Sherwin Williams Silverplate: Undertones, Lighting, & LRV

Have you been looking for the best gray paint color but can’t find just what you’re looking for? Does your perfect shade of gray have a slightly moody cast with minimal noticeable undertones? Well, have I got a paint color for you!

WHAT TYPE OF GRAY IS SILVERPLATE?

Silverplate can be a slightly cool-looking gray paint color; however, it’s far stormier (not icy) compared to the standard cool bunch. While I wouldn’t go as far as to call it a ‘muddy’ gray, as it doesn’t have that type of warmth, it’s a far cry from the crisp, icy gray world. Being this type of gray, Silverplate can change how it looks (or your perception of it) based on the exposure of your room.

For example, if you have a north-facing light, you might find Silverplate looking a wink more cool or gray-blue. If you have a south-facing light, you might appreciate more of its stormy softness.

North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best? 

WHAT’S THE LRV OF SILVERPLATE?

Silverplate has an LRV of 53, so it’s a light-medium depth paint color. If you have a room with a ton of natural light, you might find that it holds its color better than a comparable light gray paint color, which could easily wash out. However, if you have a dark room, you will need good interior lighting to bring it to life; otherwise, it could look a bit drab.

Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint-lovin’ life – read all about it HERE. 

WHAT ARE SILVERPLATE’S UNDERTONES?

Every gray paint color has undertones, and Silverplate is no exception; however, because its undertones are SO SUBTLE and non-committal, it changes gears regularly. While it might favor blue at the odd time, don’t be surprised if it looks a touch blue-green! Look at Silverplate compared to these other grays below…

Benjamin Moore’s Smoke Embers is gray with a purple undertone. Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray is a muddy, warm gray that can flex but often caters to green or purple.

Silverplate is gray with fewer undertones than many of the popular shades.

But this doesn’t make it a clear winner. Many interior finishes DEMAND a clear undertone to grab onto. In interiors, this undertone is more often purple than blue or green. With a sneaky gray like Silverplate, you must sample it in your room and spend time with it under different lighting situations/times of day to see how it settles for you.

 Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Silverplate…

WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TRIM COLOR WITH IT?

If you’re freshening up your trim or white cabinets, here are my favorite shades with Silverplate…

• Sherwin Williams White Snow
• Sherwin Williams Pure White (for a slightly softer approach)

The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams 

IS SILVERPLATE A GOOD EXTERIOR PAINT COLOR?

It certainly could be! With its light-medium LRV, Silverplate can hold up a bit better to strong sunshine, which could otherwise wash out a lighter paint color. It also suits a clean white trim and black or dark navy blue front door or shutter colors.

Sherwin Williams Silverplate on the right

5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color 

WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO SILVERPLATE?

When comparing similar shades, you’ll see shifts in undertones, temperature, and depths. It’s these tweaks that make one color the PERFECT choice over another…

COMPARE, COMPARE, COMPARE! 

• Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray (is lighter and considerably more popular than Silverplate)
• The previous mentioned Tinsmith and Light French Gray

Here’s a good example of Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray with a gorgeous K2 stone fireplace and vaulted ceilings…

Here’s Light French Gray looking soft and pretty on the exterior of this brick home (love it)…

WHAT COLORS GO WITH SILVERPLATE?

Silverplate has a few preferences but is reasonably flexible when creating a whole home or room-to-room color palette, including…

• Some subtle blue-green paint colors with a decent dose of gray in them
• Some soft off-whites, as well as warm white paint colors
• Silverplate generally doesn’t love to be partnered with grays that are lighter AND cooler than it or beige/tans that are darker than it
• Medium to darker greens can be badass with Silverplate, for sure.
• Some light, subtle, muted beiges can be pretty in partnership with Silverplate – the same goes for toned-down shades of cream.

READ MORE

Is Gray Still Popular in Today’s Trendy Home?

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Argos

The Best Gray and Greige Paint Colors for Your Whole Home

 

Need help?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2020, UPDATED IN 2025