Sherwin Williams Natural Linen (9109): Undertones, LRV, & Real Home Results
Sherwin Williams Natural Linen is a light, warm beige paint color. It works well on interior walls, especially in open-concept spaces and whole homes, as well as bedrooms.
Its undertones lean orange, which can influence how Natural Linen coordinates with interior finishes.
This is why researching and sampling are an important part of choosing your best paint color. So, let’s check out Natural Linen and see why it’s one of my favorite warm neutral paint colors.
WHAT TYPE OF COLOR IS NATURAL LINEN?
Natural Linen is definitely a beige paint color. However, it’s not golden warm like many of the beiges from the early 2000s Tuscan trend and not as TAN as the warm neutrals from the 90s. Natural Linen is, in fact, one of the more modern beige paint colors on the market.
If you have a north-facing light, Natural Linen’s warmth will still show up to the party but will be muted (the same goes for eastern light). However, if you have south-facing or warm afternoon western sunshine, you can expect Natural Linen to look warmer, but it shouldn’t be overwhelming.
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
WHAT’S THE LRV OF NATURAL LINEN?
Natural Linen has an LRV of 66, making it a pretty well-balanced light-depth paint color. While it will still wash out in bright light, once the light is a bit more subdued, it will return to its full glory. It’s also a great depth for a darker space, as it’s still light enough not to weigh it down.
This is really as MUTED as you can expect Natural Linen to look
Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint-lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.
WHAT ARE NATURAL LINEN’S UNDERTONES?
Being a beige paint color, Natural Linen’s main undertone is orange. And while orange can flex into yellow or pink, Natural Linen doesn’t STRONGLY cater to either, making it flexible for a wide range of interior finishes.
Get your PEEL & STICK SAMPLE of Natural Linen!
WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE COLOR WITH NATURAL LINEN?
Because Natural Linen has an orange undertone, it’s fussy towards whites with too much yellow. I’d check out Benjamin Moore White Dove or even Chantilly Lace. Sherwin Williams Pure White is also worth sampling.
I might even be inclined to lighten Natural Linen by 75% and see what that looks like. It’s hit-and-miss (usually hit, but you never know) and can be a great way to get a coordinating soft white.
The ULTIMATE GUIDE to White Paint Colors
IS IT A GOOD EXTERIOR COLOR?
Natural Linen can work on an exterior but is often light for homes in the northern states and Canada. You see MORE Natural Linen in the southern states, as a beige like this often suits the types of tiles/stone used on driveways and patios.
5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color
Does Your Exposure REALLY MATTER When Choosing EXTERIOR Paint Colors?
WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO NATURAL LINEN?
Choosing your home’s best paint colors is ALLLLL about comparison. Comparing similar shades helps you see the ebb and flow of undertones, temperatures, and depth. From there, notice which samples best suit your finishes and which clash.
- Sherwin Williams Rivers Edge / China Doll
- Sherwin Williams Moderate White
- Benjamin Moore Muslin
- Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige
READ MORE
The 8 Best WHOLE HOME Warm Neutral Paint Colors
Paint Color Review: Benjamin Moore Cedar Key
The 5 Best Off-White Paint Colors
NEED HELP?
Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2021, UPDATED IN 2024
Hi, two questions. One, would Natural Linen work with the beigy pink tiles of 2004? Second, would Pure white work as trim?
Do you think Natural Linen has enough weight to be contrasted with White dove built-in bathroom cabinets and other white decor to do a “beige and white” style approach? It’s not too pale?
It’s touch and go. Maybe ask them to darken Natural LInen by 25%, just to give it a bit more oomph 🙂
Would BM Elmira White be a good comparison to SW Natural Linen? They look very similar to me.
Hi Kylie, I too would like to know if SW or BM -Natural Linen work with a pink beige tile. Please reply. Thank you
Of the two, I would definitely cater to the SW version 🙂
Hi Kylie,
What are your thoughts on SW Pure White as a trim color for SW Natural Linen.
Thank you!
Why is it that I see “green” in the linen color?
We just painted the entire house in SW linen and with white trim and ceilings and I feel like I see green!
Ughhhhhh
Have you checked your bulbs? It can be hard to find the info, but some bulbs have a low CRI. Bulbs with a CRI lower than 90 can cast green onto the walls. Another reason could be some green reflecting from the outside of your home – perhaps a bank of trees/landscaping? LASTLY, have you checked it with the original color swatch to ensure it matched perfectly? If it wasn’t done at SW it won’t be perfect, which could account for this, but even the brands themselves get it wrong sometimes!
What is the color that was on your walls before ? mine was light blue and I think I see green too but I’m not too sure, I’ve only applied one coat so far and will do a second coat.
Do you think Natural Linen would look good again Natural Cedar walls?
YUP!
Hi Kim, these blogs are so informative, so thank you for your hard work! We’re looking at painting our living room walls with SW Downy and Natural Linen on the trim. Do you see any issues with this? The space has wood beams, rich-colored wood floors, & a brick fireplace/hearth with a woodburning heater. All this to say, it will be farmhouse-y.
Hi Kylie, so, I have bisque kitchen cabinets and travertine backsplash. I originally painted the walls accessible beige, but not happy with it. I’m leaning towards natural linen. Countertops have beige and grey coloring. I have popular grey through the house. What color would you recommend for the kitchen island? I have alabaster white on my trim, crown mounding and doors. Thank you!
Hey Kimberly! It TOTALLY depends on the exact countertop. Some prefer darker colors with blue undertones, some want green, and others want violet or even just BLACK!
