Clary Sage SW 6178 by Sherwin Williams

Imagine stepping into a room that instantly envelops you in calmness and serenity. The walls, painted in a soft, muted green, create a soothing backdrop that feels like a gentle embrace. You might think of a tranquil garden, the kind where you can sit back, breathe deeply, and simply unwind. This is the essence of Clary Sage, a paint color by Sherwin Williams that has a remarkable ability to transform spaces into peaceful retreats.

Clary Sage (SW 6178) is a delightful shade of muted green, featuring subtle gray undertones that give it depth and character. It’s like nature brought indoors, offering both freshness and sophistication. This medium-toned green has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 24%, meaning it absorbs more light than it reflects, creating an inviting and cozy atmosphere in your home. This quality is particularly appealing in spaces where you want to foster relaxation, such as bedrooms and living rooms.

One of the standout features of Clary Sage is its versatility. This color works beautifully across various decor styles, whether you’re leaning toward a modern farmhouse look, Scandinavian simplicity, or even a bohemian vibe. Picture it harmonizing with natural wood tones and soft textiles, or contrasting strikingly against metallic accents. The color pairs perfectly with a range of complementary shades, including soft whites like White Dove, muted blues, and warm neutrals. This adaptability makes it a favorite among designers and homeowners alike.

When considering Clary Sage, think about the mood you want to create in your space. The calming nature of this color can help ground a room and make it feel more connected to the outside world. Whether you’re looking to create a serene bedroom haven, a cozy living room, or a refreshing kitchen, Clary Sage has you covered. It’s especially effective in bathrooms and home offices, where a peaceful environment can enhance focus and relaxation.

Applying Clary Sage is a breeze, even for those who may be new to DIY projects. This paint is beginner-friendly and can be applied smoothly with both rollers and brushes. You’ll find that it dries evenly, allowing you to achieve a professional-looking finish without a lot of hassle. Plus, it’s touch-up friendly, which means you can easily fix any small imperfections without a complete repaint.

In terms of finishes, Clary Sage shines in both matte and eggshell options. A matte finish highlights its soft, muted quality, while an eggshell finish adds a touch of sheen that can brighten up your space. Depending on your personal style and the atmosphere you’re aiming for, you can choose the finish that best suits your needs.

However, like any color, Clary Sage does come with a few considerations. In low light, the color can appear darker, which might not be ideal for smaller spaces. To maximize its potential, ensure that your rooms have adequate lighting to keep the atmosphere bright and airy. When testing Clary Sage in your home, it’s wise to observe how it interacts with various light sources throughout the day. You may find that it shifts between gray and green, creating a dynamic look that can keep your space feeling fresh.

The undertone of Clary Sage is particularly interesting—it leans towards yellow, giving the color warmth and a touch of earthiness. This characteristic is what sets it apart from other greens and adds complexity to its appearance. It’s essential to test this paint alongside your existing decor, flooring, and furniture to see how these undertones reveal themselves in your specific lighting conditions. If you’re pairing it with other colors, lighter shades like SW 6177 can offer a delicate contrast, while darker shades like SW 9128 or SW 9648 can create a more dramatic effect.

If you’re concerned about the eco-friendliness of your paint choices, Clary Sage has a low VOC level, which means it emits fewer harmful chemicals into the air. This makes it a more responsible choice for your home, especially in spaces where you spend a lot of time.

As you think about where to use Clary Sage, consider its best applications. It works wonderfully as an interior wall color, but it can also shine as an accent wall or even on cabinetry for a unique touch. Its calming tone can pull together a room, helping to create a cohesive look that feels both intentional and inviting.

For those of you living in smaller spaces, don’t shy away from Clary Sage. Its muted tone can create an illusion of depth, making your area feel more expansive. Just remember to manage your lighting to avoid a dark, heavy feeling.

If you’re feeling inspired to incorporate Clary Sage into your home, here are a few practical tips to get started. First, grab some swatches and hold them up against your walls and existing furnishings. Pay close attention to how the color changes throughout the day with different lighting.

Next, consider the overall atmosphere you want to cultivate. If you’re aiming for a peaceful retreat, combine Clary Sage with soft whites, warm woods, and natural textures. For a more eclectic look, pair it with vibrant accents or mixed patterns that can add a dash of creativity to the space.

Lastly, don’t forget about trim! Clary Sage pairs beautifully with white trim, which can enhance its serene vibe and create a crisp, clean look. If you’re feeling adventurous, try incorporating brass fixtures, which can add a touch of warmth and elegance, balancing the coolness of the green.

In conclusion, Clary Sage is more than just a paint color; it’s a pathway to creating a tranquil sanctuary in your home. Its soothing hue, versatility, and ease of application make it an excellent choice for any room. Whether you’re painting a single accent wall or refreshing an entire space, Clary Sage invites nature indoors and uplifts your everyday living experience. So, are you ready to embrace this calming shade and transform your space into a serene oasis? It’s time to pick up that paintbrush!

Real Room Photo of Clary Sage SW 6178

Undertones of  Clary Sage ?

The undertones of Clary Sage are a key aspect of its character, leaning towards Yellow. These subtle underlying hues are what give the color its depth and complexity. For example, a gray with a blue undertone will feel cooler and more modern, while one with a brown undertone will feel warmer and more traditional. It’s essential to test this paint in your home and observe it next to your existing furniture, flooring, and decor to see how these undertones interact and reveal themselves throughout the day.

