Sherwin Williams Sandbar: Paint Color Review

A beige-tan with a bit more body…

Not everyone loves light paint colors. While lighter shades can be great for dark rooms and resale, some homes and tastes call for a color with a bit more meat on its bones – a color like Sandbar.

But choosing Sandbar isn’t a no-brainer. As with every paint color, do your research, sample, compare, and make sure it taps into your home’s finishes and needs before slappin’ it on your walls, cabinets, or exterior!

BEFORE WE GET STARTED…

To show you RELATEABLE & REAL homes, I ONLY use photos from my Online Color Consulting clients, readers, and friends. This means I don’t always have the exact image I need, but I sure as heck have the info you’ve been searching for. 

IS SANDBAR A WARM OR COOL PAINT COLOR?

Sandbar is a warm, neutral color that winks at the beige world but is, at heart, more of a subtle take on tan.

What’s the difference?

• Beige paint colors often center on an orange undertone (the most common colors and beige finishes have an orange-pink undertone).
• Tan paint colors love a yellow undertone with some green.

Sandbar is a subtle take on tan because while it leans this way, its undertones are SUPER subtle, giving you quite a consistent ‘neutral’ look.

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WHAT’S SANDBAR’S LRV?

Sandbar holds on tight to its LRV of 53, which puts it in the light-medium range. Sure, it’s in the higher/lighter end of this range, but it has more visual weight than the standard tan paint color used in today’s home (which we’ll look at shortly).

With this depth and its neutral foundation, Sandbar can look a bit flat and drab in a dark room – without light; there is no life! However, this lower LRV helps it withstand bright sunlight on an interior wall or exterior siding.

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 Paint NUMBER for Your Home – 62

WHAT UNDERTONES DOES SANDBAR HAVE?

As we touched on earlier, Sandbar has a yellow-green undertone. However, don’t get too bent or committed to these; these undertones are incredibly subtle. You’re likelier to spot them if you put Sandbar against a traditional beige surface (e.g., beige tile or carpet).

To show you how subtle Sandbar is, compare it to Benjamin Moore Clay Beige, which is more colorful (but even then, it’s still a reasonably muted shade of tan)…

The Ultimate Guide to Paint Colors & Undertones

WHAT WHITE TRIM COLOR GOES WITH SANDBAR?

Sandbar is reasonably easy to please, although it prefers whites with a bit of warmth…

• Sherwin Williams Pure White
• Sherwin Williams Alabaster
• Sherwin Williams White Snow

The ULTIMATE GUIDE to White Paint Colors

6 Questions to Ask Before You Paint Your Cabinets White

DOES SANDBAR GO WITH WOOD TRIMS & CABINETS?

Yes…and no. Sandbar can be next-level gorgeous with wood finishes that have a yellow undertone. However, it can be touch-and-go with many red or pink-stained woods, so sample carefully!

Here’s your Peel & Stick sample of Sandbar…

DOES SANDBAR GO WITH CREAM TRIM OR CABINETS?

While the answer is most often NO, Sandbar is one color that can coordinate quite well with a wide range of creamy cabinets and trims! Of course, it depends on the exact cream you have, its depth, and undertones, but Sandbar is a great place to start.

The Best Paint Colors to Update Cream Trim & Cabinets

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

I wouldn’t say it’s popular by any stretch, but Sandbar could be a great option if your home’s exterior stone, brick, and roof can handle tan and its undertones. Plan on it looking warmer than you might expect, especially if your siding or stucco faces south or has warm afternoon sunshine!

5 Tips for Choosing an Exterior Paint Color

Does Your Exposure REALLY MATTER When Choosing EXTERIOR Paint Colors?

IS SANDBAR A GOOD COLOR FOR KITCHEN CABINETS?

Sandbar can be gorgeous on kitchen cabinets if you want a more organic, earth-toned palette. With its increased depth, it can also be a bit easier to coordinate wall colors compared to off-white and light cabinet colors (which can be a total bugger).

The Best White & Off-White Quartz Countertops

The above project is still a work in progress. I can’t wait to see it with hardware!

WHAT COLORS ARE SIMILAR TO SANDBAR?

• If you’re worried that Sandbar is a touch too dark, check out the super popular Sherwin Williams Natural Tan (mad love).
• Sherwin Williams Sand Beach has far less gray for a more noticeable tan-based warmth.
• For a TOUCH more gray and less tan, check out Sherwin Williams Shiitake; Loggia is great, too.

Sherwin Williams Natural Tan

WHICH PAINT COLORS GO WITH SANDBAR?

With its tan base and depth, Sandbar can be a bit fussy about its partners…

• Avoid any gray, greige, or taupe paint colors with the same depth or LIGHTER THAN Sandbar (read more about this topic here).
• Sandbar loves a wide range of warm, off-white neutrals as long as they aren’t too beige.
• I love shades of greige with Sandbar, especially those with LRV that are lower than 45 (or even darker)
• Sandbar can look classic with a muted shade of navy blue, as well as soft black.
• Hit Sandbar with a dark green accent wall, and you’ll make some serious magic.

READ MORE

The Best Beige & Tan Paint Colors (A Bit Darker Than Average)

Benjamin Moore’s 6 Best Slightly Darker Beige & Tans

The Best Medium, Stone-Inspired Beige, Greige, & Taupe Paint Colors

NEED HELP?

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