Sherwin Williams Watery SW 6478 – The Calming Coastal Blue

 

From a wide array of blues in the SW palette, one such soothing and calming hue is Sherwin Williams Watery that tends to add a coastal vibe to any and every space. 

As the name suggests, this paint color exhibits the appearance of water – one of serenity, a silent and cool blue with deep tinges of green. 

This is a light-toned paint color that looks cool and crisp when applied to the walls.

So, if you are looking for a color experience that is enchanting and at the same time, tranquilizing – you might want to consider SW Watery.

If you flip through the swatches of blue paint colors on SW’s color palettes, you can usually discern the subtle differences between the different hues, right?

 

So, what makes watery so different? 

Well, first of all, the lighter tone of the color helps make your space look bright and secondly, this paint color has a perfect proportion of natural hues of blues and greens.

So, if you also want to add a natural vibe – this paint color is a good option as it doesn’t incline towards blues or green completely. 

Now if you feel SW Watery could be the one – keep reading below to know more about what really the color is and how to incorporate it in your home. 

Sherwin Williams Watery SW 6478 Details and Specifications

I often observe homeowners ignoring the theories linked with a paint color. Mainly, they chase the appearances and how it ‘realistically’ looks like.

Well, let me tell you, that is not enough!

Before picking up the best paint color for your home – you need to consider the underlying facts and theories to understand what the color conveys. 

So, first and foremost, it is important to look at the back of the color swatch to read through the Light Reflectance Value or LRV of the paint color. 

This value helps in determining how light or dark the paint color is! Which therefore will help you decide where to use the paint color!

So, the LRV of Watery is 57.

Hence, it is neither too dark and nor too light. Actually, it somehow falls on the lighter end of the scale. 

Oh, if you want to just try Watery so you’ll know just how it’ll look, you can easily with a peel-and-stick sample from Samplize. Order some samples now!

Secondly, to understand how the color is made up of, consider the RGB and HEX Values of the paint color. (Remember no two colors would have the same values, unlike the LRV that could be the same for various colors)

Red = 180

Green = 204

Blue = 201

HEX Value = #b4ccc9

Now that we have read through the color details and specifications, let’s read ahead to know some of the practical aspects and applications of this tranquilizing paint color. 

How Does this Color Feel in a Space?

 

Undoubtedly, this paint color makes your space feel cool, calm, soothing, and serene with utmost coastal vibes. 

So, if you are living somewhere within the continent and away from the sea, using this paint color is a great way to invite the coastal vibes.

I would also recommend warmer states along the coastline to use this paint color as it will definitely add a cool and refreshing vibe to your home interiors. 

Another great advantage offered by the paint color is the ability to create an illusion of making a space look larger than it is. 

So, for all the city and apartment dwellers – your solution is right here!

How Does Light Affect the Color?

 

As I say, Light whether natural or artificial always has a major role to play in the paint colors. 

If you are blessed with ample natural light in your homes – this color would be a great choice. 

It will tend to look even lighter and brighter in the presence of ample natural light. Whereas on the other hand, in the absence of light, this color may appear slightly darker but not very dark.

So, even if you don’t have natural light – this paint color would make a great option. However, you can also play with artificial lighting in your room – in that case!

Use more warm white lighting to add a bright charm to your space. Or else, track lighting and pendant lights are too recommended. 

To truly see what your home’s environment and lighting will do here, try out a real paint sample. It takes out the guess work!

What are the Best Coordinating Colors?

Now that we have discussed how the color appears, let’s see what best complements it. 

Remember, choosing an eye-catchy color palette is primary! You can’t afford to mess up the complementary colors in your home. 

So, as a general note, with a paint color like Watery – I would recommend considering whites, off-whites, beiges, tans, and browns as bases, whereas yellows and blushes as accents. 

