Are you searching for the perfect Sherwin-Williams blue paint to reflect your mood and vibe, but struggling to choose from the vast options available? Don't worry, you've come to the right place for answers.
Sherwin-Williams, the leading paint producer in America, offers an extensive range of blue shades, from the lightest to the darkest. However, blue paints produce unique auras due to the existence of undertones, creating a departure from the typical coolness.
Steps for Choosing the Best Sherwin-Williams Blue Paint
Choosing the best Sherwin-Williams blue paint requires careful consideration of factors such as the space, lighting, room position, time, and purpose. You don't want to make a hasty decision and end up regretting it or needing to change it shortly after.
Follow these six steps for the best results.
Step 1: Analyze The Space and Lighting
Before painting your wall, it's essential to assess the space and lighting conditions. Ask yourself questions like "How much paint will I need?", "Is it a small or large room?", and "Does it receive adequate light?". The answers to these questions will help you determine the type of Sherwin-Williams blue paint that will work best.
Certain shades of blue look better in confined spaces, while others thrive in open and airy environments. Additionally, lighting plays a crucial role in transforming colors beyond expectations. Scroll down to learn more about sizing and positioning.
Step 2: Measure The Room Size And Position
To start this step, gather an industrial measuring tape, compass, pencil, and paper. Use the compass to determine your room's direction (North, West, South, East), including the door and windows. Mark the positions with your pencil.
Next, measure the room's size to decide on the shade of blue for the walls and furniture. Lighter blue paints create an airy and bright vibe, while darker tones give the illusion of a smaller space.
Using position to create the Best Palette
Once you have narrowed down the room size and marked its key positions, the next step is to study the sun's direction.
South-facing windows receive the highest amount of sunlight from mid-morning until early noon. Therefore, it's the best spot to highlight deep blue shades. However, be cautious when using a high LRV (light reflectance value) blue paint against a south-facing window, as it may become blinding.
For morning work, east-facing windows reflect the best natural glow until noon. Conversely, west-facing windows receive light from noon until sunset.
North-facing windows provide the most consistent sunlight but with the dimmest glow. This position is not ideal for colors with multiple nuances, as it won't showcase their undertones. However, if you want your blue paint to remain consistent, it's the best choice.
Step 3: Evaluate Your Lighting Options
Adding artificial light to a room or exterior wall is not difficult, but it requires proper planning, just like choosing the best Sherwin-Williams blue paint. Consider the color of light you would like in the room. Do you need the illumination for its function or aesthetics?
Lighting comes in various colors, ranging from fiery hues like red, yellow, and orange to calming shades like blue, green, and purple. While it's customary to match each light color with the walls, you can also use contrasting tones depending on your palette. Keep in mind that warm lighting brightens colors, while cool lighting tones them down.
Step 4: Conduct Sample Area Testing
When you're ready to paint your surface, whether it's a wall or furniture, be sure to sample your preferred color. Paint shades often appear different in real life than in digital copies, but samples can provide an almost perfect replica.
Sherwin-Williams offers three sampling options for customers: color chips, color strips, and realistic Color-to-Go lightweight paints. Test the sample under both morning and night lights to see if you need additional lighting.
Step 5: Analyze the Long-Term Value of a Paint Color
Consider how long you intend to keep the color on your chosen surface. This will help determine whether a bright or dark shade of blue is the best choice for you. Light blue paints are the most challenging to maintain, as they are more susceptible to external factors.
If you don't have the time to regularly maintain your blue paint, opt for a medium to dark tone, as it will stand the test of time with minimal upkeep.
Step 6: Apply Finishing Touches
The final step in choosing the perfect blue paint is selecting the finish. Every paint comes in different textures, ranging from basic flat liquid to glossy, silky, and eggshell sheens. These finishes not only affect the shade but also determine the overall outcome of the paint.
Consider how each finish works. Glossy paints, for example, are best used as accents and highlights because they shine and absorb heat. If you use glossy paint for your entire wall, expect more heat and a more intense overtone. On the other hand, matte finishes are better suited for standard wall painting.
Understanding Blue Paints
Now let's dive into the creative part of choosing a blue paint from Sherwin-Williams (or any other brand). It's important to understand the undertones and RGB components, as these scientific factors contribute to the uniqueness of each paint.
What Are The Undertones?
Undertones are the colors that exist beneath the layers of your chosen paint and become apparent under certain light conditions. Some may refer to them as tints, hints, or nuances, but regardless of the terminology, they can play mind tricks on you after buying a new paint.
