you’re into maximalist design and plan to stay in your home for a while, go crazy! Cover the walls!

On the other hand, if you’re planning to sell in the near future or just prefer a more reserved approach to using such a bold color, consider using it to highlight architectural features. It looks beautiful on an accent wall, a bathroom vanity, a kitchen island, or a door. Blue Nova looks great with a variety of other materials, from light white oak or darker walnut. It also complements an assortment of metallic finishes like chrome, matte black, and even hardware in brushed or antique gold. 

What Other Paint Colors Are Similar to Benjamin Moore Blue Nova?

If you like Blue Nova Benjamin Moore, be sure to only get it mixed in a Benjamin Moore paint product. I never, ever recommend color matching between brands. Differences in pigments, chemical composition, and paint viscosity between brands mean they will be different. You cannot color match between brands and expect to get identical results. Looking for something similar to Blue Nova and need to use another brand? Here are a few Blue Nova dupes that are a pretty close match based on their spectral data:

• Sherwin-Williams SW 6530 Revel Blue
• Behr PPU14-18 Laguna Blue
• PPG1170-6 Wild Wisteria
• Glidden Noble Blue 50BB 18/216

Need Help Choosing a Paint Color?

Need help finding the right paint color? Order a Virtual Color Consultation Report from the color professionals at Three Bears Home Staging to get a custom, curated palette and guidance for your next painting project.

Order Your Virtual Color Consultation Report Today!

Whether you’re looking for a complete refresh of your space, experimenting with a new style, or just need a little professional guidance to help narrow down your paint color choices, our online color consultations can help!

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About Vannessa Rhoades

Vannessa Rhoades is the author of Just Right! Easy DIY Home Staging and the founder of the award-winning firm, Three Bears Home Staging®. She specializes in providing positive, empowering virtual consultations that help homeowners and real estate agents all across the country sell more quickly and for more money.

As we move toward 2024, it’s worth noting a few current trends in the world of color. Color choices are becoming more daring. Neutral tones are getting lighter. There’s also a growing desire among consumers for healing, peace, and a return to normalcy. It’s the perfect time for a stunning celestial shade of blue to take center stage. This week, Sherwin-Williams revealed Upward (SW 6239) as its 2024 Color of the Year, a hue that’s truly a leisurely breath of fresh air. Let’s take a look at why it’s trending this year, where it falls on the color wheel, and how to make it work in your home.

Why Is Sherwin-Williams Upward a Trendy Color for 2024?

This pale blue, tinged with hints of gray, promotes a sense of balance and tranquility. While greens and earthy tones have held sway over the past few years, industry experts are predicting blues and ethereal shades are set to become the new favorites. Sherwin-Williams seems determined to showcase a blue hue from the outset. In its biennial trend report, Colormix Forecast 2024, Anthology: Volume One, Sherwin-Williams says that Upward offers a soft push forward, offering a sense of weightless serenity and ethereal tranquility. “With this color, we invite our consumers to take a pause and infuse a new sense of ease and possibility into their spaces—one that doesn’t overwhelm, but rather establishes meditation and tranquility,” says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams.

The announcement of a gentle, calming color like Upward may signify an emerging evolution in the connection between color and well-being. The tranquil neutral tone of 2022’s Evergreen Fog and the vibrant earthiness of 2023’s Redend Point provided a sense of steadiness during uncertain times. A serene blue like Upward, on the other hand, inspires individuals to create moments for themselves. This comes at a juncture when the return to “normal” life can sometimes feel more hectic than ever, driving a need for personal space and time.

The resurgence of Scandinavian slow living principles and coastal chic design also seems to be a significant influence behind Upward’s selection. Upwards is poised to provide an alternative to the long-standing farmhouse aesthetic that’s been dominant for so long. It’s the perfect color to infuse that relaxed, beachy atmosphere into your home.

What Are the Undertones for Sherwin Williams Upward? What Color is Upward?

Color perception can be so subjective. Lighting, context, and a person’s own color acuity all influence how a color looks. That’s why we always like to take a look at objective, measurable data (like hue angle, chroma, and LRV) when reviewing a paint color. This information can help us better predict how a color will look in real life under various conditions.

