It's been awhile since I have done a Color Spotlight and today I wanted to talk about one of the all-time most popular paint colors out there- Sherwin Williams Sea Salt. I know most of you already know and love this color but I wanted to share more information and tips for using this color.
via Banks Design Associates
I wanted to talk in depth about this color because this is the color that I receive the most questions about from readers because while it's a beautiful popular color, it is one of the most finicky colors as well. Sea Salt is also a fantastic example for me to use to show you a couple great tricks when it comes to choosing the perfect color and the impact lighting has on a color.
via Gretchen Black
Before I jump into the details, I wanted to show you the Sherwin Williams paint color strip that Sea Salt is on because it's one of the more popular color strips out there. Notice that Comfort Gray is on it too!
Whenever I take a poll on the blog or my Facebook page with readers on their favorite paint color, Sherwin Williams Sea Salt is ALWAYS in the top three colors. One year, it was the #1 color readers picked. No surprise from me at all because it's also one of the top colors that I recommend to my clients because it's an absolutely beautiful green/gray/blue!
In case you're curious about the other colors readers picked as their favorites, you can see them below:
via Diggs Design Company
For those of you not familiar with the color, it's important to note that Sea Salt that it is a chameleon color. This color does change colors in certain lighting conditions and it can be a dramatic change.
via Braun Adams
Just to show you what I mean about the wide color swing, here is Sherwin Williams Sea Salt in a space with no natural light whatsoever. Notice how the color leans more green with very little blue coming through.
via Whitten Architects
Next, here is Sea Salt in a "mixed" space with an increased amount of natural light than the last space, which I think is the ideal situation for using Sea Salt. Notice that the color in this light has a tad more blue to it.
Below is Sea Salt in my client's space that is filled with tons of natural light. See how the color now leans more blue than green.
Here's another all natural light look at Sea Salt. Again, you'll notice more blue and the gray in the color.
via Starbuck Reality
While it's important to always test paint colors in the space with the lighting you will use, it is especially important with finicky chameleon colors like Sea Salt. As you saw above, while all the changes in the color were beautiful, you will need to know what it will do in your space to see what the color will do in the lighting and if you like the results.
I recently worked with a client on choosing colors for her whole home and we sampled colors on all of her walls and compared with colors very similar to get the color we wanted for each room.
The colors on the wall are:
- Sea Salt Sherwin Williams
- Pale Smoke Benjamin Moore
- Beach Glass Benjamin Moore
Lighting plays such a huge role with colors and of course, sampling a color is important but also, it helps to know the following when choosing a color:
- An abundance of natural light will cause a color to lean blue and lighter.
2. A lack of natural light will cause a color to lean warmer (green/yellow) and darker.
3. A space that will have only artificial light (bathrooms, laundry rooms, etc.), color will lean significantly warmer with deeper color saturation. Also color will appear a tad darker.
If you can keep in mind those three points above as you zone in on your perfect color, that will save you a lot of time and frustration for sure!
via Amy Tyndall Design
From my experience working with clients, I have yet to see Sea Salt appear in a color that I didn't like but whether green or blue/green or blue/gray, Sea Salt has never disappointed me!
Here's Sea Salt in a client's bathroom.
I know a lot of you have used Sea Salt in your home and I would LOVE for you to share your thoughts in the comment section for everyone to see. Did you love it? What were your lighting conditions?
If you're looking for more color inspiration and past Color Spotlights, you can find them here.
Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Cheers!
Cyndy
