Instagrammers shared. We listened. See which paint colors got the most #SWColorLove on Instagram in 2020. From bold colors to calming hues, find inspiration for your next project.
Tricorn Black
Keep your bedroom in style for years to come with an annual fan favorite, Tricorn Black. If you love cozy, light-colored bedding, a true black is the perfect way to add dramatic contrast on your walls.
Alabaster
If you’re searching for a color to make your decor stand out, look no further. With its neutral beige undertones, Alabaster creates a warm backdrop to accentuate your colorful wall art.
Naval
It’s no surprise our 2020 Color of the Year made the list. With its ability to evoke calm, Naval is the perfect hue to make your house feel like a home. Whether it’s in a bustling office or a peaceful living room, this color helps you feel grounded on your busiest days.
Agreeable Gray
This color truly agrees with any palette and style. Use Agreeable Gray to add a soft touch to your sweetest rooms. Surround yourself in its warm undertones in spaces you want to unwind and feel at ease.
Sea Salt
Looking for the perfect hue to make a room feel light, inviting and open? Nothing says “relax” like a serene color paired with a chic accent wall. Sea Salt brings the calmness of your favorite coastal destination to your own home.
Want to show off your favorite Instagram-worthy color? Tag your painting project photos on social media using #SWColorLove or upload them to our gallery.
Totally agree with these colours, we’ve recently moved into a new house and have used alabaster, naval and agreeable gray! I’d love to attach a picture to show you our feature rooms.
Sounds beautiful Elizabeth!
I currently have Naval and tricorn black in my house. I wanted to my Den. I want one wall to be Naval and unsure what to paint the other walls. I was thinking of peppercorn. Any suggestions?
Hi Daniel, Naval and Peppercorn are too close in hue and intensity to be used in the same room. Naval as an accent color is a great idea, but you would need to pair it with a color a few shades lighter than Peppercorn. Take a look at Gray Matters SW 7066 or Tin Lizzie SW 9163 for the other three walls in your den. Either of these would look great and really make your Naval wall “pop”.
I painted my bedroom Watery 5 years ago and now ready to paint again – I’d like for the color to be reminiscent of a Hawaii trip in any serene shade of blue and/or green. Can you recommend a color?
Hello Mary, consider using either SW Quietude 6212 or Interesting Aqua SW 6220 to create the serene, vacation vibe you want.
I would love to repaint my guest bedroom accent the tricorn black….should i leave other walls white
Hello Mamie, Tricorn Black SW 6258 will make a beautiful, dramatic accent color. We would consider pairing that with a color warmer and darker than white. There is a large contrast between Tricorn and white, the effect may be jarring. Instead of white, take a look at these warm, light neutrals. Any of these would work and really make your Tricorn wall “pop”. Check out:
China Doll SW 7517
Canvas Tan SW 7531
Bauhaus Buff SW 7552
I have navy blue kitchen cabinets (lower) with white uppers in a walk-out basement that has some natural light. Carpet is a darker gray with black/white contrast. Wondering what color to put on walls. I was thinking more along a blueish gray, what would you suggest?
Hi Michelle, we recommend that you paint your walls the same white as your upper cabinets. This will make your room seem bigger and more cohesive. You want to keep the accent on your lower cabinets, so let the walls be the background to your dramatic blue.
I have a SW “taupe” color on my walls but can’t remember exactly which one. I like Agreeable Grey, but wish for it to be slightly warmer in the reddish tones. Got a color suggestion?
Hello Margaret, take a look at either Angora SW 6036 or Temperate Taupe SW 6037. Order the free color chips from our website to see if they will work for you. Let us know if there is anything else we can assist with. Thank you!
Can you recommend a whole house color that is a neutral very light gray (without being too pink OR too blue) or even a color that is off white (not yellow cream)? The Alabaster looks like it could be a possibility.
Hi Kelly, Alabaster is considered a white color, if you want a very light gray in the white family, look at:
Eider White SW 7014
Drift of Mist SW 9166
Toque White SW 7003
I have painted my entryway, kitchen, great room, and sunroom simple white. I am looking for a color for my dining room off of the entryway. I was wanting a blue gray type of color. I do have to be careful because my simple white can have a purple hue when the sun comes in, so I want to make sure the blue gray I pick for my dining room does not have any purple hues.
Hi Jennifer, these colors, listed lightest to darkest, have a charcoal undertone and will not turn purple. Take a look at African Gray SW 9162, Software SW 7074 and Web Gray SW 7075. You can order free color chips to see how they look in your space.
We are having a disagreement on which wall to make an accent wall. Help.
Hi Debi, We’d love to help. Sign up for a free virtual color consultation with one of our color experts here.
I want to redo my living room. I like both modern farmhouse and boho. I have a large bay window with a southern exposure. What colors would be good to paint the walls?
