About Limewash Paint Sherwin Williams: Why Designers Love This Soft Neutral

Today here we’ll tell you about Limewash paint from Sherwin Williams… When I first used this color in my own living room… It looked deep and beautiful.

But then I used it in a client’s bathroom and it didn’t work well and when I thought and noticed it was because of low-lighting.

And then there I understood the concept of how to make it work…..

If we have to make it work we have to focus on the lighting and the finishes too but before that LRV is what you should know. It is all about the technical details which need to be understood of the color.

So, Sherwin Williams Limewash SW 9589 is one of the colors that LOOKS simple on the paint swatch but acts completely different when it is your walls. 

And I mean completely different.

The thing about Limewash is that it is in this middle ground between beige and gray. It’s a warm gray…. or maybe a greige.

It is a part of the Emerald Designer Edition collection from Sherwin Williams. And this collection has SOLID neutrals with personality.

So, let me walk you through the important details of Limewash paint Sherwin Williams.

Also read:

• Sherwin Williams Stardew
• Sherwin Williams Epoxy Paint
• Sherwin Williams Naval

Color Description of Limewash Paint by Sherwin Williams (SW 9589)

When you first look at Limewash on the chip…. it reads as this soft, almost creamy neutral. Not too dark. Not too light. Just sort of there in a comforting way.

The HEX code is #DBD5CB and it has an LRV of 67. 

It’s warmer, which puts it in the “light color” category but not so light that it disappears. It means that you’re getting a color that reflects most of the light hitting it, which makes the rooms feel bright and open.

I remember opening the can for the first time in my living room project. The wet paint looked almost like a mushroom taupe…. deeper than expected. I panicked for a second thinking I grabbed the wrong code. But limewash paint dries lighter.

What makes this color interesting is its red undertones. Not pink nor peach. It is a color which is muted, soft and not looking for attention. And the right lighting keeps it away from feeling heavy even with the warm undertones.

But remember this color SHIFTS. It can look like three different colors in the same room depending on the lighting conditions.

Limewash Paint Sherwin Williams: Key Differences

I’m going to be real with you here. When I started recommending Limewash to people I didn’t understand how much the technical details mattered. I thought it was neutral, it’ll look good everywhere, but it was not like that.

The difference between this color working beautifully and looking completely off comes down to understanding a few key things…. which are important to understand. 

So, let’s go and see.

LRV

Light Reflectance Value…. this is the first thing you should know.

SW 9589 Limewash has an LRV of 67. It is a LIGHT color and it reflects about two-thirds of the light that hits it.

But what does that mean for your space?

In my living room where I first used it, south-facing windows, good natural light, the LRV worked perfectly. The color stayed bright, soft, and reflected enough light to make the room feel open.

But then we went to a small bathroom with one tiny window, north-facing. I thought it would work well because of the neutral but…. it looked FLAT, almost gray and definitely not the warm, creamy neutral I expected.

That’s when I started paying attention to LRV….

With an LRV around 67…. the color needs DECENT light to show its true character. It’s not dark enough to create drama in low light, nor it’s not light enough to brighten up a dim space on its own.

It is right in the middle range where lighting conditions make or break it.

Undertones

This is where Limewash gets interesting…. and where I see most people get confused.

The primary undertone is red. The 38° hue position on the color wheel puts it squarely in warm territory.

But it’s not OBVIOUSLY red but it’s more subtle.

In warm light…. morning sun, incandescent bulbs, golden hour, the red undertones come up and the color looks almost beige, creamy, soft and beautiful.

In a cool light…. overcast days, north-facing rooms, LED bulbs…. the undertones get suppressed and it will look more greige and the gray comes forward. 

The secondary undertones include slight gray influence which has greige quality. And in some lighting…. you may catch a hint of muted yellow, but that’s rare. It’s bouncing between warm beige and cooler gray depending on your lighting.

Lighting Affect

Let me take into the specifics of how light affects this color.

North-facing rooms are hard for Limewash. The cool, indirect light suppresses the warmth. The color goes flat, looks more gray than greige, and loses all the cozy neutral feeling. 

Personally, I don’t recommend it for north-facing spaces unless you have strong artificial lighting to make it work.

South-facing rooms are where Limewash SHINES. The consistent, warm, bright light brings out the beige undertones beautifully. The color stays true to what you see on the paint swatch.

East-facing spaces create a nice ambiance throughout the day. In the morning, the light is warm and golden…. Limewash looks creamy and inviting. In the afternoon, it cools down, looks more greige, becomes more neutral. 

