Read all about Sherwin Williams Tradewind, plus see 18 real homes that use it!
Sherwin Williams Tradewind (SW 6218) is a cool-leaning medium-light blue paint that creates the ideal tranquil coastal vibe for homes.
In this paint series, I often cover neutral colors such as whites, creams, grays, beiges, and greiges because most homeowners and designers love to live in neutrals.
I, on the other hand, love adding a little color here and there. Color is the spice of life, right?
And when I turn to colors, blue is the first one I consider (check out my blue bedroom!). Pale blue, navy blue, and everything in between – I love them all.
Shades of blue can add that perfect dose of serenity you need after a long day. In fact, a stunning beachy blue can go a long way toward solving the day’s problems.
I’m excited to bring you one of the best blue paint colors on the market: Sherwin Williams Tradewind.
What color is Tradewind?
Tradewind is a light-medium blue paint that leans towards the cool side of the temperature scale.
It’s a crisp, clean, muted pastel that offers a gorgeous neutral backdrop with just a bit of color. Tradewind mentally takes you to a day on the beach and adds a refreshing coastal vibe to your home.
On the walls, Tradewind feels light and airy, adding spaciousness to a small room and serenity to every space!
It’s a bit of a shapeshifter thanks to its undertones, which also means that it’s a highly flexible shade that’s rich, timeless, and inviting.
Want the cliff notes for choosing the perfect color every time? Grab a FREE copy of my guide to help you avoid the paint color picking mistakes most people make!
FAQs about Sherwin Williams Tradewind
What other colors are similar to Tradewind?
Unfortunately, there aren’t exact matches across brands due to the subtleties of the color mixing process. If you want a color like Tradewind in the Benjamin Moore paint line, check out Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue, BM Smoke, or BM Harbour Haze.
Is Sherwin Williams’s Tradewind warm or cool?
Cool colors are green, blue, and purple, while warm colors are red, orange, and yellow. Tradewind is a cool blue, but it’s not icy. It has just enough coolness to create an atmosphere of serenity!
Where should I use Sherwin Williams Tradewind?
This is a timeless color that you can use nearly anywhere. Since it leans cool, it does lack coziness. Consider Tradewind for:
Kitchens
Kitchen islands
Exterior doors
Laundry rooms
Bedrooms
Bathrooms
Living rooms
Dining rooms
Kids’ rooms
Playrooms
Basements
Tradewind is a tranquil shade that will look stunning in coastal, traditional, contemporary, transitional, and farmhouse homes.
Are you already feeling a little lost? Let me help you get back on track. Grab a free copy of my guide to help you avoid the same paint color picking mistakes most people always make!
Sherwin Williams Tradewind Undertones
Tradewind has some moderate gray undertones that give it a muted, almost stormy quality. But it might be surprising to learn that it also has a hint of green.
Sherwin Williams classifies Tradewind as a blue color, but be aware of these other undertones because they cause this shade to be a bit of a shape-shifter.
Depending on your lighting and surrounding decor colors, you may notice the gray or green undertones more easily.
If undertones make your head ache, you’re not alone! Grab your no-cost copy of “5 Biggest Paint Choice Mistakes” Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
How Different Types of Lighting Affect Sherwin Williams’s Tradewind
Natural light exposure shifts throughout the day as the sun moves through the sky. Thanks to this shifting natural light, don’t expect ANY paint color to look the same in two different areas or at different times of the day (even sometimes in different places in the same room!).
Do you want to know my secret for picking the right color every time? Use paint swatches (I love these peel-and-stick samples) to show how your lighting and decor will impact the way your paint appears.
They’re super simple to remove and reapply, and they won’t damage your drywall. But they work wonders at preventing headaches and wasted money! With a paint swatch, there’s no guesswork – and no hard work, either!
Here’s an idea of how you can expect Tradewind to look based on different types of natural lighting.
- North-facing light – blue-tinted, cool northern light will cause Tradewind to look darker and more muted. It will likely read grayer with a bit of that rich blue depth peeking through.
- South-facing light – warm yellow southern light will make this shade appear lighter, and the warm light will balance out the coolness of the shade. You might even see the green come out to play, thanks to the yellow-tinted light.
- East-facing light – eastern light is warm and yellow in the morning and cool in the afternoon. Tradewind will be lighter (and maybe a hint green) in the morning before changing to display its more muted qualities side later in the day.
