Posted on December 13, 2022 by KylieMawdsley
SHERWIN WILLIAMS HERON PLUME: A FEATHER-LIGHT OFF-WHITE PAINT COLOR
Have you been looking for a soft, warm neutral with whisper-like undertones? Well, you’re in the right spot, as today we’re learning ALL about Sherwin Williams Heron Plume.
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I love to show RELATEABLE & REAL homes, so 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!
IS HERON PLUME WARM OR COOL, GRAY, GREIGE, OR TAUPE?
Heron Plume is a warm neutral paint color. However, it’s a toss-up whether it’s a warm gray, taupe, or greige. Why?
With Heron Plume’s subtle warmth, it can easily lean into the taupe range, especially in rooms with warm southern or west-facing light. However, throw Heron Plume in a north-facing room, and you might see a warm gray look that’s a bit cooler than the previous approach.
This chameleon color can also change depending on its immediate surroundings, meaning if you put it with cooler finishes, it could look warmer ‘in comparison’.
: North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
WHAT’S HERON PLUME’S LRV?
Heron Plume has an LRV of 75. If you don’t what LRV is, it could save your sanity, and I suggest you read this. With an LRV of 75, Heron Plume is an off-white – not a SUPER WASHED-OUT one, but it’s not dipping even close to my magical LRV number.
This next image is the best shot I have of Heron Plume for you. If I get more via my Color Consulting clients, I’ll add them – but some colors aren’t as popular as others!
WHAT ARE HERON PLUME’S UNDERTONES?
Heron Plume has subtle violet-pink undertones, so it has warm undertones. If you don’t like purple or pink – I highly advise you to find a different color. If you’re okay with a soft, slightly noticeable taupe backdrop, then you’re in business!
WHAT WHITE PAINT COLOR GOES WITH HERON PLUME?
When coordinating Heron Plume with white trim, I keep things simple, like Sherwin Williams High Reflective White – not warm, not cold, just a simple white.
The 4 Best White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams
IS THERE A PEEL & STICK SAMPLE OF HERON PLUME?
Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out soon to grab paint samples – stop 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 DAY, depending on the location
- they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed 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
IS HERON PLUME GOOD? IS IT POPULAR?
Heron Plume isn’t popular, but I feel it’s more due to its placement in the fan deck, as it’s JUST AS PRETTY as some of its competitors, which we’ll be looking at shortly.
Also, many people are sensitive to violet and pink undertones, meaning a color like Heron Plume might not be on their list. If you don’t like these undertones, you may want to lean a bit more into a green undertone.
WHAT PAINT COLORS ARE COMPARABLE/SIMILAR TO HERON PLUME?
There are several paint colors you should compare with Heron Plume, including:
- Benjamin Moore Classic Gray
- Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White
- Sherwin Williams Egret White
Not sure if Heron Plume is right for you? Want a bit more gray, more beige, less undertone? I’ve got more!
READ MORE
The 11 Best Warm Paint Colors that AREN’T BEIGE!
The 8 Best Off-White Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets
Benjamin Moore Classic Gray: Paint Color Review
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing White Paint Colors
The 5 Best Off-White Paint Colors
Not sure which paint color is best for your room and its finishes?
Check out my Online Color Consulting; I’d love to help!
Chat soon,
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2019, UPDATED IN 2022
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Hello.
I saw your video that you recommend heron plume for cherry oak floors to tone down the redness of them. So what should I paint my baseboards? Which white? What about doors?
Author
Hi Sheema, I would check out Sherwin Williams Pure White or Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace for both 🙂
Hi, the information provided was very useful. I want to know what accent wall colors can go with heron plume. I want diff. Colors for bedroom and loving room. My living room is open concept with kitchen cabinets( anthracite and malibu white color shades). Please advise
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! My head is spinning as we need to decide on colors for our new home’s walls, cabinets, and trim and with limited color choices to boot! I was wondering if you would let me know if either of these combinations would work (and look GREAT!)
Wall: Heron Plume
K Cabinets: Agreeable Gray or Snowbound
Trim: Extra White only other option is Shell White
Our only other choice is
Wall: Snowbound
K Cabinets Agreeable Gray
Trim: Extra White only other option is Shell White
Thank you in advance!
Kathy
Author
Hey Kathy, it’s hard to say as without seeing your finishes I would be shooting in the dark completely! You’re welcome to check out my E-Design packages where I can look at your space :). https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/hire-kylie/
We painted our living room SW Heron Plume. Would love to send you pictures. How do I do that?
Hi! Would Heron Plume be a good exterior trim color with the exterior house painted Anew Gray? We have white windows and a black roof. We face West.
Author
I would definitely sample it, and make sure you’re okay with the contrast/color of it against your white windows :).
I painted my foyer and upstairs hallway Heron Plume. It has an ever so soft grey undertone/tint to it that I love and was exactly what I wanted. This area gets lots of natural light (SE exposure). I also used it in the entryway from the garage and a small hallway into the kitchen which both flow into the foyer but do not have much natural light and it pulls that same soft grey undertone. I have a small downstairs bath (5×5.5 ft) with no natural light. It pulls pink in this room – yikes! The light fixture over the vanity uses three 40 watt bulbs. They are LED clear Edison style, 2700 K with a CRI of 90. What can I do to get rid of this pink undertone and achieve the same soft grey as in the other areas? I really can’t add accessories other than perhaps a small rug and a couple of towels. I tried so many whites but Heron Plume was the only one that had the same tint to it as the white in the shower tiles. The samplize I used looked perfect in the room with the tiles/floors/countertops. I used extra white SW all purpose primer to prime the walls and that remained white. When I take a picture the walls look white but when I enter the room and turn on the lights it all looks so pink. HELP!!
Author
Oooo boy, that’s a tough one! I mean, at its heart, Heron Plume has a bit of violet undertone, and given that it’s a warm tone, that violet could lean a bit pink with encouragement. I do know that Edison bulbs are tough as it can be a harsh light compared to the softer light given from frosted white shades. Also, I’m thinking the 2700 could be influencing things as well, as that’s a pretty warm white (yellow-orange), which combined with the natural undertones of Heron Plume could be pulling that extra pink on you! Maybe try 3000-355 and see if that helps?