Sherwin Williams Pewter Green may be a great choice if you’re searching for a new kitchen cabinet color that’s a bit different from basic white or gray. Learn all about this beautiful moody green and see if it’s the right choice for your home.
Green got your eye as you ponder transforming your kitchen cabinets? Neutrals have been the favorite go-to colors for a long time now, but that trend is shifting in a new direction. Even though I still love neutrals, it’s time to take a look at what bold, moody colors can offer that neutrals can’t.
Although I still usually prefer – and most frequently recommend – neutrals, I’m increasingly working with clients who want to add an eye-catching pop of color to their kitchen.
I get it because I did the same thing! Working with colors can be fun and also yield stunning results. Just check out my olive green kitchen cabinets and see for yourself.
Whether you’re searching for a calming blue, a luscious deep brown, or a centering green, we’re exploring several of my favorite non-neutral shades. Today, we’re taking a deep dive into Sherwin Williams Pewter Green to learn about how it behaves in different lighting situations and the perfect colors to pair with it.
You may not think of green as a neutral color, and you’d be right. However, when it comes to paint colors, there are shades of green that can bridge the gap between moody and neutral just enough to enjoy some versatility.
It’s time to check out this color study focusing on Sherwin Williams Pewter Green, a dark, muted, sage-green. There’s a lot to go over about SW Pewter Green, so let’s get started!
What is the LRV of Sherwin Williams Pewter Green?
LRV (Light Reflective Value) is a number between 0 and 100 that indicates how light or dark a paint color is. Zero designates a pure black shade, while one hundred designates a shade that’s pure white.
I’m an advocate of learning about LRV values because these objective numbers give you a good idea about how light or dark a shade will appear in your home, no matter what kind of lighting you have.
SW Pewter Green’s LRV is 12, which means it sits in the dark range. It has deep, rich saturation that can look very dark in rooms with low light levels. But, in brighter light, this color will brighten up and read as a moody, eye-catching pop of color.
Undertones
If I can give you one universal recommendation about paint colors, it would be to learn about undertones. Every color has at least one, and they can significantly impact the way a shade looks in your home. That’s why I love using Samplize to check all my favorite colors – it takes the guesswork out of wondering how a color will read!
Sometimes name colors can be deceiving, but don’t let Pewter Green’s name fool you. It’s a lovely cool-leaning green with gray undertones to give it a sage appearance and make it more neutral.
The hue is calming and tranquil and can range from reading as a deep green-gray to a moody dark olive green, depending on the lighting situation. It’s one of my favorite recommendations for green kitchen cabinets.
Sherwin Williams Pewter Green vs. Rosemary
Both of these colors are dark greens. However, Rosemary’s LRV of 14 makes it a tad brighter than Pewter Green. Something else to keep in mind is that Rosemary has a little less gray in the mix, so it will consistently read more olive, which can make it slightly less neutral.
Sherwin Williams Pewter Green vs. Retreat
If you’re working with a room that has less light, you’ll likely want something a little brighter than Pewter Green. If that’s the case, I recommend taking a look at Retreat. With an LRV of 21, it’s substantially lighter. Combine that with its more obvious gray undertones, and you may find that Retreat acts more neutral than Pewter Green does.
How Lighting Impacts The Appearance of Pewter Green
Paint colors seem to dance around a bit as they shimmy and shift based on the light around them. You’ll likely notice different subtleties in paints as different lighting situations influence them.
Here’s how Pewter Green will appear in various lighting situations.
South-Facing Light
South-facing rooms have steady, filtered warm light that will tone down the coolness of this color and draw out the olive tendencies. It will read brighter and less muted as the gray undertones take a backseat.
North-Facing Light
North-facing rooms receive less light in general, and the light they do get is cool-leaning. Expect Pewter Green to read cooler and more muted in these rooms as the gray undertones appear more prominent.
Pair These Shades With SW Pewter Green
Pewter Green is surprisingly neutral, although its deep green base may lead you to think otherwise. It won’t naturally look terrific with a vast range of hues (like a true neutral would), but it shines against golds, taupes, creamy whites, and lighter gray-blues.
Try pairing it with:
- Pure White (Sherwin Williams)
- Snowbound (Sherwin Williams)
- Revere Pewter (Benjamin Moore)
- Sea Salt (Sherwin Williams)
- Oyster Bay (Sherwin Williams)
- Shoji White (Sherwin Williams)
- Alabaster (Sherwin Williams)
- Alpaca (Sherwin Williams)
- Comfort Gray (Sherwin Williams)
- Casa Blanca (Sherwin Williams)
Examples Of Painted Green Cabinets In SW Pewter Green
Pewter Green is one of my favorite greens for cabinets because it looks fantastic and stands out in all the best ways. If you’re searching for a shade that will enhance your kitchen by adding more color and character, consider this color.
Here are a couple of examples of Pewter Green cabinets so you can see for yourself just how amazing they look.
Sage And Beautiful
This kitchen from Style by Emily Henderson has bright cool-leaning light, which pulls the gray undertones forward and makes these cabinets read beautifully peaceful sage. The shade is bold but not too bright, which allows the fun gold accent pieces to stand out.
Olive And Cream
Pewter Green stuns when you pair it with a creamy white. The warm tones pull forward the olive tendencies to create a classic combination that looks great anywhere, like this example from Anita Yokota.
If you’re working with a small space or low lighting, keep the kitchen feeling large and roomy by painting the upper cabinets a light neutral and the lower cabinets (or just the island) a bold color like Pewter Green.
Is Sherwin Williams Pewter Green A Great Choice For Your Cabinets?
Pewter Green isn’t on my favorite neutral cabinet paint colors list. But that’s only because it’s too moody to be considered a true neutral. This lovely shade may be the perfect choice for your kitchen if you’re looking to add a subtle touch of pizzaz!
Please take the time to check out color swatches in your room to make sure this color reads the way you want it to before you move forward with painting your cabinets.
Paint Your Own Kitchen Cabinets!
Does the thought of painting your kitchen cabinets make you break out in hives from anxiety? I promise you’re not alone! And I believe without a doubt that anyone can paint their own kitchen cabinets.
My DIY Cabinet Painting 101 class will show you everything you need to know and walk you through the process so that you’re able to get it done the right way – the first time.
I would like to have my Honey Oak cabinets painted Pewder Green, but I was told that the grain in the Oak would keep showing through, and that there isn’t anything or any paint that will cover the grain. What product do you use to make the cabinets a smooth color with no grain look?