- West-facing light – expect cooler light in the morning and very warm light later in the day. Tradewind will begin the day in muted blue and shift slightly toward its green undertones late in the afternoon.
Great Coordinating Colors for Tradewind
Tradewind offers a ton of flexibility. It shines when you pair it with darker blue-green blends, many different shades of gray, and even some creamy shades that lack lots of yellow.
However, I wouldn’t recommend using it with really warm wood tones. If you have white-washed, beachy-looking wood floors or accents, Tradewind would be a perfect complement!
Check out these shades to safely pair with Sherwin Williams Tradewind for a little design inspiration:
- Shell White
- Whirlpool
- Topsail
- Sea Salt
- Silverpointe
- Simply White
- High Reflective White
- Pure White
- Passive
- Accessible Beige
- Intellectual Gray
- Functional Gray
- Repose Gray
- Distance
- Rain
- Rock Candy
- Cityscape
- Polaris Blue
- Crushed Ice
LRV of Sherwin Williams Tradewind (SW 6218)
LRV is an abbreviation for “light reflectance value.” So why do we care about that number? It’s a helpful objective way to measure how much light a shade reflects (instead of absorbs). In other words, it’s a reliable indicator of how light or dark a shade will appear in your home.
LRV value ranges from 0 – 100. A color with an LRV of 0 is pure black. On the opposite end of the spectrum, an LRV of 100 is the brightest of all whites.
The LRV of Sherwin Williams Tradewind = 61
My LRV happy spot is an LRV of 60, so SW Tradewind sits almost dead on it. Paints with an LRV around 60 hit that happy medium of having enough saturation to avoid washing out while also not being too dark for poorly lit rooms.
LRV…what? Don’t worry, I’ve got you! This no-cost guide will help you avoid the paint color picking mistakes most people make! Click here or enter your email below. I’ll send the tips right away!⤵️
Tradewind Compared to Other Colors
It’s time to compare and contrast this hue with some similar paint colors to highlight unique qualities to love about each shade. Here we go!
Sherwin Williams Tradewind vs. Rainwashed
Let’s start by comparing Tradewind to the popular Sherwin Williams Rainwashed (SW 6211).
Rainwashed has an LRV of 59 and reads as the (slightly darker) muted green cousin to Tradewind. Both shades are gorgeous!
Sherwin Williams Tradewind vs. Tidewater
Sherwin Williams Tidewater (SW 6477) comes in a bit lighter than Tradewind, with an LRV of 65. In addition to being lighter, it features stronger green undertones with more subtle gray undertones to create a cool-toned soft pale turquoise.
Sherwin Williams Tradewind vs. Sea Salt
Sherwin Williams Sea Salt (SW 6204) has an LRV of 64. Like Tradewind, it has a soft coolness that creates an atmosphere of serenity that many people crave.
It’s a super popular shade because it leans slightly more neutral, thanks to more subtle blue undertones.
More Colors to Consider
I get it! Color-picking takes some work! If Tradewind isn’t “calling your name” at this point, you may love one of these other lovely moody shades instead.
- Smoke (Benjamin Moore) – a cool gray-green-blue in the medium range.
- Naval (Sherwin Williams) – a deep, moody navy blue.
- Palladian Blue (Benjamin Moore) – a soft, medium blue-green-gray.
- Silver Strand (Sherwin Williams) – a lovely light gray-green.
- Quiet Moments (Benjamin Moore) – a light blue-gray with green undertones.
- Beach Glass (Benjamin Moore) – a darker muted blue-green.
- Krypton (Sherwin Williams) – a neutral medium blue-gray.
Feeling lost? I gotcha, boo! Get a zero-cost 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 Sherwin Williams Tradewind
Ok, are you ready to take this ride into the fun zone? You made it through the background info on Tradewind.
Now it’s time to SEE how this shade behaves. Here are real-life homes and spaces using Sherwin Williams Tradewind for you to see!
Bedrooms using Tradewind Paint
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.
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.
1. Serene Blue Master
I love this bedroom from Newport Lane Blog! The various shades of blue and greige accents perfectly complement Tradewind, which reads pale, muted blue.
2. A Chameleon Color
Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss is showing off Tradewind’s shape-shifting abilities. The warm natural light and accents draw out the green undertones.
3. Calming Blue-Gray-Green
Seas Your Day gives us a taste of how muted and gray Tradewind can appear, given the right lighting.
SW Tradewind in Kitchens
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. Wow-Worthy Cabinet Paint
I usually wouldn’t pair Tradewind with warm wood tones, but Crown Point Cabinetry hit a home run by painting this gorgeous shade on the kitchen cabinets.
The cool paint tones and warm wood tones balance each other out.
5. Cool Enough to Pair with Black
Although black is a true neutral, its bold depth demands a special color when choosing shades to pair with it. Patina and Paint made a smart choice with Tradewind.
It’s just cool enough to match the tone and light enough to offer some fun personality.
Tradewind Blue Dining Spaces
6. Nice Muted Blue in Traditional Room
When you have a room with low levels of natural lighting, I always recommend using a light color to make the space feel airy and spacious. Tradewind was perfect for this dining room from @sinn.painting.
7. Fun Pairing with Bold Decor
This shade offers the gift of personality with a neutral feel. The way the bold colors interact with Tradewind in this dining room from Maggie Overby Studios creates a beautiful, playful atmosphere!
Living Rooms feat Tradewind by Sherwin Williams
8. Classic Design with Bright White Trim
I love this living room from Front Door Communities via Houzz. Tradewind shines when paired with eye-catching white molding.
9. Leaning into Gray Territory
Talk about adding depth to a space! The various levels of lighting in this space from @goldshoegirl create an almost ombre effect, while the lighting draws out those gray undertones.
Tradewind Paint in Bathrooms
10. Changes with Surrounding Decor
Just Laine used SW Tradewind to provide just the right amount of color to make this small space feel bright and airy.
11. Perfectly Blue in Well Lit Space
This shade works equally well in large spaces, too, as this bathroom from WaterMark Coastal Homes via Houzz shows. Tradewind can help transform a bathroom into an elegant retreat.
12. Spa Like Paint Color
CASE Design chose this shade for a bathroom that receives lots of warm natural light and has influence from the green trees outside. As a result, those green undertones are much more dominant than they normally are but as gorgeous as ever!
13. Slightly Washed Out
How would you like gray with a hint of blue? The bright lighting in @beyond_gray’s bathroom washes out this shade so that it looks like a very pale gray blue.
Laundry Rooms with SW Tradewind
14. Leans Green Under Warm Artificial Lighting
Blue and yellow make green! This shape-shifting color in this laundry room from The Cards We Drew sends those green undertones forward under the influence of the warm yellow lighting.
15. A Clean and Bright Hue
Patina and Paint‘s laundry room looks clean, crisp, and light, thanks to a little help from Sherwin Williams Tradewind.
Sherwin Williams’ Tradewind in Other Spaces and Places
16. Quirky and Coastal
The Kingston Group made an inspired choice with this shade on the exterior to create an adorable coastal-looking home.
17. Tranquil and Eclectic Nook
I love how this hue can be such a subtle addition to bold decor, as seen here from The Vintage Wren.
18. Calming Home Office Vibes
The home office can be a place of stress, so why not create an environment that promotes serenity? This office from @alyssalouisvillerealtor is stunning.
19. Haint Blue Porch Ceiling
It’s a southern thing, but heck blue porch ceilings look great in ANY part of the world, IMHO.
Showing off this beautiful look in North Carolina, @rva2fuqauyfarmhouse pairs Tradewind on the porch ceiling with popular SW Pure White on the house siding for a gorgeous and inviting farmhouse color palette.
20. Welcoming Front Door Color
If you ever go to @vaughnhillhome, you’ll be welcomed in with a very endearing entryway, complete with SW Tradewind as the front door color.
A blue front door symbolizes peace, prosperity and abundance, so it’s a great choice for a first impression to your abode.
21. A Bright Balance to Blacks, Grays & Bronzes
Last but not least, here’s another front door painted in Tradewind, but this time coupled with a darker exterior siding color, SW Urbane Bronze. Tradewind balances the bold, dark shade brilliantly, and helps create beautiful curb appeal on this home’s exterior.
If you’ve ever considered using Sherwin Williams Sea Salt, Benjamin Moore Smoke, or SW Rainwashed in the past, I hope this post has also convinced you to add Tradewind to your shortlist.
Make sure you grab a peel and stick paint sample of this rich, tranquil shade!
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, bland walls who’s the boss at home? This no-cost guide will help you sidestep 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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