This paint color series will help walk you through some of the most popular home decor paint colors, along with some of my own personal picks. Today Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams is up—learn all about this color and how it will look in different rooms and lightings.
When I hear “sea salt”, my mind always goes to the ocean. The color of the blue-green water mixed with cool gray undertones with a hint of warmth from sand and sun is a picture that’s not awfully far off from the paint color Sherwin Williams Sea Salt.
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Not only is this paint color absolutely gorgeous, but it happens to be one of the most popular paint colors for a home. This is one of the blue paint colors that always makes me stop mid-scroll and re-examine a room. As much as I love my whites and grays, Sea Salt brings a welcome pop of moody color to any space.
NOTE: If you’re painting the room yourself, these tools will help tremendously. And this post will give you my best tips for painting a room in 5 easy steps.
Sherwin Williams Sea Salt Undertones
First, a word to the wise. Do not get the Sherwin Williams Sea Salt paint color mixed up with the Benjamin Moore Sea Salt color. They are very different and you’ll be disappointed if you have your heart set on one and end up with a few buckets of the other.
Sherwin Williams Sea Salt has slightly cool, almost warm undertones that make the blue-gray hue quite livable. Like many other colors, Sea Salt is a chameleon color, which means it will look different in each room and lighting setting as different undertones are shown.
For example, the green hue is highlighted when Sea Salt is in a room with warm bulbs. However, in a room with diffused, filtered light, the color can appear more green/blue or even blue-ish.
When Sea Salt is in a brightly lit room, the color becomes washed out. This isn’t necessarily bad, but it means the color becomes very light and subtle, which is important to know if you are shooting for a bold, moody hue. Of course, once the lights are switched off or the sun sets, the color changes. Isn’t paint fun? Yes!!
For this reason, I always recommend trying a sample in your home before painting the whole room! I like to paint a poster board or two with the sample color, then hang it on different walls through the room at different times of the day to see how the light plays with the color.
What Colors Coordinate with Sherwin Williams Sea Salt?
If you are looking for a complementary color to go with this shade, you have several popular options from Sherwin Williams, including
- Spare White
- Fleur de Sel
- Summit Gray
- Accessible Beige
- Kilim Beige
- Malabar
- Stardew
Sherwin Williams Sea Salt in Different Rooms
Ready to see some examples of Sea Salt? I have them broken down by different rooms throughout the home, so you can see how the hue looks in different spaces and lighting.
Sherwin Williams Sea Salt in Kitchens
The kitchen is always my favorite spot to start. I LOVE Sea Salt in a kitchen—so much so that it’s the shade I chose for my own kitchen after a long debate of which color to choose.
Plus, this is a great example of the different shades Sea Salt can give off in different lighting. In my kitchen, the color looks blue-gray as you can see below.
However, in my eat-in kitchen, the Sea Salt looks decidedly more green on the wall on the right and a light gray color on the left. Fascinating stuff, right?
I love how Sea Salt turned out in the kitchen M Is For Mama put together. It adds the perfect shade of neutral blue-green to her space. The cabinets, by the way, are Sherwin Williams Dover Gray – they look fantastic together!
If you are a bit hesitant about painting your entire kitchen this shade, take a page out of How to Nest For Less’ book and use a gallon to cover a kitchen accent wall instead.
Sherwin Williams Sea Salt in Bathrooms
Sea Salt was practically made to be shown off in the bathroom. It adds a clean, water-y vibe to the space, which is perfect for an area right around the tub, like this gorgeous bathroom from Studio McGee.
If you love a costal vibe, you definitely need to give Sea Salt a try. Check out this soothing bathroom from Artsy Chics Rule—she definitely nails the costal cottage look.
Sea Salt in Living Rooms
If you’re looking for a livable green color in the living room, this could be the one! After seeing this gorgeous living room from Sand and Sisal, I have this color on my short list if I ever repaint our living room.
Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams for Front Doors
Lastly, if you are unsure of where to add this fun color, try giving your home some major curb appeal by using it on your front door. You can paint the exterior only, or do both sides like this pretty home from Bria Hammel Interiors did.
As you can see, Sherwin Williams Sea Salt looks awesome wherever it ends up. Have I convinced you to give this fun color a try?
More of the Best Home Decor Paint Colors:
Tips for Painting a Room Yourself
I’ve gathered some of the best tools for painting a room yourself. First of all, you’ll want to check out this post I wrote: Painting a Room in 5 Easy Steps. These tools are the top tools I use when painting my own rooms, which is how they get painted 95% of the time!
- Paint Brush – These paint brushes are a little more expensive than your basic brush, but they’re worth it! I’ve used these brushes for more than a decade and if you wash them out well after each use, they will last for years.
- Painter’s Tape – a MUST have for taping off edges. You’ll need to tape off all edges if you don’t have a steady hand.
- Drop Cloths – a must have if you don’t have any laying around the house already.
- Paint cup – Sure you could use any old cup, but I’ve come to swear by this one. The magnetic piece holds your brush cleanly in place when you need to take a break. And it fits my hand perfectly, keeping it from cramping.
- Roller Tray – I’ve found the only paint tray I’ll ever use again. The magnetic piece is great for holding the roller in place. And the liners are a luxury, but I won’t paint without them because it makes clean up a breeze!
