Amber Wave
Amber Wave is a versatile Orange from Sherwin-Williams. Our real-world data shows it is a primary choice when homeowners need to add character and warmth to any space. Below, you'll find 10 examples of this shade in actual homes along with suggested color relationships.
Hex
#D28240
LRV
29.94
Amber Wave's Color Strip
Amber Wave is the sixth shade on this 7-color strip, sitting between Serape and Earthen Jug. The strip spans from Flan at the lightest end to Earthen Jug at the deepest. Strip 122 makes it easy to compare shades side by side and find the right depth for your space.
Amber Wave in Real Rooms
Amber Wave has a medium LRV of 29.94 — it adds real depth and will read noticeably darker as natural light fades. It's neutral in temperature and , making it adaptable across different lighting conditions and room orientations. Grouped in the Orange family, the photos below show it applied in a front door, dining room, bedroom, home office, bathroom, house, patio, mudroom, living room and kitchen.
1 Front Door Photo
A front door in Amber Wave is a timeless choice that won't feel dated as trends shift. It's a versatile hue that can adapt to different porch decor—from modern planters to traditional rockers—with effortless ease.
stylish front door featuring Amber Wave by Sherwin-Williams
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1 Dining Room Photo
Dining rooms are often the best place to take a "color risk." By choosing Amber Wave, you're opting for a shade that is saturated and confident, yet still refined enough to act as a neutral backdrop for colorful table linens and floral arrangements.
Amber Wave paint in a contemporary dining room
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1 Bedroom Photo
The bedroom is where Amber Wave really earns its place as a sanctuary. Away from direct sunlight, the color settles into a rich, cocooning tone that actively promotes rest and psychological slowing. Pair it with crisp white bedding and warm-toned wood nightstands to keep the overall palette from feeling too heavy or closed-in.
A traditional bedroom painted in Amber Wave
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1 Home Office Photo
The psychology of home office color matters more than most people acknowledge. Amber Wave is calm without being inert — it creates the kind of visual quiet that supports sustained focus. Lean into darker wood tones; avoid white furniture, which will compete for attention.
Sherwin-Williams Amber Wave in a art deco home office
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1 Bathroom Photo
Small bathrooms amplify whatever color is on the wall, which makes the choice more consequential than it first appears. Amber Wave has enough depth to register without closing the room in, and it plays well with white subway tile or warm wood accents.
Amber Wave — minimalist bathroom
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1 House Photo
When choosing Amber Wave for an exterior, you are opting for a color that respects the landscape. It feels like it grew out of the earth rather than being dropped onto it, creating a harmonious relationship between the architecture and the garden.
Amber Wave color — rustic modern house inspiration
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1 Patio Photo
On a deck or patio floor, Amber Wave provides a cool, sophisticated surface that feels modern and clean. It's a great way to update an old wooden deck, giving it a high-end "architectural" feel with just a simple change of tone.
wabi-sabi patio featuring Amber Wave by Sherwin-Williams
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1 Mudroom Photo
Amber Wave is the perfect partner for durable flooring like slate, brick, or terracotta. It picks up the earthy tones in these materials, creating a mudroom that feels cohesive, rugged, and ready for whatever the weather brings in.
Amber Wave paint in a traditional mudroom
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1 Living Room Photo
Amber Wave provides a subtle architectural "lift" to a living room, especially those with high ceilings or intricate crown molding. The way shadows settle into the corners with this particular shade adds a layer of history and gravity to the space, making even a new build feel like it has stories to tell.
A industrial living room painted in Amber Wave
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1 Kitchen Photo
The sophisticated undertones of Amber Wave make it an excellent partner for mixed metal finishes. Whether you have a brass faucet and matte black cabinet pulls, or traditional chrome fixtures, this color acts as a neutral mediator that makes the mix look intentional.
Amber Wave — modern luxury kitchen
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Expert Perspectives
In-depth articles and real-home features from across our network of home and design sites.
Coordinating Colors
At LRV 78 vs 30, Champagne is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 51 vs 30, Tumblin' Tumbleweed is decisively the brighter choice.
A 12-point LRV gap (30 vs 18) makes Amber Wave the marginally brighter of the two.
Trim Color
At LRV 78 vs 30, Champagne is decisively the brighter choice.
Similar Colors
With LRVs of 30 and 30, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 4-point LRV gap (34 vs 30) makes Serape the marginally brighter of the two.
Tango reads slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 30), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
With LRVs of 30 and 27, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 3-point LRV gap (30 vs 27) makes Amber Wave the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 30 vs 30), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 33 and 30, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 30 vs 29), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 30 and 29, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 5-point LRV gap (35 vs 30) makes Navel the marginally brighter of the two.
Complementary Colors
At LRV 55 vs 30, Billowy Breeze is decisively the brighter choice.
Aquitaine reads slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 30), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
French Moire reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 30), opening up a space where Amber Wave encloses it.
A 5-point LRV gap (30 vs 25) makes Amber Wave the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 30 vs 8, Amber Wave is decisively the brighter choice.
Amber Wave reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 13), opening up a space where Luxe Blue encloses it.
A 6-point LRV gap (30 vs 24) makes Amber Wave the marginally brighter of the two.
Lighter Colors
At LRV 43 vs 30, Windswept Canyon is decisively the brighter choice.
Soft Apricot reflects far more light (LRV 50 vs 30), opening up a space where Amber Wave encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (34 vs 30) makes Golden Rule the marginally brighter of the two.
A 10-point LRV gap (40 vs 30) makes Fame Orange the marginally brighter of the two.
Folksy Gold reads slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 30), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Darker Colors
With LRVs of 30 and 27, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 30 and 30, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 3-point LRV gap (30 vs 27) makes Amber Wave the marginally brighter of the two.