Sherwin Williams Alpaca: LRV, Undertones and a Little More

When it comes to neutrals, it’s not just about picking the colour you want, but the UNDERTONES you want – especially when it comes to a colour like Sherwin Williams Alpaca. Why? Because it has a bit more going on than the average warm gray or taupe paint colour.

I love to show RELATEABLE & REAL homes, so ONLY use photos from my Online Colour 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 colour is Sherwin Williams Alpaca? Is it greige, warm gray or taupe?

Alpaca is an interesting one – a real colour NINJA. It’s WARMER than a traditional warm gray, making it more of ta taupe, but also has a bit more undertone than you’ll find in some of the most popular taupe or greige paint colours (ie: Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray). Generally speaking, I refer to Alpaca as a taupe with strong undertones.

And while Alpaca is DEFINITELY a warm neutral paint colour, it flashes a bit gray in north-facing light while still keeping a soft backdrop. In south-facing light, Alpaca leans more into its taupe tendencies.

What’s its LRV?

Alpaca has an LRV of 57. This puts it on the LOOOW end of the ‘light’ range (learn more HERE) with more depth and body than a more typical light neutral paint colour.

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

What are the undertones of Alpaca? Will it look purple or pink?

It depends on how sensitive you are to undertones. Personally, I love neutrals, but I’m not a HUGE fan of purple-pink and I WOULD find Alpaca just a WINK too colourful (purple) for me. I might be more inclined towards the neutral approach of Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray – but that’s me. Some homes have products in them that NEED this commitment to a purple undertone. As for pink, while it is a slightly warm purple undertone (meaning it leans more towards red/pink than blue), it doesn’t usually go too purple-pink.

The more neutral looking Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray

What’s the best way to sample paint on my walls?

As with every paint colour, 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 why I LOVE SAMPLIZE HERE

If I’m painting my walls Alpaca, what’s the best white paint colour for my trim?

With Alpaca on the walls, I wouldn’t use trim that’s TOO creamy as it could hit an odd note with the purple undertone in Alpaca. Even Sherwin Williams Alabaster is pushing its luck and I’d lean more towards…

Sherwin Williams Pure White
Sherwin Williams Snowbound could be even nicer but isn’t a great WHOLE HOME trim colour as it would limit you in other rooms

Is Alpaca a good colour for the exterior of my home?

It would make me nervous, but could greatly depend on the colours in your roof and stone/brick, which might NEED this bit more commitment to purple. Colours like this often look a bit warmer on an exterior than an interior, and I might worry about it flashing a bit TOO purple-pink.

What Benjamin Moore paint colours are the same as or similar to Alpaca?

You won’t find an exact match for ANY colour between brands – you WILL see shifts in undertones, temperature and depths. However, there are some with similar intentions, but different approaches…

Benjamin Moore Nimbus
Benjamin Moore Cumulus Cloud

If you’re thinking of colour matching between brands (ie: getting BM to make an SW paint colour), you might want to read THIS first.

Why isn’t Alpaca as popular?

In the greige and taupe world, Alpaca is reasonably popular, but with its increased undertone, many people defer to more neutral warm gray and greige paint colours like Sherwin Williams Repose Gray, Agreeable Gray and Benjamin Moore Collingwood.

Not sure if Alpaca is right for you? Want a bit warmer or cooler? I’ve got more!

SHERWIN WILLIAMS LIGHT FRENCH GRAY

SHERWIN WILLIAMS ANEW GRAY

12 BEST WHOLE HOME Gray and Greige Paint Colours

Not sure which paint colour is best for YOUR home?

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

Liza
August 10, 2020 at 5:56 am

Interesting… I have SW Alpaca in my north facing kitchen and dining combo. It doesn’t look at all purple or pink. Rather it tends definitely blue!! Even the lady at the SW store couldn’t figure it out as there is no blue in the color. I think it must have to do with all the wood in our house. I love the light blue undertones I get in this paint. Have now added it to my laundry room and am likely to use it for north side guest bathroom!
I also enjoy your reviews. Thanks!

1. Post
  Author
  
  KylieMawdsley
  August 11, 2020 at 7:38 pm
  
  Good to know Liza! North-facing light CAN do that to some colours for sure. And while I haven’t seen Alpaca do that, you could just have that right environment! It is more GRAY than it is WARM/greige, so I can see how it ‘could’ (it just usually doesn’t 😉
  Thank you!
  
Virginia
May 22, 2021 at 1:44 pm

Just had my kitchen painted Alpaca with a south-facing contrast wall in Redbud. I was hoping for a nice warm red but instead the wall looks pink or purple most of the day. It’s got to go but I’m not sure what to replace it with, and I don’t want to have to do it over more than once! The painters did a lovely job everywhere but this was a recommendation that didn’t work out. Any suggestions?

1. Post
  Author
  
  KylieMawdsley
  May 23, 2021 at 11:25 am
  
  Hi Virginia! Yes, Alpaca definitely has those undertones! I wonder if you might find Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray a bit more subtle while having a similar ‘warm gray’ approach?