Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige: Timeless Neutral or Dated Dud?

There’s no doubt Accessible Beige is a buzzword in the paint world. But does this mean it’s a good idea for you and your home?

It’s easy to get caught up in the hoopla and excitement – the same thing happened with Benjamin Moore Gray Owl in 2010+ and Sherwin Williams Repose Gray in 2015+, but this doesn’t mean these colors are great choices for every home. 

So, before you start slappin’ paint on your walls, let’s spend some time with Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige to see if it really is all that and a bag of chips (or a can of paint, might be more the point). 

WHAT TYPE OF COLOR IS ACCESSIBLE BEIGE?

Accessible Beige is a beige paint color, but like my love for wine and Cornuts (in one sitting), it’s atypical. Most traditional beiges have a noticeable warmth, or even a strong golden hue. Not this bad boy. 

This beige is heavily dipped in gray, a gray that takes a huge edge off its warmth. It’s to the point that it’s FAR too muted for the average beige lover. 

Now, let’s talk about WHY Accessible Beige may or may not be a great choice for you. And seeing as I am the Patron Saint of Paint, we’re not keeping it light and fluffy – we’re diving into the deep end (bathing suit optional). 

ACCESSIBLE BEIGE’S DEPTH (LRV)

Accessible Beige has an LRV of 58 – it ain’t messin’ around. For the ‘average home’, I like to stay in the 62-74 range. Sure, we’re only talking about 4 points, but they can make a BIG difference. 

For the average home/room, 58 is too dark. This doesn’t mean it’s too dark for you and your home, but on average, it packs a bit too much punch. 

• An LRV of 58 is too dark for a dark hallway. Dark hallways usually suit lighter, brighter shades.
• If you have a dark room, combined with Accessible Beige’s neutral nature, it could look a bit flat and dingy. 

On the other hand…

• If you have a bright room, AB’s LRV of 58 helps it hold up to light without washing out as much as lighter shades. 
• If you have trim that’s not traditionally white, Accessible Beige’s depth may be a better choice than lighter shades of beige. 

KYLIE’S RATING OUT OF 10 (RE: DEPTH)

On the timeless scale, I give Accessible Beige’s depth a 4 out of 10. Could be worse – could be waaay better. 

ACCESSIBLE BEIGE’S FLEXIBILITY (UNDERTONES)

When researching timeless paint colors, I like to see colors that transition well into other colors and styles as design trends ebb and flow, and a lot of this comes down to undertones. 

Accessible Beige’s approach to warmth is pretty murky, including non-committal undertones. When a color has more focused undertones, it’s easier to pair it with a finish with similar needs. HOWEVER, when undertones are ‘flexible’, they often clash with finishes that demand a certain hue (and many do). 

Accessible Beige is not a super transitional paint color – it’s too dark, murky, and inconsistent for that. 

However, while no paint color is fool-proof or 100% timeless, if we can squeeze a few extra years out of a color, that’s a win. Could we squeeze a few extra years out of this shade when the next paint color trends come along? 

I’ll give it a solid…maybe. 

BY THE WAY: When coordinating colors and finishes, lighter warm paint colors (above 58, fo sho) are more likely to humor new finishes (not always, but often). The darker you go, the tougher it can be. If AB had an LRV of 65, it’d be a different story, morning glory. 

KYLIE’S RATING OUT OF 10 (RE: FLEX)

For the sake of looking timeless vs. looking dated, I give it a 3 out of 10. Often, its muddy undertones clash with the average gray finish. On the other hand, it usually isn’t pink enough for the average beige finish (95% of beige interior finishes suit beiges with an orange or orange-pink undertone). 

ACCESSIBLE BEIGE’S TEMPERATURE

As mentioned above, Accessible Beige is a beige that doesn’t have traditional warmth. So, while its depth isn’t super transitional or timeless, its warmth has been helpful (but misleading). 

How?

As the paint world transitioned out of gray, we were looking for colors that’d help us shift gears. This is where Accessible Beige came in handy. 

Compare Accessible Beige to similar shades with these peel-and-stick paint samples! 

Now, I’m not going to say it was always the best color for the job – it sure as heck wasn’t, but it’s huge word of mouth and popularity helped people get out of gray without jumping headfirst into the deep end of the beige world. 

But that doesn’t mean it was the right color for the job at that time. It was often used because it was a ‘popular color name’. 

This doesn’t mean it isn’t the perfect color for some homes – it can be. It’s just not as safe as many other, not as popular paint colors. 

KYLIE’S RATING OUT OF 10 (RE: TEMP)

Interestingly enough, I give it a 7 out of 10. Sure, I wish it were a bit warmer or a touch grayer, but for me, it’s more the DEPTH that throws it off whack. 

Get the best paint color advice with Kylie M’s Online Color Consulting

IS ACCESSIBLE BEIGE A GOOD WHOLE HOUSE PAINT COLOR?

It can be, if your home doesn’t have needy finishes (those that demand a particular undertone) and the majority of your rooms have good natural (or interior) lighting. 

• Most finishes from the early 2000s prefer beiges with more orange and even orange-pink. 
• Gray finishes from 2010-2018 or so often have a purple undertone. This undertone can be at odds with Accessible Beige. 
• If your home has an organic, earthy vibe and minimal undertone needs, it could be an awesome choice. 

However, it’s that ole LRV of 58 that has ME nervous – but you do you, boo. 

The Best WHOLE HOME Beige & Tan Paint Colors

HOW ABOUT ON CABINETS?

Is Accessible Beige beautiful on kitchen cabinets? HELLS YEAH, it’s gorgeous. Will it be a great choice for some homes for a long time? You bet your cute lil’ booty it will be.

This kitchen easily handles Accessible Beige cabinets.

But it all depends on a) the surrounding finishes and b) the style of the home. The average residential home can look beautiful with beige cabinets, but as far as trends go, we’re in the middle of this one, and like my self-control when eating a bag of Cornuts, it ain’t gonna last. 

However, some homes have a particular charm, character, or style that can hold onto ‘non-traditional cabinet colors’ for much longer. 

SW Mindful Gray with AB on the right | The Best Light-Depth Cabinet Paint Colors

HOW ABOUT EXTERIORS?

I don’t have any concerns about Accessible Beige on an exterior. So long as it suits any surrounding brick or stone (and it often does), as well as the roof, windows, and trims – I’m all in. 

Colors like this are less susceptible to exterior trends and hold up for the long haul.

5 Steps for Choosing Exterior Paint Colors

WHAT’S BETTER THAN ACCESSIBLE BEIGE?

It depends on your needs… 

IF YOU’RE TRYING TO UPDATE YOUR GRAY HOME

Chances are, AB is too warm and murky/muddy to be a good transitional color. Instead, look at shades like…

How to Update Your Millennial Gray Home

• Sherwin Williams Egret White is a gorgeous taupe with super minimal undertones.
• Benjamin Moore Pale Oak is a massively popular color with undertones that often jibe with gray finishes.
• Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray has a pretty, organic warmth. Maybe not as quick a win as the others, but still worth sampling. 
• Sherwin Williams Modern Gray is super underappreciated, but stinkin’ gorgeous. 

The Best Whole Home Greige & Taupe Paint Colors

IF YOU LOVE THE WARMER, BEIGE TREND

• Sherwin Williams Natural Linen is lighter and warmer than Accessible Beige and more likely to suit the average beige finish.
• Benjamin Moore Maritime White is amazeballs. Light, soft, subtly warm – love it. 
• Benjamin Moore Muslin has been kickin’ it a loooooong time, for good reasons. It has a great depth and overall balanced approach to warmth and undertones. 
• Sherwin Williams Natural Tan is another gorgeous option. 

Does that mean these colors are timeless classics? Nope, no color is, but they have a better chance than Accessible Beige. 

QUICK RECAP

• Accessible Beige isn’t a timeless, classic color. While it’s not a dated dud yet, it has the potential.
• Its depth doesn’t suit the average room
• Its undertones don’t suit the average interior finish
• It’s not a safe paint color choice for the average home, and there are better options. 

READ MORE

The Best Timeless Paint Colors

The Best Whole Home Beige & Tan Paint Colors

Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige Paint Color Review

Get the best paint color advice with Kylie M’s Online Color Consulting