Sherwin Williams Tradewind (6218): Undertones, LRV, & Best Uses

Tradewind is a light blue paint color. It’s used on interior walls, especially bedrooms and bathrooms. While it’s not often found on exterior siding, it shows up on the odd haint-blue-inspired porch ceiling. 

Depending on surrounding finishes and lighting conditions (exposure and interior lighting), blues like Tradewind can shift in appearance from wall to wall. 

This is why researching, sampling, and comparing paint colors is so important – thanks for starting your color journey here! So, let’s find out if Tradewind is the perfect blue hue for you…baby boo. 

WHAT WILL TRADEWIND LOOK LIKE IN A ROOM?

While some blues dabble hard in the gray world, Sherwin Williams Tradewind is definitely a cool blue paint color, so your room will definitely be blue. 

However, because it has a gray undercurrent, it’s a calming, peaceful blue rather than a super-bright, colorful one. 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Tradewind…

Because of its commitment to blue, Tradewind might seem warmer than icy, cleaner shades of blue, but don’t be fooled – she be cold. 

IS TRADEWIND A GOOD CHOICE FOR A NORTH-FACING ROOM?

I don’t think so. While some love a cool blue in a cool exposure, if you ask me, it’s like giving your room a double-whammy (also known as Tim’s favorite Friday night move). North-facing rooms often benefit from softer, warmer shades, or at least blues with more green. 

IS IT A GOOD COLOR FOR A SOUTH-FACING ROOM?

Heck yes, a color like Tradewind offers a nice cool balance to an overly warm, south-facing room. The same goes for a west-facing room that’s super hot in the afternoon. 

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

99.5% of the photos in my blog are of REAL HOMES from my Online Color Consulting clients, readers, and friends. While not always magazine-perfect, they’re packed with ideas and proven color choices to help you create a home you’ll love.

Because Tradewind isn’t hugely popular with my clients, I don’t have great images (yet). If you use it, please send some in! 

THE LRV (DEPTH) OF TRADEWIND

Tradewind’s LRV is 61, making it a light blue paint color. However, whereas some blues are fresh and clean, this depth grounds it a bit more, making it less airy-looking. 

If you have a dark room, while Tradewind’s LRV might normally be a bit too low, its color helps it rise to the occasion (same with flat eastern morning light). If you have an overly bright room, it will wash out quite a bit, and so will any color in this range. Be patient and watch it change throughout the day.

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

SW TRADEWIND’S UNDERTONES

Just because a color is BLUE (which is often an undertone itself) doesn’t mean you won’t get undertones.

Blue paint colors tend to be blue (very few), blue-purple, or blue-green. While it’s not strong, Tradewind caters to blue-green with a nice shot of gray to calm it.

The Best Light Blue Paint Colors

WILL IT LOOK TOO BLUE-GREEN?

Only you can answer that question. Personally, yes, I find it a bit too blue for my tastes. But on the other hand, I don’t find it has enough green either. Long story short, there are many blue-greens I like more because they’re more muted and more balanced between blue and green. 

However, if you don’t love blue that leans overly green and want a soft commitment to color, Tradewind could work for YOU! 

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Tradewind!

WHAT’S THE BEST WHITE TRIM OR CABINET COLOR?

Whether you’re painting your trims or cabinets, be careful about the white you pair with Tradewind.

• Sherwin Williams Extra White can be a pretty option for a clean, but not icy connection.
• Sherwin Williams Pure White is a flexible choice, especially if you’re painting all the trim in your home the same shade of white (which is ideal).
• I LOVE Tradewind with Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace and Sherwin Williams White Snow for a cleaner look.
• The most crisp, clean partnership is Benjamin Moore Super White

In general, be careful with overly warm whites, as the yellow in them can activate the blue in Tradewind, enhancing BOTH colors (but not in a great way, as you don’t want yellow trim).

The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams

WHERE TRADEWIND DOES (& DOESN’T) WORK

Tradewind can be a fussy color to work with and doesn’t suit many finishes or situations. Let’s see what we’ve got…

TRADEWIND & CREAM CABINETS & TRIM

It’s a hard no from this color cowgirl. Just as with overly warm whites, cream cabinets, and trims will overreact with the blue of Tradewind. You’ll have a hotmess of yellow and blue on your hands. 

WOOD TRIMS, DOORS, & CABINETS

Tradewind offers a pretty contrast if you want your wood finishes to pop. That said, it can look a bit dated, particularly with the wood trims and cabinets. I prefer it on the walls with a wood floor and contrasting white trim.