West-facing rooms are the opposite. It looks cooler and muted in the morning…. then in the afternoon and evening it hits and your walls will look warm. If you’re someone who’s home in the evenings…. west-facing Limewash will feel cozy.

Artificial lighting is the other thing….

Warm bulbs (2700K-3000K) will enhance the red and beige undertones. The color feels warm, cozy and more enveloping.

Cool and daylight bulbs (5000K+) will do the opposite. They’ll make Limewash look cooler, grayer and neutral. 

Not in a bad way… but different than what most people expect from a “warm” neutral.

Style and Best Uses

Limewash SW 9589 works best in modern, minimalist, Scandinavian, coastal, and rustic farmhouse interiors.

I’ve used it successfully in all the styles…. but the key is pairing it with the right materials and finishes.

In modern minimalist spaces…. Limewash acts as a perfect soft backdrop. It’s neutral enough to not compete with clean lines and simple furniture but has warmth to keep the space from feeling cold. 

You can pair it with white trim like White Snow SW 9541 for bright contrast.

For Scandinavian and coastal styles, the greige quality shines. It pairs beautifully with natural wood tones, linen textures, and muted accent colors. I love using it with soft blues like Rain Cloud or Sea Mariner for the complementary color.

Rustic and farmhouse interiors…. this is where the warmth comes. Pair Limewash with reclaimed wood, stone, terracotta, and to get the organic, earthy feel in your space.

If I talk about myself, I don’t recommend it for spaces that need a true bright white or bright cool neutral. 

Limewash Paint by Sherwin Williams: Room-By-Room Suitability

After working with this color in different spaces…. I’ve figured out where it works, where it doesn’t, and where you need to be careful about your lighting and finishes. Not every neutral works everywhere. 

The LRV and the shifting undertones mean some rooms are going to be perfect for it and others may not.

Let me break down what I’ve learned room by room because this is where most people make their decisions.

Limewash in Living Room

Living rooms are one of the BEST spaces for Limewash.

I used it in my own living room, south-facing windows, natural light, and it created a soft, enveloping neutral that worked with everything. The space felt big because of the LRV reflecting light around the room…. but it didn’t feel cold like a high-LRV white.

The key with living rooms is that you have multiple light sources. Natural light during the day and lamps and overhead lighting at night.

Limewash handles the variability well because it’s chameleon-like and it adapts the lighting nicely.

I paired it with a warm gray trim in Agreeable Gray SW 7029 instead of pure white…. And it gave the space a tonal, cohesive look.

And because living rooms have a lot of furniture, textiles, and decor, the soft neutral background lets everything shine.

Limewash in Bedroom

Bedrooms are PERFECT for Limewash or even better than living rooms.

The soft, muted quality this color has creates a calming atmosphere. The low saturation means it’s not visually stimulating. And in a bedroom where you want the cocooning, restful feeling, then it’s the best.

I’ve used it in both master bedrooms and guest rooms and it works beautifully in both.

The warmth keeps it from feeling too cold and if you’re someone who likes a lot of white bedding and neutral textiles…. Limewash gives you enough color interest without competing with your design.

One thing I learned…. if your bedroom has minimal natural light, go with warm bulbs for your bedside lamps and overhead fixtures. The 2700K-3000K range will keep the color feeling cozy.

Limewash in Bathroom

This is where you should be more careful.

If you are going with a small bathroom, limited light, north-facing window. And you think Limewash would feel spa-like and neutral.

Then it won’t.

It will look flat, gray and almost dull in some lights even though I KNOW that’s a quality paint color.

Here’s what I learned…. bathrooms need either good natural light or well-planned artificial lighting for this color to work.

If you have a large bathroom with big windows, especially south or west-facing, then go for Limewash. The color will look beautiful and create a soft, sophisticated neutral spa vibe.

Also…. bathrooms have a lot of moisture. Make sure you’re using a paint finish that can handle it, like satin or semi-gloss and not flat or matte.

Limewash in Kitchen

Limewash in kitchens can work but there are considerations.

I’ve used it on kitchen walls in open-concept spaces where the kitchen flows into the living or dining area. This continuity of color made the whole space feel cohesive and large.

The neutral quality of this color worked well with both warm and cool cabinet colors. I’ve paired it with white shaker cabinets, natural wood, and darker navy cabinets.

But… kitchens need durable, washable paint finishes like eggshell or satin MINIMUM. Flat finishes will show every grease splatter and fingerprint.

Also, consider the countertops and backsplash. If you’re working with a lot of cool-toned materials like white marble or gray quartz…. Limewash’s warmth can clash slightly. 

