Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams (SW 6204) is the perfect "neutral" coastal paint color. It is described as a sift, pale blue, green, gray shade. As an iconic blue-green color, both soft and muted, it has green, gray, and hint of blue undertones.
What Color is Sherwin Williams Sea Salt?
Sea Salt is a gorgeous green-blue paint color. It reminds me of a pale green sea. It is a bit of a chameleon, and the color can change depending on the lighting that surrounds it, sometimes looking more green and other times more blue.
It's a popular paint choice particularly for bathrooms and bedrooms as it lends itself to a serene, calm vibe.
What is the LRV?
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is an indicator of the amount of light that is reflected by a color when it is illuminated by a light source. A higher value (closer to 100) means that a color will reflect more light back at you and a lower value (closer to 0) means that a color will appear darker, or absorb more light.
Sea Salt has an LRV of 63, which means it can help a room feel brighter and lighter. It reflects both natural and artificial light back into the space.
Is It A Warm Or Cool Color?
Sea Salt falls more on the cool with hints of warmth. As a cooler color, it makes a space feel spacious, and relaxing, and will work well in many rooms of your home.
It is definitely a chameleon color, with green and gray undertones. It will present differently, depending on the lighting. The space plays a huge role in which undertones will shine through.
What Are The Undertones?
Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams has mostly green and gray undertones, with a hint of blue. Depending on your lighting and space each undertones may present differently.
Real Room Examples
In the below pictures, you'll notice how Sea Salt sometimes looks distinctly gray-green, and other times leans more into the blue.
If you are not familiar with Sherwin Williams Sea Salt, it is important to know that color does change depending on your lighting conditions. Just a note it can be a huge dramatic difference in the end result of the paint color.
In this photo you can see Sea Salt looks way more blue than green, because of the lighting. This is why we refer to it as a chameleon color. Depending on the lighting, time of day, and what colors surround it, will greatly affect the color.
Sea Salt works perfectly in a bedroom, if you are looking for a relaxing color, this is it!
You can see if the photo above this bedroom looks more green than blue, because of the large amount of natural light.
Sea Salt is the perfect addition to a bathroom. It gives off a calming, clean, and tranquil look. In a bathroom with mostly white fixtures, such as toilet, and cabinets, it can seem to make the color pop even more.
In the photo above, a bathroom with no natural light, Sea Salt leans more green, with just a bit of blue coming through.
However, this bathroom has plenty of natural light and it has more blue coming through.
In this laundry room, the cabinets are painted Sea Salt. This unexpected use of the color is actually my favorite way I've seen it used. If you have a coastal style home in particular, this would be a fun choice for cabinets or a bathroom vanity.
It's so important to test paint colors in your home before committing. For this reason, I always purchase paint samples from Samplize. They are real paint samples (not printed color chips!) that are peel-and-stick, repositionable and you can order as many as you want for $5 flat rate over-night delivery!
If I'm Using This Paint Color On My Walls, What White Trim Color Will Look Best?
For trim, Sherwin Williams Pure White is always a safe bet. It's a bright white with just a smidge of warmth so it never looks cold. It looks great with all wall colors, but it's especially the correct choice if the color is warm.
For a really bright crisp white, Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace would look beautiful and really make Sea Salt pop off the wall.
When Should I Use Sea Salt?
You should use Sea Salt if you are looking for a splash of color. It works great in laundry rooms, bathroom, to a calm retreat of a bedroom. If you adore this color then I would recommend for large spaces, but remember a little can go a long way.
Can You Use Sea Salt In Darker Spaces?
Yes you can! Just keep in mind you will see more blue tones in darker spaces or northern facing light, than green tones.
Is Sherwin Williams Sea Salt Blue Or Green?
Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams is a blue-green paint color, both soft and muted.
Sea Salt vs. Rainwashed
Rainwashed and Sea Salt are similar colors. Rainwashed leans blue with hint of green, while Sea Salt is green with hint of blue.
If you are wanting to lean more blue, Rainwashed would be a great choice. Both are amazing color choices that offer both a relaxing and calming effect on a space.
What Colors Coordinate With Sea Salt?
Sherwin Williams Sea Salt pairs perfectly with whites, beiges, and grays tones. Here are some other examples of coordinating colors.
- Comfort Gray
- Agreeable Gray
- Heron Plume
- Mega Greige
- Steamed Milk
- Accessible Beige
Sea Salt pairs well with crisp whites and off-whites when it comes to ceiling and trim colors.
Final Thoughts
We can see why it is as been listed as one of Sherwin Williams top paint colors. It is chosen again and again by both designers and homeowners.
You can use Sea Salt, by Sherwin Williams, in any room of your home. It is a beautiful blue-green color that doesn't disappoint.
Remember with a chameleon color like Sea Salt, you will need to see it in your space. The color will change with your given lighting, you want to be sure to be happy with your end result.