EXTERIOR SIDING OR STUCCO

If you’re going for a beachy look, Tradewind can be a great choice, although it’s not common. Some people also explore it for their shutters, haint-blue porch ceiling, or front doors. However, it doesn’t suit many brickwork or stone facades on a large scale.

5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color

CABINETS, ISLANDS, & BATHROOM VANITIES

Tradewind can be a pretty choice for all of the above if you’re good with a soft, subtle blue. The sheen of cabinet paint can make a color look a bit lighter than expected, more so in rooms with good natural light. Keep that in mind when choosing the best depth for your cabinets.

The Best Light Blue Paint Colors

WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO TRADEWIND?

When choosing the best blue, there’s often a tug-of-war between blue, blue-gray, and blue-green. While blues with even more green are often more popular than Tradewind, it depends on what you and your room are looking for. 

TRADEWIND COMPARED TO SHERWIN WILLIAMS SEA SALT

In the battle of Tradewind vs. Sea Salt, Sea Salt definitely wins the race. But this doesn’t always make it the best choice, as it comes with a few risks.

Sherwin Williams Sea Salt Paint Color Review

While these two colors are often compared, they’re playing in different fields. Tradewind is a blue with subtle green and gray undertones. Sea Salt is a green-gray with FAR more gray. And while it can lean considerably blue in some rooms, it can’t even shake a stick at Tradewind.

The big difference is that Tradewind commits to its blue. Sea Salt can be blue…or green…or green-gray. 

As for depth, Tradewind’s LRV of 61 is a bit lower and darker than Sea Salt’s 63, but this isn’t a huge dealbreaker.

TRADEWIND COMPARED TO SHERWIN WILLIAMS SLEEPY BLUE

Now this is an apples-to-apples comparison. Both Tradewind and Sleepy Blue are shades of blue in the light range. However, Sleepy Blue’s LRV of 58 makes it slightly darker than Tradewind’s 61.

Here’s a Peel & Stick sample of Sleepy Blue, as I don’t have images of it (not many of my Online Color clients love it!). 

As for undertones, compare the two and see a shift to more blue with Sleepy Blue. While there can be a fraction of green, you won’t see it (or ‘shouldn’t see it’) as Sleepy Blue reads more or less like a true blue with some gray to take the edge off.

TRADEWIND COMPARED TO SHERWIN WILLIAMS RAIN

If you want a bit more depth (which I personally love with blues like this), Rain is a gorgeous choice and a great comparison.

Rain is like the light-medium, slightly darker version of Tradewind, thanks to its LRV of 49, which bumps it down a notch. However, you can expect a similar approach to undertones, but maybe a wink more green mixed in.

BENJAMIN MOORE COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO TRADEWIND…

• Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue (has more green, but is a stunner)
• Benjamin Moore Harbor Haze
• Benjamin Moore Smoke (a bit darker and grayer)

WHAT COLORS GO WITH TRADEWIND?

When pairing up colors in a palette, it depends on what you need them for – walls, cabinets, accent walls, kitchen island, etc. But regardless of your needs, these colors should get you going…

• LIGHT GRAYS: Some lighter, slightly cooler-looking gray paint colors can be interesting with Tradewind (ideally they have a similar undertone makeup). 
• CREAM PAINT COLORS: Soft cream paint colors without TOO much yellow in them.
• WARM WHITES: Warm white paint colors can be beautiful in adjoining rooms, although I wouldn’t use them on the trim/cabinets in the same room.
• DARK BLUE: Darker shades of blue with the same wink o’ green and gray.
• LIGHT GREEN: Light green paint colors look great in adjoining rooms, especially when they have a similar LRV and gray backdrop

QUICK SUMMARY (TL;DR)

• Sherwin Williams Tradewind is a blue paint color with a green undertone and a gray backdrop to calm it.
• It has an LRV of 61, making it a light depth. 
• It’s most commonly found in bedrooms and bathrooms, but shows up randomly on other interior and exterior surfaces. 

READ MORE

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Get the best paint color advice with Kylie M’s Online Paint Color Consulting – I’d love to help!

KYLIE M INTERIORS     E-DESIGN AND ONLINE VIRTUAL PAINT COLOR EXPERT, SPECIALIZING IN BENJAMIN MOORE AND SHERWIN WILLIAMS PAINT COLORS    DIY DECORATING AND DESIGN ADVICE BLOGGER

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