Hi Lisa! For a job of this scope and detail, you would benefit best from a one-on-one virtual consult with one of our designers. You can schedule a “real time” appointment with a designer when you sign up. This virtual consult will allow the designer to see your space and lighting which would be the best option for your project. Click the link below to get started. https://homeowner.sherwin-williams.com/colorconsult/
In a small bedroom would naval work as an accent wall with a warm tan on the other walls? Any suggestions?
Absolutely, Barb! Consider Ramie SW 6156 or Roycroft Suede SW 2842 for the other walls.
I have Agreeable Gray and Alabaster throughout my house. I love the naval color and would like it in my bathrooms, however they are quite small so I think it would be too dark for the walls. Would it be a good color to paint the cabinets?
Hello there, yes, yes, yes. Naval SW 6244 is a fantastic choice for your bathroom vanities – it is a great way to introduce a dramatic color without overwhelming your space with a dark color. After you paint, try to incorporate the navy in a hand towel, waste basket or shower curtain in order to make for a cohesive palette.
My realtor told me I have to paint my finished basement. I really like the bright colors it is now, but she said it won’t sell. The basement is mostly underground and doesn’t get much natural light. (Pot lights give plenty artificial light.) The woodwork is white and the floors are a medium wood grain vinyl tiles. Can you suggest some colors that would brighten up the space, be neutral, and blend with the upstairs. Thanks so much!
Hello Carolyn, well, we don’t want to upset your realtor! Seriously, look at these soft greiges, any of which would look great with the existing trim and floor. Check out Limewash SW 9589, Gossamer Veil SW 9165, or Drift of Mist SW 9166.
My study room has 1 accent wall that is painted blue , I had cabinets and desk made by a custom cabinet maker and other wall are the new color trend that is the new agreeable gray color, please can u recommend a paint color for the cabinet and desk , the carpet is a beige color … thanks
Hi Sheila, did you want to paint or stain the new furniture? Also, can you please tell us the name of the blue color so we can pull together some options for you.
I am looking for outside suggestions. I love the Urban Bronze/Tricorn Black combo as I also have cedar colored deck both front and back. I want to try a few samples to make sure the colors work, so are there others that are similar you recommend?
Thanks,
Hi Becky! Are you staining your deck or painting your home? Which surface are you looking to use samples on? Let us know when you get a minute. Thank you!
I originally picked out Sea Salt for my master bath but know I am thinking about using in my bedroom. Would you recommend using the same color in the bathroom or using a shade similar? I do have a large window in there.
Hello Lisa, yes you can use the same color in both rooms. However, if you want differentiate the spaces a little, consider painting the wall behind your bed Oyster Bay SW 6206 and then paint the other three walls the Sea Salt SW 6204 from your bathroom. Using colors from the same family strip would create a cohesive palette.
I want to paint an accent wall in my office as a Zoom backdrop. I like the idea of a light purple/violet color. Are there particular choices that would show up well on camera without being too jarring/dark in person?
Hi Jackie, check out these options for your accent wall:
Veiled Violet SW 6268
Inspired Lilac SW 6820
Lite Lavender SW 6854
Hi, I’m building a new home and my main area (Great room, Dining room, kitchen) color is Krypton. The rest of the house (Bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways) is Knitting Needles. I want to do one bedroom in a nautical theme in a deeper blue hue, but not as deep as Naval. It will be seen with both colors listed above. What would you recommend? Thanks!
Hello Kim, check out:
Mineral Blue SW 2739
Distance SW 6243
Charcoal Blue SW 2740
I’m going to paint my walls Agreeable Gray. I want to paint door and window trim a white color. Do you have a recommendation of color, sheen and any prep advice. It’s currently stained brown.
Hi Julie, take a look at either Pure White SW 7005 or Extra White SW 7006 for your trim in a semi-gloss sheen. You will need to lightly sand the stained door an use an adhesion primer such as our Extreme Bond Primer followed by two coats of Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel.
Hello – I’m renovating our home and selecting paint for every room. For my older son’s room, I selected cyberspace as the accent wall and am deciding between agreeable gray and colonnade gray for the remainder walls. Any suggestions? Finally, in my younger son’s bathroom, I was thinking about alabaster white but I know it has a warm / cream background. How will that look with white subway tile? Do I need to go more white than alabaster? Thank you
Hi Tricia! Colonnade Gray SW 7641 is a better complement to Cyberspace as it is a little darker and subtler making it a smoother transition/bridge color. To answer the second question about the bathroom color, actually, consider going darker than Alabaster or any white color. If you stick with Alabaster or lighter, it may look like you tried to match your tile color and failed; instead, consider using a light blue gray like Zircon SW 7667 or Site White SW 7070.