Sampling allows you to explore the many, or sometimes non-existent, undertones in your preferred shade. These tints are determined by the RGB (red, green, blue) value of the pigment, which represents the amount of each color mixed into black paint to create a particular shade.
The dominant undertone in your blue paint is typically the highest value between the red and green content in the mix. Secondary undertones are variations that occur when RGB is blended into a true black pigment. Understanding these undertones can help you better appreciate the different blue paint types.
Types of Blue Paints
Blue paints have the power to evoke emotions, especially when you alter shadows and brightness. While the general mood of blue is coolness, you can experience various variations of that feeling through different types of blue paints.
- Cool Blue
- Warm Blue
- Soft/Light Blue
- Dark Blue
Cool Blue Paints
When you think of the color blue, the image that often comes to mind is the classic cool tone of easy breezy blue. Cool blue paints stay true to this color and tend to have minimal undertones, or when present, they align with other cool colors on the color wheel, such as green and purple. These soothing pigments offer diverse overtones, ranging from neutral white and gray to green and blue. Cool blues are perfect for creating an oceanic ambiance in spaces such as bathrooms, spas, and pool areas.
Some popular Sherwin-Williams cool blue paints include:
- Blue Peacock (SW 0064)
- Azure Tide (SW 9684)
- Foggy Day (SW 6235)
- Dynamic Blue (SW 6958)
- Bravo Blue (SW 6784)
Warm Blue Paints
On the other end of the spectrum, we have warm blue paints, which feature a strong fiery undertone. These shades draw inspiration from warm colors like yellow, red, and orange. The vibrance of these warm colors adds depth to the otherwise mellow blue, resulting in a more striking effect. Warm blue paints can liven up a space without overwhelming it. Though the undertones are often faint, they pair beautifully with hotter colors. Warm blue paints work well in living rooms, bedrooms, and on front porches, whether on the door or walls.
Some beautiful Sherwin-Williams warm blue paints include:
- Tame Teal (SW 6757)
- Bora Bora Shore (SW 9045)
- Drizzle (SW 6479)
- Nifty Turquoise (SW 6941)
- Maxi Teal (SW 6769)
Soft/Light Blue Paints
Soft blue paints are characterized by their light shades and subtle overtones. They often have medium to high light reflectance value (LRV), appearing white-passing with the blue tone shimmering subtly underneath. This shade of blue is non-intrusive and endearing, making it ideal for trims, full wall coverings, and baby nurseries. Soft blue paint has the highest soothing and relaxing appeal among all the possible shades. Choose it if you're seeking a calming atmosphere to combat anxiety. Some calming Sherwin-Williams soft blue paints include:
- Window Pane (SW 6210)
- Cay (SW 6772)
- Misty (SW 6232)
- Silent Ripple (SW 9682)
- Embellished Blue (SW 6749)
Dark Blue Paints
The most elegant shade of blue is undoubtedly dark blue paint. These paints range from deep, two-toned blue-greens to almost black blue-grays and navies. Medium-dark blues also fall into this category for those with milder tastes. Dark blue paints bring sophistication to any space, often acting as accent walls, standout furniture, or welcoming front doors. However, their intensity demands that they be used sparingly. These shades require balance to avoid overwhelming the overall aesthetic. Popular Sherwin-Williams dark blue paints include:
- Naval (SW 6244)
- In the Navy (SW 9178)
- Country Squire (SW 6475)
- Jay Blue (SW 6797)
- Hyper Blue (SW 6965)
- Santorini Blue (SW 7607)
- Teal Stencil (SW 0018)
Out of the numerous Sherwin-Williams blue paints available, we have curated a list of the 13 best shades that are trending in 2023. These colors range from soft blues to dark, two-toned delights.
| Color Name | LRV | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Olympus White | 68 | |
| Moonmist | 68 |  |
| North Star | 62 | |
| Krypton | 52 | |
| Windy Blue | 48 | |
| Aleutian | 39 |  |
| Downing Slate | 21 | |
| Inky Blue | 15 | |
| Azure Tide | 12 |  |
| Loyal Blue | 5 | |
| Salty Dog | 5 | |
| In the Navy/Naval | 4 |  |
| After The Storm | 3 | |
All images are sourced from Sherwin-Williams.
In conclusion, blue can be experienced in various forms, each providing a calming and relaxing aura. It's one of the most versatile primary colors, making it an excellent choice for pairing with other colors. You can create harmony by using blue in a triad with yellow and red variants or by establishing an analogous theme with equally cool colors like green and purple. Remember, incorporating diverse shades with different light reflectance values in a space creates better harmony than sticking to a single tone.