I personally love it with warm countertops, butcher block, natural stone, and subway tile. Because it makes the space feel organic and grounded.

Limewash on Exterior

This paint color on the exterior is a different story which needs planning.

Sherwin Williams Limewash SW 9589 is a standard paint COLOR. It’s not the same as limewash paint which is the textured, matte, mineral-based finish made from crushed limestone.

Yes…. you CAN use SW 9589 on exteriors if you want that color. But you’d be using regular exterior paint in that color and not traditional limewash paint.

I’ve used SW 9589 as an exterior color on siding and trim and it worked beautifully for a soft, neutral, organic look. It also paired well with natural wood, stone accents, and darker trim colors.

What is the difference between the Sherwin Williams Limewash vs Taupe of the Morning?

I get asked about this comparison ALL the time….

Taupe of the Morning is another warm neutral from Sherwin Williams but it is MORE beige and has less gray influence than Limewash.

Limewash is in the greige category…. bouncing between gray and beige depending on light. Taupe of the Morning commits more to the beige side. It’s warm, creamy and looks more traditional.

If you’re someone who wants a TRUE warm beige without any gray…. Taupe of the Morning is the better choice.

But if you want the modern, sophisticated greige that can adapt to different lighting and styles…. Limewash is what you should consider.

I’ve used both in similar spaces and Limewash always feels contemporary while Taupe of the Morning looks more classic and cozy.

Limewash Paint by Sherwin Williams Coordinating Colors

One of the best things about working with Sherwin Williams colors is their coordinating palette system…. They know what plays well together.

With Limewash SW 9589 on the warm greige space with red undertones on the color wheel, you’ve flexibility for creating color schemes. 

I’ve tested dozens of different combinations and some WORK better than others. Here’s what I’ve learned works beautifully with Limewash.

Lighter Coordinating Shades (Monochromatic):

• Eider White SW 7014 – this is my go-to light pairing…. it’s a soft warm white that shares the same subtle warm undertones
• Prairie Grass SW 9114 – stays in that same warm neutral family but goes even lighter
• Simple White SW 7021 – if you need a cleaner white that has a touch of warmth

Darker Coordinating Shades (Monochromatic):

• Studio Taupe SW 7549 – goes deep into that taupe/greige territory
• Backdrop SW 7025 – richer, more saturated, same warm undertone base

Complementary Blues (Opposite on Color Wheel):

• Rain Cloud SW 6199 – this creates beautiful contrast
• Sea Mariner SW 6705 – deep blue that pulls out the warmth in Limewash by contrast

Trim Colors:

• White Snow SW 9541 – this is my favorite for fresh, bright contrast…. makes Limewash feel intentional
• Agreeable Gray SW 7029 – for a tonal, sophisticated look where you don’t want harsh white trim

I’ve used the Eider White and Limewash combination in an open-concept space where we need light walls in the kitchen area and deep walls in the living space and it worked perfectly for the space.

Is Limewash Paint by Sherwin Williams right for your space?

Here’s the truth….

Limewash SW 9589 is right for your space if:

You have decent natural light OR well-planned artificial lighting with warm bulbs.

You want a soft, adaptable neutral that leans slightly warm.

You’re working with modern, minimalist, Scandinavian, coastal, or rustic farmhouse styles.

You’re okay with a color that SHIFTS throughout the day.

You’re pairing it with natural materials like wood, stone, linen, and organic textures.

Limewash is NOT right for your space if:

You have a dark, north-facing room with limited light

You want a true beige or true gray…. this is in between

You need a fresh, cool neutral for a traditional or formal space

You’re not willing to test samples in your lighting conditions

You’re working with cool-toned materials that can clash with the warmth

I ALWAYS recommend getting a sample and living with it for a few days. Watch how it looks in morning light, afternoon light, evening light, and under the artificial lighting.

Conclusion

There you have it…. everything I’ve learned about Sherwin Williams Limewash SW 9589 through uses, mistakes, and trial and error.

It’s a beautiful warm greige neutral that has subtle red undertones which shifts depending on lighting. It works amazingly in well-lit spaces with modern or organic design styles. It looks flat in dark, north-facing rooms with poor lighting.

The key to making it work is understanding the LRV, undertones, and lighting aren’t technical details…. but they’re the reason a color works or doesn’t work in your space.

I recommend testing it properly. Use the right finish for your room type. Pair it with coordinating colors thoughtfully. Limewash can give you the soft, sophisticated neutral that works as a perfect backdrop for your design.

FAQs on Limewash Paint Sherwin Williams