Learn all about Sherwin Williams Silver Strand, plus see 25 real homes that use it!
I’ve been covering beautiful paint colors in-depth for a while now. While I’ve mostly been reviewing paint shades in the gray, greige/beige, and white families, I can hardly believe it’s taken me so long to cover this hue!
Buckle up because this is a good one!
Sherwin Williams Silver Strand (SW 7057) is a color that projects serenity and tranquility. It brings the very best of the outdoors inside and creates a soothing environment for you after a busy or hard day.
My favorite paint colors are the ones that looks good in any lighting, wouldn’t you agree? And this one is certainly in that group. In other words, Silver Strand doesn’t have a bad side. It looks amazing in low natural light, bright natural light, and in every type in between!
Is it any wonder why it’s one of Sherwin Williams’ most popular gray paint colors? Let’s dive in to learn more about this dreamy creamy color to see if it’s right for your home.
FAQs About Silver Strand
What color is Sherwin Williams Silver Strand?
This color is a light gray that has distinct blue and green undertones and a definite laid-back beachy vibe. A neutral color, it runs slightly cool and lends a soothing and balanced sophistication to any room.
The thing about Silver Strand that makes it really stand out is that it’s a bit of a chameleon.
Different people can walk into the same room and say different things about this color. Some people will say it’s gray with a subtle green undertone. Others will say it looks blue-gray, and others, still, will say it looks blue-green.
Plus, it will look a little different throughout the day as the light shifts. Oh yes, it’s a chameleon, alright. So make sure you use color swatches before you commit to adding this paint to your home!
Where should I use SW Silver Strand?
Silver Strand looks stunning in so many different rooms and lighting situations. Its tranquil neutral nature makes it a popular color for bedrooms, bathrooms, and basements.
By the way, it looks breathtaking in laundry rooms, hallways, and stairways too.
Yep, this color is a winner – I guess that’s why it’s one of Sherwin Williams’ most popular grays!
What are the undertones in Sherwin Williams Silver Strand?
Silver Strand has just enough green and blue undertones to make it well-balanced and spa-like. While these subtle undertones won’t overtly look green or blue, you will definitely notice them in certain lighting situations.
At other times, this paint will read as a silvery light gray that’s just dark enough to contrast well with light trim colors.
What color goes with SW Silver Strand?
Since Silver Strand is a mildly cool medium to light gray-green, it pairs really well with neutrals on both the light and dark ends of the spectrum.
Pair this color with white and cream for trim, ceilings, cabinets, and the like. Use darker, cool colors like gray, black, and espresso as chic accent colors.
If undertones make your head hurt, you’re not alone! Grab your free copy of 5 Biggest Paint Choice Mistakes Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
LRV of Sherwin Williams Silver Strand
It’s numbers time! Let’s take a quick look at the numerical aspects of Silver Strand paint. Looking at paint is very subjective, so this is one way to get an objective evaluation of any paint color. We’re going to talk about Silver Strand’s LRV.
LRV (Light Reflectance Value) is a numerical value between 0 and 100 that gives an indication of how much light a color reflects.
Zero represents pure black, and 100 represents pure white. Lighter paint shades have a higher LRV because it reflects more light. By contrast, darker shades have lower LRV values because they don’t reflect as much light.
SW Silver Strand’s LRV = 59
This LRV value puts the color firmly in the medium (to slightly light) category. It’s definitely not a dark color, but it’s dark enough to contrast well with white and off-white shades.
Normally an LRV value of 60 is my magic number for a great medium shade. Silver Strand is just the teensiest bit darker than my magic number, but I’m going to cut it some slack since it’s so beautiful.
LRV…what? Don’t worry, I’ve got you! Grab a FREE copy of my new guide to avoid the paint color picking mistakes people make! Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
Silver Strand Paint Compared to Other Colors
I often find that it can be challenging to really see a paint’s undertones until I put it side by side with different colors. Here’s how Sherwin Williams Silver Strand stacks up against four other similar, popular paint colors.
Sherwin Williams Silver Strand vs SW Sea Salt
First up…Sherwin Williams Sea Salt. Both beautiful colors, these two look similar when you put them side by side, but Sherwin Williams puts Silver Strand in the gray family and Sea Salt in the green family. They both lean neutral and cool.
With an LRV of 63, Sea Salt is a bit lighter than Silver Strand’s LRV of 59. The gray/green combo is enticing, and since both colors contain levels of gray, they both exude a calming, serene vibe to your room.
Sherwin Williams Silver Strand vs Agreeable Gray
Silver Strand’s LRV of 59 is right on par with SW Agreeable Gray’s LRV of 60. Both colors have gray in them, but where Silver Strand has green undertones, Agreeable Gray has beige ones.
As you can see when these two are side by side, Agreeable Gray reads warmer than Silver Strand’s cooler vibes.