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Carl Newton says
I have a PPG colonial aqua island in my kitchen (white cabinets) and looking at painting my walls with the Sherwin Williams Sea Salt but not sure how it will look in the rest of the great room area.
White trim and beige/gray wood floors throughout.
Any thoughts or opinions?
Kim Goodman says
I have Sea Salt in my kitchen/eating area, my pantry and master bath. It shows up differently in each area and we love it! Now, my college age girls want it in their bedrooms. One faces south and one west. They both want yellow on the accent wall. My question is what shade of yellow goes well with Sea Salt? There is a small dresser pictured above with one drawer painted yellow. I think it looks good but no mention of color name. Any suggestions before I head to store this weekend?
Laura says
I’m sorry that I don’t have much info on yellow paint colors. The last time I used yellow was in two houses ago and it was Butter Cream from Restoration Hardware. But I did a quick search and found that Sand and Sisal put Sea Salt and Blonde (Sherwin Williams) together in her foyer and music room. Check it out here: https://www.sandandsisal.com/2015/02/coastal-colors.html
Luanne says
Would anyone have a color choice to go with fruitwood stained trim? I’ve always stayed with beiges but would love to change it up.
Valerie says
Love the Sea Salt color! Just painted my bathroom this color.. where are the curtains in the dining room picture from?
Thank you,
Valerie
June Fisher says
I just finished painting the master suite in our home with Sea Salt trimmed with Chantilly White. The suite has a sitting room, open to the bedroom and then on to the master bath. I love looking through and seeing the variations according to how the light affects each area.
I’m tempted to think about it for the outside of the house, I like it so much.
I’m also intrigued by Hale Navy. Our neighborhood leans toward beige, brown and gray. I’d like something different. Your thoughts?
Laura says
I bet it is gorgeous!! Sea Salt is definitely in the running for my master bedroom and bath. My good friend just did it in hers and it’s gorgeous!! I think Hale Navy would be gorgeous outside! And maybe Sea Salt on the front door??
Carolin Hazel says
Like I see author has floor knowledge it the subject as well as some practical
expertise. This kind of info is more precious
than copypasted blog articles ideas.
Sue says
I used sea salt in kitchen, living and dining room and 2 hallways. Each room has different light but they all came out Robin egg blue! Not the color I was going for. It looks like something you would see in a baby’s nursery!
Laura says
Oh no! I’m sorry they don’t look right in your rooms. My sister-in-law has used it in her home and I have in mine, and neither one looks like a nursery color to us. BUT I always recommend to test colors in your own home if you want to see how they look in your rooms, in your lighting. (Because a south facing room and a west facing room, etc. will have different lighting as well as number of windows, etc.) Sorry it wasn’t the right color for your home!
Mas ain says
Hi, i need to buy Sea Salt paint by Sherwin-williams but I’m from Malaysia. Do you have any idea or vendors that ship this paint to Malaysia.
Jenny says
Thank you for this post! I am gearing up to paint my living room Sea Salt in another week or two. I was worried because some of my furniture is dark, but I think it will look great anyway! It is such a soothing, calming color.
Carol says
I like sea salt in a bathroom, but not in other rooms.
Heather says
Your kitchen looks great with Sea Salt! I painted our guest bedroom/office in this color. I LOVE it. The room has a lot of natural light and it appears to change colors at different times of day, I would say it looks more Robin’s Egg blue on my walls. I like the fun new spotlight on color you did. Can’t wait for the next one!
Laura says
Yay! So glad you loved this color, too! Funny story: my best friend in high school and I tested multiple paint colors looking for the perfect Robin’s Egg Blue to paint our rooms. We were just obsessed with the color. We never found quite what we were looking for, but you’re right! This is very much the color we were looking for back then. Proof that it’s had a special place in my heart for decades. 😉
cathy says
Does Sea Salt go with Navy”?
Heather says
I would say it definitely would in my room that I’ve painted this color.
Laura says
Yes, yes, yes – for sure!!! I have lots of navy in my home either in pops of color and painted on the insides of my exterior doors. I LOVE Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore. They look so good together!!
Doreen says
Thank you for this info. We are wanting to paint our bathroom a light sea blue to go with our beach decor. A while back you posted a beautiful beach picture. I would love to make a print of it for our living room. It’s from this post: https://theturquoisehome.com/relaxing-beach-summer-mantel-2016/ It’s the one without anyone in the picture. only beach and ocean. what would be the best way to get this from you so I could print it out? Thank you so much.
Bren Gamble says
We used Sea Salt in our guess bedroom. Love it! It makes me feel happy and it makes the space feel calm and relaxing.
Betty White says
I love this color. I painted our living room last year with it. You are right, depending on the light it will look green and another light will make it look more blue.
Brenda Griess says
I love Sea Salt! Also Love Comfort Grey which is on the same Paint strip as Sea Salt. Just a bit darker but has same characteristics!! Have it in my kitchen/dining room, half bath and will prob be putting it on my master bath as well(master bedroom is accessible beige so hey should go well together!!
Shelby S Baltzley says
Sea salt is the best color ever! I used it on shiplap in my laundry room with black & white accents and it’s the bomb! I just painted a guest room that color and it’s perfect! And I’m thinking why not for the master bedroom because it is just that awesome! Loved this post!