Kylie, I have a North-East room with 2 large windows (north) and full glass patio door (east); thinking of Natural Linen or Divine white. Want a cozy TV room and willing to go any color, even dark.. would love your thoughts. Appreicate you.
Hey Michelle! Of the two, I would lean into Natural Linen over Divine White. And I bet there’s some DARK coloirs that could look fab, but it tooootally depends on the finishes in the room, including the furniture and any hard finishes. Maybe this blog post will help? https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/7-fabulous-dark-colours-for-a-dark-room-or-basement-sherwin-and-benjamin/
I like natural linen but just a little too light for me during the day, how much would suggest darkening it? Malabar is the next darker color but that’s too dark for me. Thanks!
Hey Nicole! Ask the paint store to make you two samples pots: 1 at 25% darker and 1 at 50% darker. Neither are as drastic as they sound, but they will get you that bit darker without hitting Malabar :).
Hi Kylie, my family room is currently painted in “Natural linen” color, it’s a north- and east- facing room, and it looks great. Now, the wall on the east side of the room has open stairs that go down the basement (that wall gets lots of light). However, the rest of the basement needs a lighter color — it is quite dark. Do you think I could paint the other walls something like BM White Dove? Or would you have other suggestions for an off-white that will look good in a dark basement, and won’t look too different from Natural linen? Thank you.
Oooo, maybe you might try Natural Linen 50% lighter or something like Moderate White?
Ah, that’s a great idea! Thank you!!
It turns out my room was painted Natural linen Benjamin Moore, not SW! I have tried lightening by 50%, but it’s still too dark. Do you have any suggestions for a colour with the same undertones as natural linen BM, but significantly lighter? Thank you so much.
Hi Kylie!
I have a bedroom with small windows ( northern and eastern exposure) and wood floors that definitely lean orange. I think natural linen would be a great choice given the lighting and fixed elements however my husband is planning on making our headboard out poplar and nightstands out of maple. Do you think lighter woods will work with natural linen paint color? Thank you!
Yup, they certainly can, as long as they have a ncie orange undertone!
Would Greek Villa trim work with Natural Linen on the walls? My painter refuses to use Benjamin Moore paint so White Dove is out. I’m not a fan of Alabaster in my north facing room. Otherwise, would one of SW Emerald Designer Whites work? I’m losing sleep over this. 🙁
Kylie, I went and checked out Cheviot and it’s gorgeous, but I don’t think I can swing it my budget. I think Alabaster is too creamy with my honey oak cabinets and Baltic brown granite countertops with a dark coordinating backsplash. I think pure white would be too white for my brown kitchen. Since I cannot do a Benjamin Moore paint, what are your thoughts about Westhighland White?
I put samples of both on my wall and the samples a de by side look great together. Nervous about pairing them after doing some research. Did you end up using them together? All of my trim is Greek Villa.
Melissa, I’m sorry, I just saw your question. I did end up using them together. They look nice together, but in certain lighting Greek Villla looks a little too creamy for my liking. I think I would have been happiest with BM’s White Dove. If I had a do over, I would have found a painter willing to paint both brands.
What would be a good green color for some cabinets with the walls natural linen? I was thinking SW retreat maybe?
Hello! If I wanted something a little lighter than SW Natural Linen, would I just ask them to make it 25% lighter? Or is there a SW color that basically accomplishes the same thing? I’m using Antler Velvet in my kitchen and have Malabar in the primary bath and Natural Linen in two half-baths already. I wish there was one shade lighter on the paint strip so I’d know what to choose! This would be for the main color in my house – foyer, long hall, living/dining great room, plus a large wall on a stairway to the basement. We have 9′ ceilings and S/S-E exposure, so it’s a nice light space. The color I originally chose – BM Lighthouse Landing – is much darker and more yellow than I’d hoped. Oops. 🙁 Thank you!
Have you checked out the likes of SW Divine White, BM Maritime White and SW Moderate White? They might be up your alley!
I have the dreaded honey oak flooring with the orange tones and trying to come up with a neutral color tone it down- would natural linen be that color?
Same problem, Alabaster is perfect.
Hi Kylie!
I’m painting my kitchen and living room with orangee-toned wood floors. I think I settled on Casa Blanca for the east facing living room and now i’m trying to figure out the west/south facing kitchen. Based on your review of Casa Blanca, a darker beige with an orange undertone would work with it. Do you think Natural Linen is dark enough, with an LRV only 10 less than Casa Blanca? I could darken it a bit, or maybe go with Malabar?
Thanks so much!
Hi we have divine white on our walls in our kitchen. Western afternoon sun. Contemplating colors for our cabinets and considering agreeable grey or maybe natural linen? Our backsplash is a pebble green grey tile (came with the home!) what would you suggest?
We have lots of natural wood framed furniture in the space as it’s open plan into our dining and living room…thanks so much!
Hi! Love following your videos.
What do think of a pairing of SW Natural Linen in an adjacent area to a room painted with SW Rainwashed in a coastal home. Older orange oak floor throughout.
Appreciate your feedback
Hi Sharon, yup, I think those two could be pretty!
Hi Kylie, I love your blogs and videos, they have been my absolute go to for paint colour info lately! I have the dreaded Honey Oak cabinets! I am following your suggestion of painting my walls SW Natural Linen! You mention SW Pure White, BM White Dove, BM Chantilly Lace, as whites to go with Natural Linen, would BM Simply White go with Natural Linen?
Hi Kylie, what would your top trim colour be to go with SW Natural Linen?
Thank you
Oooo, I’d have to go with Pure White.