• Like all colors, Upward SW6239 lives in a specific location on the color wheel based on its dominant hue angle. Upward has a hue angle of 249.799° which means it’s in the Blue family. You may see it lean a bit violet in certain qualities of light. This can make it a little tricky to work with since many home interiors tend to favor the greener side of blue (not the violet). See what works best in your own space.
• Chroma, another bit of spectral data, is a measure of how colorful, saturated, or vivid a hue is. Upward has a fairly low chroma value (4.989). This means the blue has been toned down with a healthy dose of gray.
• Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is a measure of how much light a paint reflects back into a room, with 100% being highly reflective and zero being not reflective at all. Upward has an LRV of 57, which makes it just right for many residential interiors. In a room with northern or eastern afternoon light, Upward looks quite cool and crisp. Upward can add a little visual harmony and balance to sunny rooms filled with warm southern or western afternoon light. Always, always make sure you’re using the right color light bulbs (3000K to 3500K) to evaluate your interior paint colors.

Want to learn more about how to read hue, chroma, LRV, and what it all means? We teach you how to use this info to choose the best interior colors for your home in our online course, Color By the Numbers™!

How to Use the Sherwin-Williams 2024 Color of the Year Upwards in Your Home

The rarefied blue is part of Palette No. 1 in Sherwin-Williams Colormix^® Forecast 2024, Anthology: Volume One. Wondering what colors go with Upward? Upward looks beautiful paired with blues and greens, deeps and darks, and delicate tints. Combining it with neutrals can amplify Upward’s overall calming influence. Colors like Snowbound SW 7004, Drift of Mist SW 9166, Gale Force SW 7605, Tricorn Black SW 6528, Honeydew SW 6428, Palm Leaf SW 7735, and Antiquarian Brown SW 0045 are also beautiful options.

Always sample paint color in the intended space before you start putting it on your walls. (We mail 8″ x 10″ paint swatches of our recommendations to our Virtual Color Consultation clients.)

The subtle presence of gray within Upward’s gentle blue makes it great for spaces where you want a touch of freshness without overwhelming saturation. Think of places like a laundry room or bathroom where this balance is ideal. If you’re feeling more adventurous, consider using it on an accent wall or even on the ceiling. Upward can even serve as a focal point in your space. Use it to invigorate kitchen cabinetry, add a touch of radiance to a bathroom vanity, serve as a focal point for your front door, or breathe new life into a vintage piece of furniture.

Upward also pairs beautifully with warm brown pieces, wood-toned furniture, and marble in the home. For a coastal vibe, consider combining Upward with a white shade, like Alabaster or Snowbound, along with light to medium-toned stained wood elements.

To ignite your imagination and inspire you to create serene spaces using Upward, we’ve curated a selection of complementary art, accessories, and home décor items from Amazon.

What do you think of Sherwin-Williams 2024 Color of the Year? Let us know in the comments below!

Need a Little Paint Color Help?

Need help finding the right paint color? Order a Virtual Color Consultation Report from the color professionals at Three Bears Home Staging to get a custom, curated palette and guidance for your next painting project. Take a look at our packages below:

Order Your Virtual Color Consultation Report Today!

Whether you’re looking for a complete refresh of your space, experimenting with a new style, or just need a little professional guidance to help narrow down your paint color choices, our online color consultations can help!

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About Vannessa Rhoades

Vannessa Rhoades is the author of Just Right! Easy DIY Home Staging and the founder of the award-winning firm, Three Bears Home Staging®. She specializes in providing positive, empowering virtual consultations that help homeowners and real estate agents all across the country sell more quickly and for more money.

Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt 6204 is a soft, soothing blend of gray and green that’s consistently a favorite among homeowners. Like many other beach-inspired paint colors, it effortlessly complements a wide range of spaces and styles, from coastal cottage decor to a relaxing, spa-like bathroom. SW Sea Salt definitely adds a sense of tranquility and aesthetic appeal to a room. The tricky thing about this paint color, though, is that it can shift dramatically in appearance depending on the context and lighting. So how can you predict what it will do in your space? Let’s take a look at Sea Salt’s spectral data for a more objective point of view.

Photo by Cyndi Parker Interiors – Look for bedroom pictures

Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt bedroom ideas are a favorite among homeowners.

What is the LRV of Sea Salt Sherwin-Williams?

Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is a measure of how much light a paint reflects back into a room, with 100% being highly reflective and zero being not reflective at all. Sea Salt has an LRV of 63, which makes it just right for many residential interiors. Paint colors in this range tend to brighten a space yet still hold their color reasonably well in hits of direct light.

Photo by Echelon Custom Homes – More living room ideas

You must sample this color in the space you intend to use it before you start putting it on your walls and trim! (We mail 8″ x 10″ paint swatches of our recommendations to our Virtual Color Consultation clients.)

What is the “undertone” of SW Sea Salt? Is it blue or green?

Since everyone perceives color differently, let’s look at something a little more objective – the spectral data. We can actually use tools like colorimeters and spectrophotometers to accurately measure a color’s dominant wavelength, or hue angle, and other characteristics. Sea Salt has a hue angle of 138.223°. This means Sea Salt is officially part of the Green-Yellow hue family. Sea Salt also has a pretty low chroma value (5.709), which means that this Green-Yellow hue is muted by a significant amount of gray.

So why do so many color blogs claim Sea Salt has a “blue undertone?”

The reason SW Sea Salt sometimes looks blue (or green or yellow or gray) has to do with the context of your room and, more importantly, the quality of your light. Remember, your quality of light changes throughout the day so you must view a large sample of this color on all walls in a variety of artificial and natural light before committing to it.

Rooms with one exposure

In a space that gets bright, direct sunlight on just one side, Sea Salt will lighten considerably due to its elevated LRV but still hold on to some of its color. The direction the sunlight is coming from (a.k.a. exposure) also affects the way Sea Salt will look on your walls. South-facing or western afternoon light is rather yellow, warmer, and more intense. Sea Salt will reflect this, looking a bit greener. In a north-facing room, however, that warmth becomes more passive. Sea Salt may look a bit grayer with a faint hint of blue. 

Photo by Echelon Custom Homes – Search bathroom design ideas

Rooms with multiple exposures

In a bright open space with big windows on more than one side, SW Sea Salt will shift in color as the sun moves, looking bluer or greener. That heavy dose of gray will help keep it soft and muted, though.

Photo by Echelon Custom Homes – Look for family room pictures

Dark rooms and artificial light

In a dark room or a room that has primarily artificial light, Sea Salt may look a bit grayer or greener. 

Photo by Domiteaux Garza Architecture – Search bedroom design ideas

Using the right color light bulbs will have a tremendous impact on this color. Under soft white bulbs (2700 K), Sea Salt will look a bit warmer, whereas daylight bulbs (4000+ K) will make it look a bit bluer. We recommend always using light bulbs in the 3000 K to 3500 K range for the best, most natural-looking color results. Read our blog post for links to specific bulb recommendations.

Photo by Carl Mattison Design – Browse bathroom photos

Which white trim color goes with Sea Salt?

When it comes to white trim, we like the clean, low-chroma warmth of Sherwin-Williams Pure White 7005 or for even more contrast, Sherwin-Williams High Reflective White 7757. If you’re looking for a softer, more muted pairing, try Sherwin-Williams Alabaster 7008.

Photo by Echelon Custom Homes – Search bathroom design ideas

Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt Bathroom with Sherwin-Williams Pure White 7005 trim.

What other paint colors coordinate with Sea Salt?

Sea Salt coordinates well with other low chroma neutrals, like greiges, grays, and beiges. It looks especially nice with dark greens and blues. Here’s a sample Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt color palette we put together for you:

Is Sea Salt a good exterior paint color?

It can be, especially combined with a clean white trim color. Sea Salt’s LRV of 63 means it will reflect a lot of light and can look much lighter in an outdoor environment than you may expect. Again, view paper samples on the exterior wall prior to painting.

Photo by Dalrymple | Sallis Architecture – Look for exterior home pictures

The vertical siding at the top of this home is painted in Sea Salt SW6204. 

Photo by Highland Homes, Inc. – Browse exterior home ideas

The color of the shutters is Sherwin William’s Sea Salt SW6204.

What is comparable to Sherwin Williams Sea Salt?

