Sherwin Williams Wool Skein: One of the Best Tan Paint Colors
I get asked a lot about Wool Skein, especially when I have readers who’re looking for the PERFECT, soft, warm neutral. And this IS…a soft warm neutral, however, there are a few important things you need to know before bustin’ out the paintbrush…
What kind of color is Wool Skein?
Wool Skein is a light neutral beige/tan paint color with muted undertones. It’s warm without being overly yellow/orange toned like SW Softer Tan, yet it’s not as neutral (slightly grayish) as SW Natural Tan.
What is the LRV of Wool Skein?
Wool Skein comes in at an AWESOME 63 – just a smidge off my best LRV for any room. At 63, it isn’t necessarily going to lighten and brighten a dark space, but it also won’t weigh it down too much as long as you have adequate interior lighting.
If you have an OVERLY bright wall/room, it will wash-out, but only when the sun is directly on it (as shown on the upper walls in the above photo and the lower-left wall in the photo below).
Want to learn more about LRV? Paint Colors and LRV: The Ultimate Guide You Need to Read
What are the undertones of Wool Skein?
If you’d been planning on painting your walls Wool Skein, THIS is where you might change your mind. Wool Skein is ‘generally speaking’, a tan that leans just slightly into yellow – sounds good, right? Sure, until you realize there’s also a weeee willy wink o’ green in there.
That’s right – green. It’s not a green that’s obvious or even NOTICEABLE – on some walls. However, for those undertone sensitive folks, you might find that sneaky green undertone isn’t what you were looking for in your perfect warm neutral.
Click HERE or on the above image to see available packages
Let’s take a quick break to talk about paint samples…
Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…
- Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on location
- At $6.99, they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needing for traditional paint sampling
- If you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room
Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE
What is the best white trim color with Wool Skein?
Wool Skein is relatively flexible, as long as it’s partnered with a warm soft white, like Benjamin Moore Cloud White (darkened by 25%) shown here…
So, now that you know ALL ABOUT Wool Skein, are you still excited to use it? If not, I’ve got a few more for you to check out at the end of this blog post!
Not sure which beige is best for you?
Check out my affordable and fun E-design and Online Paint Color Services!
Chat soon,
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Color Review: Benjamin Moore Ballet White
Thanks so much for all your tips! I’m loving Wool Skein and thinking of using it on the walls in a north facing kitchen. The counter tops are a granite very similar to the above photo (like St. Cecilia). The cabinets will be painted White Dove or Simply White. The PROBLEM is the showstopper tile floor that has a slight brown/PURPLE undertone that cannot be replaced). How will Wool Skein work with the purple undertones in the flooring???
Author
Hi Carla! Welllll, without seeing it it makes me a bit nervous – purple undertones with green undertones. So, my gut instinct is to not do Wool Skein…
How would Wool Skein work on siding for a predominantly red brick colonial with black shutters and doors? Also what white trim would you recommend for this sort of a combination on an exterior? TIA!!
Hi Kylie, we are thinking of painting the body of our house in wool skein. How do you think it would do with SW tradewind for shutters and the front door? Thank you.
Author
Oooo, that makes me very nervous. Wool Skein can pick up a green undertone and it’s feeling a bit funky with the blue of Tradewind, I’d be very very careful…
Thanks Kylie! Is there a blue or blue /green you recommend with wool skein?
…or a soft beige/greige cream that would work with tradewind? Thank you.
Wool Skein Exterior
https://photos.zillowstatic.com/p_d/ISahf0zvlgkiq10000000000.jpg
Hi Kylie!
We are doing a major remodel including kitchen, two story family room, and upper hallway. We bought paint samples at our local Sherwin Williams and painted multiple areas with Wool Skein and Softer Tan. We plan to use a Pewter Green or Rosemary to accent the upper family walls (wainscoting extending to open 2nd floor hallway (overlooks family room). Wool skein to be used in kitchen (white cabinets , a grey Carrara mural with white and some garish blue tones) cooktop, white Carrara marble everywhere else, and a predominantly white quartz countertop with h8 ts of brown and gray.
The samples showed the wool skein as predominantly grey – very neutral, hints of brown. It will be about the pewter green on the upper level. Our trim is extra white (all ready throughout the rest of the house). Softer tan was too yellow.
So we chose wool skein. Kitchen is now painted – omg. The color was sooooo different than the sample. In some areas of the kitchen, it still was that soft grayer look. In the others, it was more yellowish. – which did not appear in any of the samples. Now I am worried.
The cabinets will cover most of the walls. They extend to the top of the 9 foot ceilings. But I am worried about the rest of house. Where extra white shadow boxing will be used in the hallways and the dining room. Did I goof? Would you recommend pewter green? I can still change it at this point.
Author
Ahhh yes, Wool Skein isn’t very gray! I mean, it’s a muted tan, but it’s definitely a tan with a yellow-green undertone. But, without seeing your home I can’t really say what the best thing to do is, I mean, my instinct would be to warm Pewter Green up and neutralize it, so less colour. Even going down the colour strip to something like Urban Jungle could be the best idea 🙂
Hi Kylie!
We are about to remodel our kitchen and I’m thinking of using Wool Skein for the walls and I love warm whites. Do you think Dover White is too warm to use for cabinets and trim along with Wool Skein on walls? I am also considering BM White Dove.
Thank you!
Author
YES, I would be nervous about Dover White, unless it’s the white that suits your countertop/backsplash the best (As these matter more than the wall colour). White Dove is MUCH more muted and flexible :).
Have you done anything with painted furniture colors next to walls that are painted with Wool Skein. I’m wanting to paint a piano a neutral color and the wall behind it is Wool Skein.
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Author
Hi! As in a few previous posts, I kindly ask that you use only one of my images per blog post. I do appreciate the credit, but using multiple images from the same person is too much per post – thank you!
I am thinking about painting the exterior of the house wool skein and using urban bronze or iron ore as the trim. Which of these two do you think would look the best, if either one. The roof will be black and we will have timbers out front
Author
Well, if it were ME, I would lean into Urbane Bronze, just becuase it’s a bit lower contrast, while still being striking.
My exterior is Dover White, including the trim. A black roof. They left the 3 garage doors plain factory white. Everyone uses black and I prefer neutrals. Would Wool Skein be a choice? I don’t prefer darker colors because it would bring too much attention to the garage IMO.