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HEX value: #ACAD97

RGB code: 172, 173, 151

Is  Clary Sage Cool or Warm?

This color leans more towards the cool spectrum due to its gray undertones, making it a refreshing choice that can help balance warmer hues in a room. If you’re looking to create a serene environment, Clary Sage is the way to go.

Understanding Color Properties and Interior Design Tips

Hue refers to a specific position on the color wheel, measured in degrees from 0 to 360. Each degree represents a different pure color:

• 0° represents red
• 120° represents green
• 240° represents blue

Saturation describes the intensity or purity of a color and is expressed as a percentage:

• At 0%, the color appears completely desaturated—essentially a shade of gray
• At 100%, the color is at its most vivid and vibrant

Lightness indicates how light or dark a color is, also expressed as a percentage:

• 0% lightness results in black
• 100% lightness results in white

Using Warm Colors in Interior Design

Warm hues—such as reds, oranges, yellows, warm beiges, and greiges—are excellent choices for creating inviting and energetic spaces. These colors are particularly well-suited for:

• Kitchens, living rooms, and bathrooms, where warmth enhances comfort and sociability
• Large rooms, where warm tones can help reduce the sense of emptiness and make the space feel more intimate

For example:

• Warm beige shades provide a cozy, inviting atmosphere, ideal for living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways.
• Warm greige (a mix of beige and gray) offers the warmth of beige with the modern appeal of gray, making it a versatile backdrop for dining areas, bedrooms, and living spaces.

However, be mindful when using warm light tones in rooms with limited natural light. These shades may appear muted or even take on an unpleasant yellowish tint. To avoid a dull or flat appearance:

• Add depth by incorporating richer tones like deep greens, charcoal, or chocolate brown
• Use textured elements such as curtains, rugs, or cushions to bring dimension to the space

Pro Tip: Achieving Harmony with Warm and Cool Color Balance

To create a well-balanced and visually interesting interior, mix warm and cool tones strategically. This contrast adds depth and harmony to your design.

• If your walls feature warm hues, introduce cool-colored accents such as blue or green furniture, artwork, or accessories to create contrast.
• For a polished look, consider using a complementary color scheme, which pairs colors opposite each other on the color wheel (e.g., red with green, orange with blue).

This thoughtful mix not only enhances visual appeal but also creates a space that feels both dynamic and cohesive.

Light Temperature Affects on Clary Sage

Natural Light

Natural daylight changes in color temperature as the sun moves across the sky. At sunrise and sunset, the light tends to have a warm, golden tone with a color temperature around 2000 Kelvin (K). As the day progresses and the sun rises higher, the light becomes cooler and more neutral. Around midday, especially when the sky is clear, natural light typically reaches its peak brightness and shifts to a cooler tone, ranging from 5500 to 6500 Kelvin. This midday light is close to what we perceive as pure white or daylight-balanced light.

These shifts in natural light can significantly influence how colors appear in a space, which is why designers often consider both the time of day and the orientation of windows when planning interior color schemes.

Artificial Light

When choosing artificial lighting, pay close attention to the color temperature, measured in Kelvin (K). This determines how warm or cool the light will appear. Lower temperatures, around 2700K, give off a warm, yellow glow often used in living rooms or bedrooms. Higher temperatures, above 5000K, create a cool, bluish light similar to daylight, commonly used in kitchens, offices, or task areas.

Use the slider to see how lighting temperature can affect the appearance of a surface or color throughout a space.

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LRV of Clary Sage

The Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of Clary Sage is 24%, which places it in the Medium Dark category. This means it reflects very little light. Understanding a paint’s LRV is crucial for predicting how it will look in your space. A higher LRV indicates a lighter color that reflects more light, making rooms feel larger and brighter. A lower LRV signifies a darker color that absorbs more light, creating a cozier, more intimate atmosphere. Always consider the natural and artificial lighting in your room when selecting a paint color based on its LRV.

Detailed Review of  Clary Sage

Clary Sage is a delightful choice for anyone looking to introduce a calming green to their space. Its muted tone offers a sophisticated balance, making it versatile enough to work in both contemporary and traditional settings. When applying, you’ll find that it goes on smoothly and dries evenly, which is a huge plus for DIY enthusiasts. Depending on your lighting, Clary Sage can appear more gray or green, allowing for a dynamic look throughout the day. This paint not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of your rooms but also contributes to a peaceful atmosphere, perfect for relaxing or unwinding after a long day. Whether used in a living room, bedroom, or kitchen, Clary Sage is sure to impress.

Pros & Cons of  SW 6178 Clary Sage

Colors that go with Sherwin Williams Clary Sage

FAQ on SW 6178 Clary Sage

Can Clary Sage be used in small spaces?

Absolutely! Clary Sage works wonderfully in small spaces. Its muted tone can help to create an illusion of depth without overwhelming the area. Just ensure you have adequate lighting to prevent it from feeling too dark.

What finishes are best for Clary Sage?

Clary Sage looks stunning in both matte and eggshell finishes. A matte finish can enhance its soft, muted quality, while eggshell adds a touch of sheen that can brighten up the space. It really depends on the look you’re going for!

Comparisons Clary Sage with other colors

Official Page of Sherwin Williams Clary Sage SW 6178