To recommend a few, here is a list for a contrasting color palette:

1. SW 7013 Ivory Lace
2. SW 6099 Sand Dollar
3. SW 6331 Smoky Salmon

On the other hand, for a monochromatic color palette, consider the following:

1. SW 6477 Tidewater (see my full rundown on SW Tidewater here)
2. SW 9051 Aquaverde
3. SW 6479 Drizzle

By accommodating warmer shades, you are throwing off a little warmth to balance the saturation of cool vibes created by this paint color. 

In the case of ceilings, trims, and moldings – I would recommend using SW Pure White to further exhibit a warm look. 

SW Watery Vs Similar Colors

Even though it wouldn’t be required, but there are a few paint colors that may look similar to SW Watery. However, the color tones and undertones might differ.

Remember, no two colors are exactly the same! 

So, the two colors that closely relate to Watery are SW 6477 Tidewater and SW 6484 Meander Blue.

Watery Vs Tidewater

Tidewater has an LRV of 65 which is comparatively lighter than Watery. So, if you are looking for a lighter option with similar undertones, this paint color would be good to go.

To understand the true hue, place it against a white sheet of paper!

Order a wall-stick sample of Tidewater here to help you compare colors in your own space.

Watery Vs Meander Blue

On the other hand, Meander Blue is a lighter, cool-toned blue with an LRV of 66.

If you want chilly vibes in your home with a perfect blue-green undertone, this paint would be a great option.

Do yourself a favor and grab some stick-on sample sheets of these two colors and see what looks best in your home.

Where to Use Watery in Homes?

 

This paint color is a great option for homes – especially if you are craving a coastal vibe in your home. 

Other interior design styles that can incorporate this paint color are Scandinavian, Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Mid-Century Modern. 

Let’s see where and how to use it. 

Watery in Living and Family Rooms

If you are looking for a crisp and clean touch in your living rooms and other common areas – this paint color is definitely recommended. However, note that this color doesn’t exhibit a cozy touch.

So, if you want to add a cozy vibe, you can pair this color with warmer shades and soft yet clean fabrics. Mainly, add off-whites and beiges to create a perfect balance. 

Using in Kitchens

Refreshing kitchens are the best. Aren’t they?

Well, this paint color makes a great choice in cape cod and coastal kitchens.

You can pair it with a white marble countertop, white backsplash tiles, and silver or golden-tinted pull handles. 

Moreover, it is best to pair this paint color with dark hardwood floors. 

Watery in Bedrooms

 

Bedrooms deserve to be cool and calming. So, you can use this as an accent but remember, not to overuse it!

Too much of the paint color will make your bedroom look uninviting and extremely cool!

Unless you specifically want that aura – I wouldn’t recommend it. But you can definitely pair it with warmer shades to feel cozy and welcoming. 

Adding touches of wood will further add a rich and elegant touch to your bedrooms!

Using in Bathrooms

 

Definitely a yes!

I love the bathrooms in cooler tones since they help space look bigger and brighter while also adding that refreshing vibe. 

You can use some crafty wallpapers and patterned tiles to add an artistic touch to your bathrooms. 

Watery on Exteriors

 

This paint color is quite common to locate in homes that either have a cape cod style or a Caribbean theme. 

You could either paint the color on the walls and let the rest of the elements be in grey or off-white or do the opposite. 

Gray Spanish tiles on the roof are also good to go! 

Great Paint Sample Tip!

Here’s my favorite tip when it comes to testing out a color like Watery – go and order a peel-and-stick sample from Samplize.

These guys figured out a great way to sample colors much more easily. Simply stick it up instead of having to get a small can of actual wet paint.

For a few bucks you get a nice sized square to throw up temporarily anywhere you want to “try” on a paint color and any possible coordinating hues you like. Too cool!

So, are you confident enough to use this color in your home? Maybe interiors or exteriors?

However, do remember to use them in certain amounts to create the perfect backdrop!

Check out my big guide on Sherwin-Williams blue colors if you want to explore more.

Do let me know in the comments below about your experiences as I would love to hear from you!

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