If you like Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt, be sure to only get it at a Sherwin-Williams store. I never, ever recommend color matching between brands. Differences in pigments, chemical composition, and paint viscosity between brands mean they will be different. You cannot color match between brands and expect to get identical results. But if you’re looking for something similar to Sea Salt and need to use another brand, here are a few dupes that are a pretty close match based on their spectral data: 

• Benjamin Moore Night Mist 1569
• Behr Shy Green MQ3-48
• PPG Paints: Falling Star PPG1129-2
• Glidden Soft Meadow 10GY 64/065 

Sherwin-Williams Rainwashed vs. Sea Salt 

If you like the light, muted vibe of SW Sea Salt but want something that leans a bit cooler, take a look at Sherwin-Williams Rainwashed 6211. Wondering exactly how these two compare? With an LRV of 59, Rainwashed is slightly darker than Sea Salt. Rainwashed also has a higher chroma value, meaning it’s just a smidge more colorful (saturated) than Sea Salt. Most importantly, SW Rainwashed is a cooler hue than Sea Salt in terms of its location on the color wheel. With a hue angle of 159.145°, Rainwashed is technically in the Green hue family, and like Sea Salt, is quite susceptible to the effects of lighting and the context of its environment

Sherwin-Williams Sea Spray vs. Sea Salt 

Sherwin-Williams Sea Spray 9651 is probably the most similar paint color to Sea Salt in terms of its spectral data. It has a slightly lower LRV (61) meaning it will reflect a bit less light than Sea Salt. It’s also just a couple of degrees warmer than Sea Salt based on its color wheel location, but this difference is mostly unnoticeable to the untrained eye. The biggest difference between these colors is that SW Sea Spray is part of the Sherwin-Williams Emerald Designer palette and is only available in the Emerald Designer Edition paint line. Emerald fully cures to a harder and tighter film than Duration and SuperPaint, which protects the overall integrity of the paint long term. It’s also more expensive.

Need help choosing a color?

Need help finding the right paint color? Order a Virtual Color Consultation Report from the color professionals at Three Bears Home Staging to get a custom, curated palette and guidance for your next painting project.

Order Your Virtual Color Consultation Report Today!

Whether you’re looking for a complete refresh of your space, experimenting with a new style, or just need a little professional guidance to help narrow down your paint color choices, our online color consultations can help!

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About Vannessa Rhoades

Vannessa Rhoades is the author of Just Right! Easy DIY Home Staging and the founder of the award-winning firm, Three Bears Home Staging®. She specializes in providing positive, empowering virtual consultations that help homeowners and real estate agents all across the country sell more quickly and for more money.

After years of grays and whites, warm colors have finally been making a comeback! If you’re ready to warm up your space but don’t want to weigh it down with a dark, heavy color, take a look at Sherwin-Williams Canvas Tan 7531. This creamy soft beige is a cozy, muted color that looks great in both modern and traditional spaces. Let’s take a closer look at its spectral data to see if it’s the right match for your project.

Photo by Allard + Roberts Interior Design, Inc – Search living room design ideas

What is the “Undertone” of Canvas Tan? Does Canvas Tan look yellow?

Since everyone perceives color a bit differently, let’s take a look at something a little more objective – the numbers. If you look at Canvas Tan’s spectral data, it has a hue angle of 89.126°. This means it is officially part of the Yellow hue family. Like many neutral paint colors, Canvas Tan also has a pretty low chroma value (9.218), which means that its primary color is muted by a lot of gray.

Will Canvas Tan look yellow on the wall? No, but the intensity of the warmth will change depending on the quality of your light. In a south-facing room or with western afternoon light, it will look warm without being too golden. In a north-facing room or in rooms with little natural light, the warmth will be more muted. Remember, your quality of light changes throughout the day so view a sample of this color on all walls and in a variety of artificial and natural light. 

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Photo by Markalunas Architecture Group – More living room photos

Ceiling is painted in SW Canvas Tan.

Using the right color light bulbs will have a huge impact on this color as well. Under soft white bulbs (2700 K), Canvas Tan looks much yellower, whereas daylight bulbs (4000+ K) will make it look like another color altogether. We recommend always using light bulbs in the 3000 K to 3500 K range for the best, most natural-looking color results. Read our blog post for links to specific bulb recommendations.

Is Canvas Tan warm or cool?

Canvas Tan by Sherwin Williams is in the Yellow hue family. This makes it a warm color. 

Photo by John Cannon Homes – Search dining room pictures

The wall color is SW7531 Canvas Tan, the ceiling is SW6126 Navajo White, and the trim color is SW7562 Roman Column.

What is the LRV of Canvas Tan?

Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is a measure of how much light a paint reflects back into a room, with 100% being highly reflective and zero being not reflective at all. Canvas Tan has an LRV of 64, which makes it just right for many residential interiors. It’s an especially good color choice for home staging – not only is it a flexible neutral color, but it also reflects a lot of light back into your space without washing out or looking too desaturated.

Photo by Allard + Roberts Interior Design, Inc – More kitchen ideas

Wall color is SW Canvas Tan.

You must sample this color in the space you intend to use it before you start putting it on your walls ! (We mail large 8″ x 10″ paint swatches of our recommendations to our Virtual Color Consultation clients.)

Which white trim color goes with Canvas Tan?

When it comes to white trim, I like the clean, low-chroma warmth of Sherwin-Williams Pure White 7005. SW Canvas Tan also pairs well with a slightly creamy off-white, like Sherwin-Williams Alabaster 7008.

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Wall paint is Sherwin-Williams Canvas Tan SW7531, and the trim is Alabaster SW7008.

What other paint colors coordinate with Canvas Tan?

Canvas Tan is a relatively muted neutral. It tends to partner best with the following color combinations:

• Some soft cream colors
• Other neutrals that have a lower LRV than it does (i.e., darker)
• Dark earthy greens, dark grays, and navy blue accents

Here’s a sample Sherwin-Williams Canvas Tan color palette we put together for you:

Is Canvas Tan a good exterior paint color?

With the right color roof, Canvas Tan can be a great exterior paint color. It works better on homes that don’t have a lot of brick or stone accents (which often tend to look better with a more golden-beige paint color instead of the lighter creaminess of Canvas Tan). Its LRV of 64 means it will reflect a lot of light and can look much lighter in an outdoor environment than you may expect. Again, view paper samples on the exterior wall prior to painting.

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The stucco color is SW Canvas Tan, and the shutters were a custom color mixed on the job site. 

What other paint colors are similar to Canvas Tan?

I never, ever recommend color matching between brands. You cannot color match between brands and expect to get identical results. But if you’re looking for something similar to Canva Tan in another brand, here are a few dupes that are a close match based on their spectral data: 

• Benjamin Moore White Sand 964
• Behr Roman Plaster PPU7-10
• PPG Paints: Wheat Sheaf PPG14-21
• Glidden Pillar Beige 40YY 67/087 

If Canvas Tan isn’t quite hitting the mark for you, there are a few other paint colors within the Sherwin-Williams lines that take a similar approach. 

Canvas Tan vs. Natural Tan

Sherwin-Williams Natural Tan 7567 is just a bit cooler than Canvas Tan in terms of its location on the color wheel, but otherwise quite similar in terms of lightness and chroma. 

Canvas Tan vs. Manchester Tan

Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan HC-81, on the other hand, is a tad darker (LRV 63) and more saturated in color than Canvas Tan. In other words, Manchester Tan looks a bit yellower by comparison.

Canvas Tan vs. Kilim Beige

Sherwin-Williams Kilim Beige 6106 is darker, warmer, and more colorful than Canvas Tan. In fact, Kilim Beige can almost look a bit peachy by comparison.

Canvas Tan vs. Accessible Beige

Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige 7036 is similar to Canvas Tan in terms of hue but has a lower LRV and a lower chroma value. That means you’ll find it a bit darker and noticeably grayer than Canvas Tan.

Canvas Tan vs. Neutral Ground

Of all the colors listed in this comparison, Sherwin-Williams Neutral Ground 7568 is the coolest shade and may even look just a wink green by comparison. With an LRV of 70, Neutral Ground will also reflect more light than Canvas Tan and is actually considered an off-white.

Need help choosing a color?

Need help finding the right paint color? Order a Virtual Color Consultation Report from the color professionals at Three Bears Home Staging to get a custom, curated palette and guidance for your next painting project.

Order Your Virtual Color Consultation Report Today!

Whether you’re looking for a complete refresh of your space, experimenting with a new style, or just need a little professional guidance to help narrow down your paint color choices, our online color consultations can help!

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About Vannessa Rhoades

Vannessa Rhoades is the author of Just Right! Easy DIY Home Staging and the founder of the award-winning firm, Three Bears Home Staging®. She specializes in providing positive, empowering virtual consultations that help homeowners and real estate agents all across the country sell more quickly and for more money.