Favorite Paint Swatches From the SW Designer Deck
A few months ago, Sherwin-Williams launched a new paint collection called the Emerald Designer Edition. I just received my fan deck in the mail before leaving for vacation and wanted to share my favorite swatches from their newest paint line. FYI- this post is not sponsored… I just thought it would be helpful because I’m constantly asked about paint color recommendations! If you’re wondering how this new collection differs from their previous swatches… personally, I think the colors look a bit more desaturated (in a good way). The overall collection feels sophisticated and pared down, in regards to color and the amount of swatches. It’s a small collection that feels approachable and I feel like they definitely mixed these colors with designers in mind. If you’re on the hunt for some fresh paint colors, click through for my favorites from the deck!
The first swatch in the deck was actually one of my favorites, pictured above. Photos don’t do these bright neutrals justice, but they’re really nice in person! My favorites include Oat Milk, Arrowroote, and Cold Foam. All are creamy neutrals that have plenty of depth and a nice light reflective value.
I was also very impressed with many blue and navy hues throughout the fan book, as you’ll notice in this post. These medium blues caught my attention and feel cooler and more blue in person than they look online. I would use any and all of the blues on this swatch- they’re stunning: Intrepid Grey, Autonomous, Castlegate, Scattered Showers, and Night Out. I actually ordered samples of Scattered Showers and Night Out for potential office paint.
Next up- swatches with a nice green, neutral undertone. Crooked River and Canal Street were my immediate favorites. They feel a bit more green in person.
This palette felt really fresh to me! I’ve noticed more purple, plum, and burgundy or wine colors creeping into my feed lately, and I love them. These neutrals felt like an accessible way to get a similar look. Whirlwind and Restoration have an almost lavender undertone in person, while Cracked Pepper definitely has a nice red base, giving it tons of depth and moody character. Soft Suede is a perfect neutral that feels very balanced… not too cool or warm! It’s the type of color that goes with everything.
I really like every swatch from this page in the deck, but then again- you guys know I love my green paint! I ordered a sample of Willowleaf, which looks more saturated in person. I’ll link the others for you, too… they’re all so good: Create, Soft Sage, Frosted Fern, and Succulent.
I probably sound like a broken record, but this entire page was also really good… I’d happily use any of these swatches: Windchill, Mineral, Breakwater, Rain Cloud, and Sea Mariner. These all look a bit more blue in person.
What intrigued me about this palette was the gold undertone found within each swatch- almost an ochre colored base. My favorites include: Woolen Mittens, Worn Khaki, and Vintage.
From the bright neutrals below, all of them were top notch! White Sand would make a great ceiling paint or clean trim color because it has a cooler base. Cotton, Sanctuary, Mortar, and Sunbleached are also versatile and I could see these as interior OR exterior paint colors that read “almost white”.
I’ve said this hundreds of times before, but I’ll say it again… swatching paint is SO important. It is impossible to get an accurate read on a computer monitor because the colors are displayed in RGB (red, green, blue)… whereas, paint is mixed in a complex way, similar to a CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) printer, because it’s a physical, tangible product. Since many colors go into paint mixing and your eyes see it differently in person as opposed to a screen, I’d highly recommend ordering swatches before you commit. A paint color in my home might look totally different in yours, as it reflects its surroundings, the light, and many other factors come into play. Just a friendly tip!
Did you enjoy this paint color post? I can add more to the calendar if you’d like! It was pretty fun to comb through my new deck, order some new swatches, and dream about transforming spaces that could use a fresh coat of paint (like our office building, which is kind of a disaster… don’t worry I’m documenting it and will share). I hope you all have a great weekend. I’ll see you back here on Monday, friends!