Sherwin Williams Retreat: Undertones, LRV, & Best Uses
By Kylie
January 27, 2024
Sherwin Williams Retreat is a medium, cool green paint color. It works well on accent walls, bedrooms, cabinets, and occasional exterior finishes.
Like many shades of green, Retreat’s appearance can change based on lighting conditions and surrounding finishes.
But whether you’re looking to paint your cabinets a wicked shade of green, transform your bedroom into a serene oasis, or create a dreamy den or office, Retreat could be the perfect choice.
So, let’s see what it has to offer in its full-color review…
By the way, to show you REAL HOMES and REAL BUDGETS, Kylie M Interiors only uses photos from her Online Paint Color Consulting clients, followers, and local projects!
IS RETREAT A WARM OR COOL PAINT COLOR?
Green paint colors can be warm (green-yellow) or cool (green-blue) – while color-science tells us that Retreat is a warm green paint color, it almost always looks like a slightly cool shade of green in the average interior (or on exteriors) – I’ve seen it time, and time again.
As for how it acts in different exposures, while some cool colors can make a north-facing room look icy cold, thanks to Retreat’s depth and degree of color (chroma), it can make even a chilly northern space look inviting and cozy! In south-facing rooms, Retreat offers an awesome balance to that warm, south-facing light, as well as any afternoon western sunshine.
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
As you can see, this dining room/den is a slightly darker room with muted, moody light…
Notice how Retreat looks in the shaded areas versus where natural light hits. However, keep in mind that a color will ALWAYS look its darkest on a wall with windows that doesn’t get a direct hit of natural light.
WHAT’S RETREAT’S LRV?
Retreat has an LRV of 21 (light reflectance value – learn more here), which puts it at the very bottom of the MEDIUM depth range (approximately 20-40) and flirting with the MEDIUM-DARK depth (10-20).. aka it’s darker than most medium depth paint colors.
What does this mean?
This means that Retreat has some serious meat on its colorful bones, without venturing into the DARK world of green paint colors. In fact, it can be a great happy medium between the light and dark ranges.
- Medium-depth paint colors are great for super well-lit rooms as they won’t wash out as much as lighter shades.
- This range is popular for accent walls & exteriors but can also look FAB on ALL of the walls too if the lighting conditions allow for it.
This next dining room was ‘okay’ in Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter, but with the low light, Revere Pewter falls a bit flat and drab…
On the other hand, Retreat adds mood and ambiance and a little hit of personality along the way!
Not sure what LRV is? It could save your paint-lovin’ life – read all about it HERE.
The Best Paint NUMBER for Your Home – 62
The Best LIGHT Paint Colors for a DARK room
WHAT UNDERTONES DOES RETREAT HAVE?
As we read about earlier, Retreat is a warm green (technically) that tends to appear like a green that leans slightly blue (science can be weird that way). However, that’s not all Retreat has up its green sleeves, it also has a bit of gray to calm it down, creating a more earth-toned look. Retreat’s organic, natural approach to color and moderate temperature have made it hugely popular with my clients.
The Ultimate Guide to Paint Colors & Undertones
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WHAT WHITE TRIM COLORS GO WITH RETREAT?
Due to the cool factor of retreat, I’d likely pair it with either Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace or Sherwin Williams High Reflective White for a nice crisp, and clean feeling. However, being that bit earthy, it easily accommodates, softer, warmer shades of white such as…
- Sherwin Williams Pure White
- Benjamin Moore White Dove
- Sherwin Williams Alabaster is a lovely, soft warm white with Retreat, but it’s as warm as I would go.
The ULTIMATE GUIDE to White Paint Colors
3 Steps to Picking the Best White Paint Color
IS RETREAT A GOOD COLOR FOR THE EXTERIOR OF A HOME?
Abso-friggin-lutely. As mentioned above, this depth is super popular for exteriors! Colors tend to look a bit lighter on the exterior of the home versus the interior due to lighting exposure. So if you paint your entire bedroom Retreat, it could seem a bit darker than what you see here on the exterior (depending on how bright your room is). It makes SUCH a nice depth for curb appeal.
5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color
Does Your Exposure REALLY MATTER When Choosing EXTERIOR Paint Colors?
IS RETREAT A GOOD COLOR FOR KITCHEN CABINETS?
You bet! However, it’s more commonly used on kitchen islands rather than full kitchens. It’s not that you CAN’T, as it looks wicked pretty with many of the popular white and off-white quartz countertops, it’s just more popular on islands.
How to Choose the Best White Paint Color for Your Kitchen Cabinets
The Best Paint Colors for Kitchen Island & Bathroom Vanities
WHAT OTHER COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO RETREAT?
Comparison is the KEY to choosing the best paint color for your home. Don’t be afraid to explore other colors to see how undertones, temperatures, and LRVs shift. This means that none of these are EXACT, they’re just comparables to get you in the right range.
SHERWIN WILLIAMS RETREAT vs ACACIA HAZE
If you want a lighter shade of Retreat, check out Sherwin Williams Acacia Haze. Acacia Haze picks up a slightly more sage green look compared to the more grounded cool green in Retreat. And with an 11-point difference in LRV, Acacia Haze offers a noticeably lighter approach while still being in the medium-depth world.
Sherwin Williams Acacia Haze with Retreat right below it.
