Sherwin Williams Naval 6244: Paint Color Review

SHERWIN WILLIAMS NAVAL: 2020 COLOR OF THE YEAR

Naval didn’t win ‘Color of the Year’ because it’s boring. In fact, it’s a stunning and bold navy blue that has taken the design world by storm. Read on to explore the many facets of Naval and what makes it a great choice for almost any space.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED…

To show you RELATEABLE & REAL homes, I ONLY use photos from my Online Color Consulting clients. This means I don’t always have the quality photos I need or the RIGHT photos, but DEFINITELY have some SUPER helpful info to help you on your way!

IS NAVAL A WARM OR COOL PAINT COLOR?

Being a beautiful shade of blue, Naval is automatically a COOL paint color.

If you have a room with southern or afternoon western sun, Naval is a great way to balance your warm natural light without making the room look icy cold. On the other hand, if you have northern light, whereas a LIGHT blue could be too cold looking, the depth of Naval gives it a cozier look.

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

WHAT’S NAVAL’S LRV?

Naval has an LRV of 4! Holy bleep, that’s deep! A color with an LRV this low ABSORBS light rather than reflecting it. Naval’s best used in rooms with ample natural light or artificial lighting (or just as an accent or feature wall). If you have VERY little light, Naval could look a touch blackish, but you’ll see the blue pop up where any light does hit it.

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

How to Make a Dark Room Look Brighter – and it ain’t with paint!

The Best DARK Paint Colors for a DARK room

DOES NAVAL HAVE UNDERTONES?

You betcha it does, but they’re hardly noticeable. Naval has a weeeeee (I’m talkin’ fractional) bit of green and gray hiding in the undertones.

The Ultimate Guide to Paint Colors & Undertones

SAMPLING NAVAL WITH PEEL & STICK

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

Get your Samplize PEEL & STICK SAMPLE

WHAT WHITE TRIM COLOR GOES WITH NAVAL?

Naval is pretty darn flexible when it comes to its favorite trim. If I had to pick my faves though, it would be:

Sherwin Williams High Reflective White
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace

3 Steps to Picking the Best White Paint Color

The 8 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors

The 9 Best White Paint Colors: Sherwin Williams DESIGNER COLLECTION

IS NAVAL A GOOD COLOR FOR THE EXTERIOR OF A HOME?

Naval can be a stunning choice for your exterior, particularly for front doors and shutters (assuming it suits the exterior of your home’s features). If you’re considering Naval for your whole home, it can make a beautiful statement. However, be sure you know what you’re signing up for as it’s a VERY dark color, which can fade with southern facing or afternoon western sunlight.

Naval on a front door, which contrasts beautifully with the brick.

5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color

Does Your Exposure REALLY MATTER When Choosing EXTERIOR Paint Colors?

IS NAVAL A GOOD COLOR FOR KITCHEN CABINETS?

Almost any color CAN look good on cabinets, but it MUST suit the backsplash and countertop. While Naval could definitely be a jaw-dropping cabinet color, typically, I recommend it more for islands or vanities. Why? Because Naval works as an amazing accent color. It looks fantastic with whites and wood tones, so mixing it in rather than being the main focus is my preference.

The Best Paint Colors for Kitchen Island & Bathroom Vanities

The 4 Best Gray & Greige Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets & Vanities

WHAT OTHER COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO NAVAL?

While there are shades of blue that are close to Naval in their navy blue intentions, every paint color has its own blend and nuances – there will be NO perfect match. You can fully expect to see shifts in undertones, temperature, and depths, but you could check out the following: