Find out the good, the bad, and the ugly about Sherwin Williams Pussywillow, and see real homes that use it!
Sherwin Williams Pussywillow SW 7643 is a mid-toned gray color that has some flex – thanks to its subtle beige and blue undertones. This popular shade adds character and eye-catching interest to any space.
Today we’re talking about shifts.
First, there’s the constant shifting that the interior decor world goes through. For example, in the last few decades, the hot color family was beige. That shifted to gray, which later shifted again to whites and greiges.
Although grays may not currently be the top go-to color family, they haven’t gone away by any stretch of the imagination. Many people love their soothing, calming, and versatile nature.
But plain, cold gray is out. Gone. Sayonara.
Boring, cold gray is a big turn-off for many people because it can make a space feel frosty. And who wants that? Grays that are IN are shades with undertones that give them some flex and balance or even a little warmth.
I get questions from readers All. The. Time. about gray paint shades because they’re so versatile and can be super easy to work with. But they can also be a little fussy, moody, and tricky, depending on their undertones.
And that leads me to the second type of shift I want to talk about today.
Gray paint colors are still very popular interior decor colors, and they’re even more interesting (and beautiful) than ever because their undertones cause their appearance to shift in different lighting exposures so they’re never dull or boring.
Today, I want to highlight one shade of gray that’s as “shifty” as they come! I’m leading you on a deep dive into Pussywillow from Sherwin-Williams paint colors.
My Honest Opinion of this Paint Shade
Truth be told, for me personally, this color is NOT in my top 20 faves-of-all-time list. Why? It’s too dark for my taste, it’s fickle…while it looks good in one space, it can look terrible in another. It feels much more finicky than other shades.
Does Picking A Paint Color Give You Anxiety?
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Still need more help? I got you! Check out my Paint Perfect System – it’s my 6-step method that you can learn in under one hour, to help you pick perfect shades of paint from now until always! No more paint regrets!
Now it’s time to check out the paint color de jour: Sherwin Williams Pussywillow. Is it a good fit for your home? Let’s find out!
What color is Pussywillow?
Pussywillow (SW 7643) is a mid-toned gray with beige and blue undertones. It’s a timeless shade with quite a bit of flexibility, making it so captivating.
As part of the Timeless Colors and Living Well color collections, this gray will lean cool but won’t make a room feel frosty. It works well for tying together warm and cool tones to make spaces feel balanced and comfortable.
And it has plenty of saturation and depth to hold its own in the brightest natural light.
Homes Showcasing Sherwin Williams Pussywillow
Let’s do the fun part first! We’ll check out this color in all its glory inside (and outside) real homes that have used this paint shade. After that, we’ll delve into some of the more nitty gritty details like undertones, coordinating paint shades, similar colors and more.
But for now, here are projects in homes using Pussywillow that show its range so you get a clear idea of how this color REALLY appears. This can help you decide whether it’s the best paint shade for you.
Sheen note: Picking the right color is only winning the battle, not the war. Remember to pick the right paint finish, or sheen, also! Read up on what you need to know about picking the perfect paint sheen.
Living Rooms Painted with SW Pussywillow
1. Cozy with a Touch of Elegance
All the natural light makes this room from Tamara Day look incredible rather than too dark – even with the ceiling painted! The dark fireplace accent and black hardware give an understated touch of elegance.
Both the ceiling and walls are painted in SW Pussywillow here, but only at 50% strength (ask at the paint store for a custom mix, and you can do the same).
2. More Greige than Gray?
This image from Crafty Teacher Lady shows how a room flooded with warm natural lighting can look more greige than gray. Beautiful!
3. Accent Wall Magic
Pussywillow is a medium-deep shade that most people find too dark for an entire room. Premier Stagers made the brilliant choice to only use it on one wall in this living room. It adds interest, makes a beautiful backdrop, and ties all the elements of the decor together.
Pussywillow in Kitchen & Dining Spaces
For kitchens, eggshell or satin are popular finish choices for walls. For cabinets consider semi-gloss or high gloss for the most durable finish (and a gorgeous glow).
4. Gray Kitchen Island
The island and bifold door in the dining room area in this image from Edith and Evelyn Vintage are both Pussywillow.
In this shadowy lighting, they both look gray. Isn’t that turquoise buffet a fantastic accent piece?
5. Touch of Warmth
Even though Pussywillow leans cool, there are times when the lighting makes it look more balanced, like this image from Worthing Court.
It’s definitely gray with a hint of beige, and it’s enough to put together all the gray elements and warmer wood tones in transitional kitchens like this one.
6. Impact of Artificial Light
This kitchen from 2 Cabinet Girls has almost zero natural lighting, so warm artificial lights are used to soften this rich hue.
The white backsplash tiles keep this kitchen from looking too heavy.
Sherwin Williams Pussywillow in Bedrooms
In general for bedrooms, and low-traffic areas, flat paint is fine. If you like something with a bit of shine (and more ease of cleaning) opt for eggshell or satin.
7. Ideal Neutral Backdrop
If you haven’t considered Pussywillow for a child’s bedroom, let this example from Emily A Clark convince you that it’s a terrific option!
8. Complements Dark Brown
There’s just enough beige in Pussywillow to make it look GREAT with deep gray-brown. Check out how great it looks to complement the accent color on the wall in this room from @rhondarenfrodesign!
9. Chic and Timeless
Do you want this bedroom as much as I do? Tweak Your Space crafted a space of effortless elegance and sophistication with the use of paint. I love that eye-catching gray bed frame!
Bathrooms feat SW Pussywillow
10. Not too Dark
The white tile, trim, and flooring keep the depth of the paint from feeling too heavy in this bathroom from Allard and Roberts. The brushed nickel fixtures seal the deal.
11. Greige with a Hint of Blue
The blue accents in this image from Fox Hollow Cottage play well with the slight blue undertone in the paint.
The cool tones balance out warm white, lighter beige countertops, and white-washed wood.
Pussywillow Paint in Other Homes
12. Understated Accent
This interior door from Fox Hollow Cottage is a nice touch to any room without being too loud or attention-grabbing.
13. Well-Placed Touch of Color
You may not notice at first glance, but these built-ins from Cedar Hill Farmhouse are painted in Pussywillow. I love making special features like that stand out in a different shade!
14. Exterior Siding
Oh yes, the siding on this house from @pleasanthill.co is painted in Pussywillow.
The bright natural light with exterior use makes this paint look much brighter than it does in interiors. But it still has plenty of depth to provide great contrast with the white trim.
FAQs about Sherwin Williams Pussywillow
If you’re still not sure one way or the other about this color, let’s dig more into the details. Here are some numbers, facts, and figures to help clear up those questions that may still remain.
What other colors are similar to Pussywillow?
Due to differences in how each company blends paint colors, trying to get paint colors in different brands won’t give you an accurate color.
If you want a similar color to Pussywillow from a paint brand other than the Sherwin-Williams company, I recommend Benjamin Moore Smoke & Mirrors or Behr’s City of Bridges (which leans more beige).
Is Sherwin Williams Pussywillow warm or cool?
Since Pussywillow has a strong gray base with blue undertones, it leans cool. However, it also has warm beige undertones that soften and balance this shade.
Its appearance will DEFINITELY shift between reading warmer in warm-toned lighting and cooler in cool-toned lighting.
Where should I use Sherwin Williams Pussywillow?
Although Pussywillow is a stunning shade, it’s not one of the MOST versatile hues out there. It won’t work in any home (or any room) because it’s SO heavily influenced by light exposure.
I recommend it most for larger-sized spaces or rooms with LOTS of good natural light.
Consider using Pussywillow to add interest to your:
– Walls (in large rooms, bright lighting, or accent walls!)
– Kitchen cabinets
– Accents (built-ins, chair rails, etc.)
– Interior or exterior doors
– Mudroom built-ins
– Trim and moldings
– Vanities and cabinets (bathroom, laundry room)
– Exteriors
Pussywillow successfully works with many interior design styles, including Traditional, French Country, Modern Farmhouse, Transitional, Modern, Minimalist, and more.
Sherwin Williams Pussywillow Undertones
This shade has a gray base with blue and beige undertones. That makes this color one that shifts and shimmies depending on the lighting. One moment, it can look warm and even greige. And the next (when the light shifts), it can look nearly blue.
Pussywillow isn’t a shade I would recommend using in warmer regions such as Florida or Central America or tropical regions like the South Pacific or Caribbean islands.
However, it works really well in cool regions such as the U.S. and Europe.
Want to know what to expect with those undertones? My tried-and-true tool to avoid paint color regret is peel-and-stick paint samples. These 12×12 paint swatches are the BEST way to see (and avoid) surprise undertones and unwanted colors!
How Different Types of Lighting Affect Sherwin Williams’ Pussywillow
The sun rises, moves across the sky, and sets in the evening. As it does all that moving, the temperature and color of the light it gives off shifts, which greatly impacts how paint appears.
EVERY paint color will display some variation throughout the course of the day, and that’s just how it is. You can choose which shades (and undertones) work for your home and which ones work better in someone else’s home.
Here’s how Sherwin Williams Pussywillow will appear when influenced by different lighting conditions.
- North-facing light – Blue-tinted, cool lighting will cause Pussywillow to appear darker, grayer, and even more blue.
- South-facing light – Yellow-tined, warm southern lighting will lighten Pussywillow so that it displays more beige for a creamier look.
- West-facing light – Pussywillow will shift and shimmy from appearing darker and cooler in the morning to appearing warmer and more beige later in the day.
- East-facing light – Expect the same shift in the opposite order. Pussywillow will appear warm and beige in the morning before shifting to its darker, grayer side in the afternoon.
When to Avoid SW Pussywillow
Stay away from using this shade in small rooms or rooms that don’t have lots of natural light because it can make the space feel smaller and too dark.
Steer clear from very creamy whites (or strong yellow undertones) because this gray will look dingy.
Coordinating Colors for Pussywillow
Pussywillow can be a bit picky and won’t play well with just any color. For an eye-pleasing pairing, I recommend sticking with true whites, off-whites (not too yellow), dark blues, lighter or darker grays, turquoise, light beiges, and dark browns.
And when choosing hardware or metal accents, this shade looks stunning with matte-black, brass accents, and brushed nickel finishes!
If you need a few specific color ideas that act as a perfect match with Sherwin Williams Pussywillow, try the following paint colors:
- Gauntlet Gray
- Vintage Vessel
- Black Fox
- Dovetail
- Origami White
- Dorian Gray
- Jalapeno
- Software
- Rain
- Black of Night
- Rainwashed
- Reserved White
- Gris Morado
- Naval
- Agreeable Gray
- Thunder Gray
- Riverway
- Repose Gray
- Toasted Pine Nut
- Sheraton Sage
- Sea Serpent
For trim and ceiling paint colors to pair with Pussywillow, I recommend whites that don’t have strong yellow undertones, such as SW Pure White, SW High Reflectance White, or Extra White.
Paint Sheens and Finishes
The right paint finish makes a huge difference in every room in your home, from your master bedroom to low-traffic bedrooms, your kitchen, and everywhere else.
Achieving the best results on your soon-to-be perfect interior paint job requires being familiar with the different paint finishes. The type of paint you choose will effect its shine, cleanability, and durability.
Head here to get the full paint sheen story.
- High gloss – although it offers an easy-to-clean surface, high gloss paint is shiny and shows less-than-perfect surfaces.
- Semi-gloss paint – This sheen is great for small spaces, rooms with low light levels, and high-humidity environments (like bathrooms).
- Satin – this middle of the sheen spectrum is the most popular finish. Satin is ideal for a wide variety of surfaces, high traffic areas, and offers color rub-off resistance when you wash away grime with soap and water.
- Eggshell – The slight sheen of eggshell is a little more durable than flat paint and can withstand VERY gentle scrubbing.
- Flat (or matte) – Most people love a luxurious matte finish, but it’s not ideal for every surface. Flat paint’s shine-free appearance provides excellent hiding abilities for imperfections, but I only recommend using it in low-traffic areas since it can withstand minimal washing without losing paint coverage.
LRV of Sherwin Williams Pussywillow (SW 7643)
LRV (or Light Reflectance Value) is a scale that measures the reflection of light a color has, with 0 being totally black and 100 being totally white.
The LRV of Sherwin Williams Pussywillow = 42
SW Pussywillow falls on the darker side of the medium saturation range. This hue will look dark (too dark for most people) in rooms with little natural light. By contrast, the depth of the color won’t wash out in rooms with bright lighting.
Pussywillow Compared to Other Colors
How does Pussywillow stand out from other gray paint colors on the market? Let’s do a color comparison of a few to find out.
Sherwin Williams Pussywillow vs. Dorian Gray
First up: Pussywillow versus Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray (SW 7017). With an LRV of 39, Dorian Gray is an even deeper and richer gray.
Similar to Pussywillow, Dorian Gray shifts between gray and beige quite a bit throughout the day. Because of this, it’s another popular neutral color.
Sherwin Williams Pussywillow vs. Fawn Brindle
Sherwin Williams Fawn Brindle (SW 7640) has an LRV of 36 for even more depth and richness than Pussywillow.
Although Fawn Brindle is darker, the real difference between these two shades lies in their undertones. Where Pussywillow is a cool gray with a bit of beige and a hint of blue, Fawn Brindle is a warm gray paint color with strong brown undertones and a splash of green.
Sherwin Williams Pussywillow vs. Mindful Gray
Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray (SW 7016) is the lightest of the bunch, with an LRV of 47.58.
Often found on lists of the favorite greiges, Mindful Gray has a good balance of gray and beige along with blue-green undertones. It’s brighter and more versatile than Pussywillow.
More Colors to Consider
Can you see the appeal that Pussywillow has among designers and homeowners? If you’re thinking this may not be your favorite color, or aren’t quite ready to add this dramatic touch to your home, check out these gorgeous alternative shades!
- Baby Fawn (Benjamin Moore) – a light beige-leaning greige.
- Gauntlet Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a warm-leaning dark greige.
- Anew Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a warm greige that leans gray.
- Worldly Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a warm and versatile light greige.
- Accessible Beige (Sherwin Williams) – a gorgeous beige with a touch of gray.
- Chelsea Gray (Benjamin Moore) – a dark greige with brown undertones.
- Popular Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a mid-to-light greige with pink undertones.
- Top 9 Light Gray Paint Colors – our top choices, across brands
Are you captivated by the Sherwin Williams paint company and this paint color du jour, Pussywillow?
If you’ve already decided that Pussy willow is the right color for you, remember…actual paint colors can look very different in one home versus another due to variation in natural and artificial lighting, and many other factors as well.
Make it a point to grab a peel and stick sample of Pussywillow (and similar colors) and test in your home before making your final choice.
Good luck on your next painting adventure!
Pin this project for later! And if you decide to try it, leave a comment on the pin! That helps others know whether they want to try it, too!
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