SHERWIN WILLIAMS RETREAT IS A REAL TREAT
Whether you’re looking to paint your cabinets a wicked shade of green, transform your bedroom into a serene oasis, or create a dreamy den or office, Retreat could be the perfect choice for you.
But not all greens are created equal – warm green, cool green, green-gray, plant green – WHICH green is for you? Let’s see if it happens to be Sherwin Williams Retreat…
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IS RETREAT A WARM OR COOL PAINT COLOR?
Green paint colors can be warm (green-yellow) or cool (green-blue) – Retreat is a cool shade of green, literally and figuratively.
As for how it acts in different exposures, while some cool colors can make a north-facing room look icy cold, thanks to Retreat’s depth and degree of color (chroma), it can make even a chilly northern space look inviting and cozy! In south-facing rooms, Retreat offers an awesome balance to that warm, south-facing light, as well as any afternoon western sunshine.
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
As you can see, this dining room/den is a slightly darker room with muted, moody light…
Notice how Retreat looks in the shaded areas versus where natural light hits. However, keep in mind that a color will ALWAYS look its darkest on a wall with windows that doesn’t get a direct hit of natural light.
WHAT’S RETREAT’S LRV?
Retreat has an LRV of 21 (light reflectance value – learn more here), which puts it at the very bottom of the MEDIUM depth range (approximately 20-40) and flirting with the MEDIUM-DARK depth (10-20).. aka it’s darker than most medium depth paint colors.
What does this mean?
This means that Retreat has some serious meat on its colorful bones, without venturing into the DARK world of green paint colors. In fact, it can be a great happy medium between the light and dark ranges.
- Medium-depth paint colors are great for super well-lit rooms as they won’t wash out as much as lighter shades.
- This range is popular for accent walls & exteriors but can also look FAB on ALL of the walls too if the lighting conditions allow for it.
This next dining room was ‘okay’ in Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter, but with the low light, Revere Pewter falls a bit flat and drab…
On the other hand, Retreat adds mood and ambiance and a little hit of personality along the way!
Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint-lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.
The Best Paint NUMBER for Your Home – 62
The Best LIGHT Paint Colors for a DARK room
WHAT UNDERTONES DOES RETREAT HAVE?
As we read about earlier, Retreat is a cool green, which means it caters to a blue undertone. However, that’s not all Retreat has up its green sleeves, it also has a bit of gray to calm it down, creating a more earth-toned look. This combination of green, blue, and gray is where the COOL factor comes into play. If Retreat didn’t have the blue-gray undertone, it would read more warm – but it doesn’t.
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WHAT WHITE TRIM COLORS GO WITH RETREAT?
Due to the cool factor of retreat, I’d likely pair it with either Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace or Sherwin Williams High Reflective White for a nice crisp, and clean feeling. However, being that bit earthy, it easily accommodates, softer, warmer shades of white such as…
- Sherwin Williams Pure White
- Benjamin Moore White Dove
- Sherwin Williams Alabaster is a lovely, soft warm white with Retreat, but it’s as warm as I would go.
The ULTIMATE GUIDE to White Paint Colors
3 Steps to Picking the Best White Paint Color
IS RETREAT A GOOD COLOR FOR THE EXTERIOR OF A HOME?
Abso-friggin-lutely. As mentioned above, this depth is super popular for exteriors! Colors tend to look a bit lighter on the exterior of the home versus the interior due to lighting exposure. So if you paint your entire bedroom Retreat, it could seem a bit darker than what you see here on the exterior (depending on how bright your room is). It makes SUCH a nice depth for curb appeal.
5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color
Does Your Exposure REALLY MATTER When Choosing EXTERIOR Paint Colors?
IS RETREAT A GOOD COLOR FOR KITCHEN CABINETS?
You bet! However, it’s more commonly used on kitchen islands rather than full kitchens. It’s not that you CAN’T, as it looks wicked pretty with many of the popular white and off-white quartz countertops, it’s just more popular on islands.
How to Choose the Best White Paint Color for Your Kitchen Cabinets
WHAT OTHER COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO RETREAT?
Comparison is the KEY to choosing the best paint color for your home. Don’t be afraid to explore other colors to see how undertones, temperatures, and LRVs shift. This means that none of these are EXACT, they’re just comparables to get you in the right range.
SHERWIN WILLIAMS RETREAT vs ACACIA HAZE
If you want a lighter shade of Retreat, check out Sherwin Williams Acacia Haze. Acacia Haze picks up a slightly more sage green look compared to the more grounded cool green in Retreat. And with an 11-point difference in LRV, Acacia Haze offers a noticeably lighter approach while still being in the medium-depth world.
Sherwin Williams Acacia Haze with Retreat right below it.
BENJAMIN MOORE INTRIGUE vs. RETREAT
If Retreat is a bit more colorful than you plan on, Intrigue offers a bit more gray, as well as a bit more blue. It’s also about 25% lighter with its LRV of 24 (25% isn’t as drastic as it sounds, but it is noticeable).
SHERWIN WILLIAMS RETREAT vs. EVERGREEN FOG
While these two greens approach color differently, they’re often competing for the same position in a home! Evergreen Fog is lighter than Retreat, with an LRV of 30, putting it smack-dab in the middle of the medium depths. It’s also a touch warmer (less blue) and a bit more colorful (less gray) than Retreat.
SHERWIN WILLIAMS RETREAT vs PEWTER GREEN
Pewter Green is a super popular shade of green for those wanting a shade with a bit more depth and body. There’s a noticeable difference in depth between Retreat and Pewter Green, with PG coming in with an LRV of 12, putting it closer to the ‘dark’ end, while still having enough color so that it doesn’t fall flat or muted.
By the way, if you’re considering getting one brand to match another’s paint color, I DON’T recommend it. Read why HERE.
The Best Medium to Dark Green Paint Colors
WHICH PAINT COLORS GO WITH RETREAT?
Thanks to its depth and degree of color, Retreat goes well with a wide range of neutrals and colors…
- Soft, warm grays with a violet undertone, especially those leaning into taupe such as Benjamin Moore Classic Gray and Sherwin Williams Egret White.
- Light shades of gray with a similar green-blue undertone profile.
- Many flexible, warm shades of off-white.
- Trendy and modern shades of beige and tan.
- Subtle greige-taupe blends like Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray.
READ MORE
The Best Medium to Dark Shades of Green
How to Pick the Best Shade of Green For Your Home
ASK KYLIE: HOW DO YOU MAKE A COLD GRAY ROOM FEEL WARM?
The Best Gray Paint Colours With VIOLET (PURPLE) Undertones
The 3 Undertones of Cool Gray Paint Colors
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