Sherwin Williams Silver Strand vs Silverpointe
Next let’s discuss Sherwin Williams Silverpointe. With an LRV of 64, Silverpointe is lighter than Silver Strand but reads less green and more neutral.
Sherwin Williams Silverpointe has very slight green and brown undertones that aren’t as obvious as Silver Strand’s green undertones.
Sherwin Williams Silver Strand vs Repose Gray
One last color to discuss before we move on…Repose Gray is one of Sherwin Williams’ most popular paint shades, period.
Compared to Silver Strand, Repose Gray with an LRV of 58 is almost identical in terms of how dark it is, but that’s where the similarities stop. Whereas Repose Gray has warm, greige undertones, Silver Strand has cooler green-blue hues.
Repose Gray says “cozy” while Silver Strand says “cool”. While both colors are in the “gray” family, they are quite different tones.
More Colors to Consider
Still don’t know if you’ve found the one? Check out some of these other pretty grays!
- Chelsea Gray (Benjamin Moore) – a warm, dark gray
- Iron Ore (Sherwin Williams) – a stormy, deep gray
- Peppercorn (Sherwin Williams) – a pretty charcoal shade
- Dorian Gray (Sherwin Williams) – warm, mid-toned gray
- Classic Gray (Benjamin Moore) – a popular greige
- Mindful Gray (Sherwin Williams) – a warm gray that leans taupe
- Light French Gray (Sherwin Williams) – not too warm or too cool
- Gray Owl (Benjamin Moore) – an unassuming classic light gray
- Smoke (Benjamin Moore) – a gorgeous pale gray meets light blue
- Krypton (Sherwin Williams) – a sophisticated gray-blue
- Light Pewter (Benjamin Moore) – a neutral, popular gray with greige leanings
Feeling lost? I gotcha, boo! Grab a FREE copy of my new guide to avoid the paint color picking mistakes people make! Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
Real Life Homes Using Silver Strand
As you start looking at these examples, it may be hard to resist the temptation to rush out and buy 3 or 4 gallons of paint and start coating your walls.
I urge you to remember my cardinal rule when it comes to painting: ALWAYS test before committing to ANY color!
And when it comes to samples, these re-usable, re-positionable peel and stick paint samples from Samplize are my absolute favorite.
Silver Strand Living Rooms
A quick note here: don’t forget to consider picking the right paint finish…it’s not only about getting the color right! We have an in-depth explanation of choosing sheens here.
1. Silver with a Hint of Green
This room is gorgeous. It highlights every single wonderful thing about this color. The bright natural lighting makes the paint read as silver with a hint of green.
And the decor plays on the green undertones perfectly through the use of white, cream, brown, and black.
2. Cozy Family Room Painted SW Silver Strand
Besides this one bright window in this family room from Restyle it Wright, the natural light in the room is low. Silver Strand’s chameleon qualities are coming out to play. The color looks washed out in the light near the window, but away from the light, it looks gray-blue.
The white (curtains, trim, rug) and black (mirror, lampshade) accent colors pair well for an updated and chic-looking room.
3. Light Gray Silver Strand Living Room
In contrast to the darker room in the previous example, this room has a lot of natural light.
It’s also gorgeous, but the paint appears much lighter and reads more green when paired with the brown accents.
4. Shiplap Living Room Wall in Silver Strand Paint
Thanks to the lighting in this room from The Tarnished Jewel Blog, this paint reads ALMOST off-white with a green undertone.
It’s light and tranquil and looks lovely on the shiplap accent wall. (It doesn’t hurt that I’m a sucker for shiplap either!)
Kitchen Paint Sherwin Williams Silver Strand
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).
5. Kitchen Cabinets Painted in SW Silver Strand
In rooms with low natural light, Silver Strand reads more gray-blue than gray-green. These kitchen cabinets (design by K.E. Ross Interior Design) are eye-catching with the warm cream/greige surrounding decor and accents.
Dining Rooms in Silver Strand
6. Silver Strand Eat-in Kitchen
Remember what I said about the blue undertones coming out in low natural light? This dining room from Oak House Design Co is a case in point. The very low levels of cool natural light make the paint read as a cool silvery blue.
It’s beautiful, but it looks so different you may not have even realized it was Silver Strand!
7. Great Choice Above a Chair Rail
This dining room from @catharinenorelius on Instagram example has pictures from two different angles, and it’s important to look at both to see the difference in how the paint reads in different levels of light. It ranges from washed out where the light hits it to silvery-green in medium-light to silvery-blue in the shadow and areas with little natural light.
The dark floors and cabinet combined with a cream rug with gray-blue accents help tie everything together in an expert way.
8. Farmhouse Dining Room in Silver Strand
Here’s another example of how the brighter light and brown accents bring out the green undertones. And there is a reflection of the green leaves outside at play too. The final effect in this space from Elizabeth Burns Design is paint that reads light and almost mint.
Bedrooms Painted in SW Silver Strand
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.