BENJAMIN MOORE INTRIGUE vs. RETREAT
If Retreat is a bit more colorful than you plan on, Intrigue offers a bit more gray, as well as a bit more blue. It’s also about 25% lighter with its LRV of 24 (25% isn’t as drastic as it sounds, but it is noticeable).
SHERWIN WILLIAMS RETREAT vs. EVERGREEN FOG
While these two greens approach color differently, they’re often competing for the same position in a home! Evergreen Fog is lighter than Retreat, with an LRV of 30, putting it smack-dab in the middle of the medium depths. It’s also a touch warmer (less blue) and a bit more colorful (less gray) than Retreat.
SHERWIN WILLIAMS RETREAT vs PEWTER GREEN
Pewter Green is a super popular shade of green for those wanting a shade with a bit more depth and body. There’s a noticeable difference in depth between Retreat and Pewter Green, with PG coming in with an LRV of 12, putting it closer to the ‘dark’ end, while still having enough color so that it doesn’t fall flat or muted.
By the way, if you’re considering getting one brand to match another’s paint color, I DON’T recommend it. Read why HERE.
The Best Medium to Dark Green Paint Colors
WHICH PAINT COLORS GO WITH RETREAT?
Thanks to its depth and degree of color, Retreat goes well with a wide range of neutrals and colors…
- Soft, warm grays with a violet undertone, especially those leaning into taupe such as Benjamin Moore Classic Gray and Sherwin Williams Egret White.
- Light shades of gray with a similar green-blue undertone profile.
- Many flexible, warm shades of off-white.
- Trendy and modern shades of beige and tan.
- Subtle greige-taupe blends like Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray.
READ MORE
The Best Medium to Dark Shades of Green
How to Pick the Best Shade of Green For Your Home
ASK KYLIE: HOW DO YOU MAKE A COLD GRAY ROOM FEEL WARM?
The Best Gray Paint Colours With VIOLET (PURPLE) Undertones
The 3 Undertones of Cool Gray Paint Colors
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Meet Kylie
Do you need help, but aren’t quite sure what ‘help’ looks like? Are you drowning in paint samples and decision fatigue?
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For over 24 years I’ve helped 12,000+ homeowners and renters make more confident decisions on paint colours and affordable home updates using real home examples and practical, experience-based advice. My goal is simple: help you love the home you have.
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Homeowner’s Guide: White Kitchen Cabinets
This isn’t another ’10 Best Cabinet Colors’ list, because there is no SINGLE best white for every home and every kitchen.
The best white cabinet color is the one that goes with your home, your finishes, your lighting, and your style.
Stop second-guessing every paint chip and choose your cabinet color with less guessing, fewer samples, and a whole lot more color confidence.
$34.95Accent Colors
This isn’t about plastering your home in the ‘Color of the Year’ or following the latest trends (unless you really want to).
It’s about finding accent colors that work with YOUR home, YOUR style, and YOUR comfort level.
Because the best accent color isn’t one you love on a paint chip, it’s one that makes everything around it look better.
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Homeowner’s Guide: Exterior Paint Colors
This isn’t a list of the ‘best exterior paint colors’, as the best color is the one that suits your home. Instead, you’ll learn how to look at YOUR roof, YOUR windows, YOUR brick (or stone) and YOUR home as a whole so you can understand what colors make sense, and confidently throw the others in the burn pile.
Whether you’re repainting an outdated exterior, working around finishes you can’t change, or creating a color palette from scratch, the goal is the same: less guessing, fewer samples, and a lot more confidence before gallons of paint go on your home.
$44.95Exterior Trim Paint Colors
This isn’t a list of ‘the best trim colors’, although you’ll get a ton of links to great shades, you’ll learn how to look at your home and understand whether it needs contrast, repetition, connection, or a little visual peacekeeping to pull it all together.
Because trim might seem like a small detail…
…but spread it around all four sides of your home on multiple surfaces and it suddenly has a pretty big job.
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Comments
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I obsess over my paint colors, taking weeks to pick a color, and often end up repainting (I just painted my living room Worldly Gray and it looks absolutely frigid. I didn’t even take the tape down— have to find something warmer and redo) BUT I have loved everything we have painted Retreat (office/library and a theater room) and Acacia Haze (our bedroom and a den). Absolutely love these colors— no regrets!
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Hi Kylie, we would love to know the trim color on the gorgeous house with the Retreat exterior siding? Is it by any chance White Duck?
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Now THAT is a great guess! It’s actually SW Pearly White :). Seriously though, good job!
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Well, thanks, I have a good teacher 😉 I love seaching your blog for color advice, and just noticed this same house pictured on your SW Shoji White review post. So, just to confirm, is it possibly not SW Pearly White afterall? Thanks for clearing this up for me, Kylie. I reeeaally like the look of this SW Retreat exterior house.
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Your site is amazing and thank you so much for sharing your extensive expertise. I can’t wait to hire you!
I think we have decided to use SW Retreat for the lap siding on our cape home with high reflective white for the trim. We have no stone work to draw from but the roof is architectural shingles in black and with some grays, and a lot of shrubbery out front. Would SW Portico be an appropriate choice for the front door and shutters? Or should I look at a cool black color? Thank you, Kylie!
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What would be a good paint color for the front door, if I use Retreat on the shutters? The front porch is terracotta tile and brick with white dove porch columns and siding? Redbud by SW or maybe a blue green? It’s Tricorn black now. Thanks so much.
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