Posted on May 2, 2022 by KylieMawdsley
Sherwin Williams Natural Tan: the warm neutral you’ve been looking for
When it comes to the best tan and beige paint colors, Sherwin Williams is in the lead, especially with a color like Natural Tan.
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To show you RELATEABLE & REAL homes, I ONLY use photos from my Online Color Consulting clients. This means I don’t always have the quality pics I need (hence the ‘QUICK Review’), but DEFINITELY have some SUPER helpful info to help you on your way!
What type of paint color is Natural Tan? Is it warm or cool?
Natural Tan is WARM and beige-inspired, but it’s actually a TAN (see the difference HERE). This being said, Natural Tan isn’t as warm as many of the popular beige and tan paint colors on the market.
If you have north-facing light or afternoon eastern/morning western light, you may see Natural Tan leaning a bit grayer or flatter. However, with south-facing or afternoon western sunshine, Natural Tan offers a passive warmth to what can be an overwhelmingly warm-looking room.
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
What’s the LRV of Natural Tan?
Natural Tan has an LRV of 65. With this higher-than-average LRV, Natural Tan is a ‘light’ depth paint color.
Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint-lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.
What are the undertones of Natural Tan?
Natural Tan is VERY neutral and subtle in its look, rarely flashing a green undertone with a BARE wink of yellow.
What’s the best way to sample paint?
Like with every paint color, I highly recommend using SAMPLIZE. Samplize is a peel & stick paint sample that you can easily move around your room for over HALF THE COST of traditional sample pots – and they deliver right to your front door!
Learn all about Samplize HERE
If I’m painting my walls Natural Tan, what’s the best white paint color for my trim?
With Natural Tan on the walls, I lean into…
- Sherwin Williams Pure White
- Sherwin Williams High Reflective White
The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams
Is Natural Tan a good color for the exterior of my home?
With its subtle warmth, Natural Tan could be a nice exterior option, keeping in mind it will look CONSIDERABLY lighter and more washed-out when natural light hits it (due to its higher LRV). I might choose a cleaner white paint color for the trim to amp up the contrast.
5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color
What Benjamin Moore paint colors are the same as or similar to Natural Tan?
Every color has its particular look, and trust me; there will be NO perfect match – you WILL see shifts in undertones, temperature and depths, but you could check out…
- Benjamin Moore White Sand
BTW, if you’re thinking of color matching between brands (i.e., getting Benjamin Moore to make a Sherwin William’s paint color), you might want to read THIS first.
What paint colors look good with Natural Tan?
White Sand is a reasonably flexible neutral paint color and suits a variety of colors, such as some…
- Grays that are the same depth or darker than it
- Soft whites
- Blue-grays and blue-green blends
Not sure if Natural Tan is right for you? Want a bit warmer or cooler? I’ve got more!
READ MORE
The 11 Best Warm Neutral Paint Colors That AREN’T BEIGE!
The 12 Best Beige and Tan Paint Colors
Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan
Not sure which paint color is best for YOUR home?
Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!
Chat soon,
WRITTEN IN 2020, UPDATED IN 2022
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Kylie do you always paint the ceilings white? I have open concept floor plan with crown molding through out and plantation shutters. I like the walls & ceiling all accessible beige or natural tan. Didn’t know if it would be to dark.
Author
While white is definitely the MOST common choice, I’ve done many non-white ceilings. It all depends on the wall colour and the space. Rooms with high or vaulted ceilings often handle a non-white better than low ceilings. White is also better long-term if you’re someone who likes to change things up on the walls as a non-white ceiling will be VERY LIMITING! Long story short, if you like it and it suits your space, have fun with it!
Kylie,
We are painting our walls natural tan and we have 12 foot ceilings in our main areas. We also have crown molding around the ceiling. If we did not want to paint the ceilings white, what color would you recommend to compliment Natural Tan?
Thank you
Susan
I painted the main area of my home Sherwin Williams Natural Tan. I used Dunn Edwards White Picket Fence for ceilings and trim, which is very similar Sherwin Williams White Snow. I have all northern exposure except for one window upstairs that faces east and I would say that it stays pretty neutral, if I had to choose an undertone other than yellow it would probably be pink, but if so it’s nominal. I’m really happy with my choice.