9. Bright Master Bedroom in Silver Strand
The bright natural light in this room from The Lily Pad Cottage washes out the color so much that it reads silver in the shadow.
The green undertones are just barely present, yet it still contrasts well with the off-white trim color and furniture.
10. Restful Retreat
The gray and rose companion colors in this bedroom combine with Sherwin Williams Silver Strand to provide a serene, almost spa-like environment. That’s hard to accomplish in such a large space!
11. Gray Board and Batten Nursery Wall
The color’s gray undertones are front and center in this nursery from Home Like You Mean It, while the green undertones take more of a backseat.
12. Guest Room in Silver Strand Paint
This room from Mindfully Gray has low natural light. The low light paired with the brass accents and artificial light to make the paint read gray-blue.
And it’s light enough to give the room some color without making it feel too dark.
13. Sherwin Williams Silver Strand Bedroom
There are very few instances where Silver Strand will read as more green than gray, and this one from Harbour Breeze Home is one of them.
If that’s a scenario you want to avoid, it’s a perfect reminder to use those color swatches (my favorite are Samplize peel-and-stick samples) before deciding on the right color. I love the way it looks in this room, though!
14. Girl’s Bedroom Painted Silver Gray
The combination of lots of natural light and the light pink furniture in this girl’s bedroom from Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss help to minimize the green undertones to allow the silver to take precedence. It’s beautiful!
15. Kid’s Room Painted SW Silver Strand
I think this color is just adorable as a kid’s bedroom color. It’s playful enough AND stylish (via Made New Home Furnishings).
Bathrooms in Silver Strand by Sherwin Williams
Don’t forget the finish! For bathrooms the perfect sheen is either an eggshell or satin. Why? We’ll tell you in this post about paint sheen.
16. Enviable Bathroom Shade
Silver Strand is a great color for bathrooms. Since many bathrooms have low natural light and depend on artificial light, SW Silver Strand’s read ranges from gray-green to mint. And it always seems to look envy-worthy.
17. Bathroom Vanity in Silver Strand
Although Silver Strand works wonders as a wall color, it also looks incredible on cabinets. It’s the perfect color in this bathroom to pair with the dark gray-green in the wallpaper (via CBC Builds).
18. Sherwin Williams Silver Strand Bathroom Walls
This bathroom from 320 Sycamore Blog (link removed as site is no longer online) feels like it’s straight out of a spa to me. The white and gray of the marble and tile wall play with the paint in a beautiful manner.
Remember what I said about placing colors next to each other in order to see their undertones? The grays around the bathroom help to pull out the green undertones in the paint.
Also note how much darker the paint looks in the shadows versus where the sunlight is hitting it. A reminder that this shade will vary in its appearance tremendously depending on the time of day and the direction the room faces.
19. In Sync with Subway Tile
Here’s another example of a bathroom where the gray and white subway tiles pull out those green undertones.
20. SW Silver Strand Bathroom Cabinets
I love the way that these cabinets from Amanda Katherine look in Silver Strand! The artificial light and surrounding greige pull out both the green and blue undertones for a beautiful contrast.
21. Spa-Tastic Tint
Hello, spa-like bathroom! Although the bright natural light washes out the paint color, it’s not too much. The natural medium darkness of the shade (and the shadows) prevents this color from being too washed out.
SW Silver Strand Laundry Rooms
22. Laundry Room Painted in SW Silver Strand
This laundry room (via Elizabeth Burns Design) wall is directly hit with enough natural light to make the paint read as silvery gray. The green undertones are only present where the shadow hits it.
23. Lovely Laundry Room
Stunning. The paint reads as silver with just a slight blue undertone. The bright light washes out the color, but it stays dark enough to transform a small laundry room into your favorite room of the house.
Other Rooms Using Silver Strand Paint
24. Entryway Painted in Silver Strand
Sherwin Williams Silver Strand works in any room of the house, including gorgeous entryways (like this one from Simple Stylings) with dark wood doors and flooring! It reads as gray-blue in the cool lighting.
25. Beautiful Blue-Green
Finally, check out Silver Strand giving off some major blue undertones that would read as sky blue without the gray base in this airy entryway/stairwell.
The paint takes a backseat to the colorful artwork that helps reinforce the beautiful gray-blue color.
Will Silver Strand be the element that your home decor has been missing in your quest to make your space feel like a tranquil retreat from the rest of the world?
I understand how hard it can be to pick the right paint colors. So I hope this color study and these real-life examples of this paint shade being used have been helpful to you!
Seriously considering this shade? Make sure to sample first! I highly recommend these re-usable, re-positionable peel and stick samples👇
Pin this paint color for later! And if you use this paint shade, leave a comment on the pin! That helps others decide if they want to try this color, too!
Ready to show those boring, beige walls who’s the boss at home? Grab my free guide to help you sidestep the mistakes that almost everyone makes when it comes to picking paint! You’ll be on your way to perfect paint promptly…pinky swear.
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