Author
Thank you Tess, I love to get this feedback as it totally helps other readers too!
Hi Kylie,
I love this color, but I’m wondering if it goes with auburn toned hickory laminate flooring? I can’t seem to find many suggestions for paint online for a north facing room with reddish brown flooring. It’s not super red just a hint of it. Almost mahogany but not quite as red.
I hope this natural tan color will work for me. 🙂 any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Tiff
Would this color work with beige pink/orange tilled?
Author
Nope~it might look a touch greenish in comparison, but it CAN depend on the tile.
Pingback: Best True Beige Paint Colors Without Heavy Undertones Favorite Paint Colors Blog
Hi Kylie-
I painted my open floor plan living area SW Natural Tan. I have tons of northern exposure ( large windows, lots of trees) with some east and west smaller windows. My walls look blush most of the time. I hate blush. For a few minutes, early morning and noon-ish, they soften to a gray. I was going for a light tan with soft light cream/brown undertones. Boy, did I miss that. Read a lot of your articles, especially regarding light coming in from different directions. I am now thinking of SW Natural Canvas or Creamy Tan.. Any other suggestions?
And yes, I painted a 3′ x 5 piece of drywall and moved it around the room for several days before moving forward. My hubby thinks I have lost it and says it looks fine. I disagree. It is too cool. Did I tell you I hate blush?
Thanks for any suggestions and I am glad I stumbled upon you and your informative articles PS I hate to admit this but I am a commercial designer! The doctor’s kids are always sick…
Author
You, I’m a believer in gut instincts, and when something doesn’t FEEL right, it probably isn’t! Check out Sw Neutral Ground, and see if it adds a bit more warmth for you. I also love BM Ballet White/White Sand. And don’t worry, I can do colours ALLLLL DAY LONG, but I can’t do commercial design – we all have our strengths!
could it be your lightbulbs?
This happened to me too!! I found out later that my painter got the paint from Lowe’s and thought that they could color match it. I don’t understand why he didn’t just go to SW like he should’ve. So I went to sw and got another sample of SW natural tan and put it up on the walls and sure enough there was no pink. I wish I could post a pic to show you the difference in the paint color.
My whole family is obsessed with your blog! My daughters follow your advice on just about everything they paint and can carry on in depth conversations on LRV’s thanks to you! 😉 We’re having our kitchen cabinets painted White Dove and am considering repainting all of my SW Pure White trim White Dove as well. (Per your blog). We have Natural tan walls in our surrounding rooms and am wondering if the White Dove trim will look ok with it or should I keep the pure white trim? I know you said white trim colors and white cabinets should be the same! Thank you for your advice!!
I had Accessible Beige in my small living room for the last year. Although it was a beautiful color I always felt the room was dark and closed in. Yesterday we repainted in Natural Tan and almost instantly the room felt lighter and fresher. Thank you for your insights about this color
Author
Ahhh, i SO love to hear this – thank you!
What is a gray color to paint my 2 story fireplace with natural tan? Much like one of your pictures.
I want to paint my living room natural tan, except for one shiplap wall. I know you recommended Pure White for trim, but on a large shiplap wall, I’m concerned Pure White would be to stark white. I was considering either Greek Villa or Alabaster White. What are your thoughts? Thank you.
Author
Greek Villa and Alabaster are both warmer, more yellow based whites. Greek Villa is actually the exact same depth (LRV 84) as PUre White, it’s only that it has more yellow to it. Alabaster is a touch darker (LRV 82) and has a creamier warmth. I do PREFER Pure white with Natural Tan, overall.
Thank you, Kylie. Another color I was considering for my living/dining room/kitchen was Benjamin Moore’s Elmira White. Have you ever reviewed Elmira White? I imagine SW Pure White trim would be nice with that as well.
Hi Kylie,
I love your reviews, thank you for them!! I would like to piant my whole main part of the house in one color. That includes north and south facing rooms. I like tan/beige tones. so confusing! Every time i review another color, I like it haha. suggestions please?
Author
Hey Dawn! It would be impossible for me to say without seeing your home and its finishes! There are some lovely ones out there, but the ones that are BEST for your home depends on your home’s specific needs!