Caramelized
Caramelized is a versatile Yellow 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
#C29871
LRV
35.35
Caramelized's Color Strip
Caramelized is the fourth shade on this 7-color strip, sitting between Totally Tan and Tatami Tan. The strip spans from Interactive Cream at the lightest end to Leather Bound at the deepest. Browsing strip 291 alongside this color helps you gauge whether to go lighter, darker, or stay right here.
Caramelized in Real Rooms
Caramelized has a medium LRV of 35.35 — 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 Yellow family, the photos below show it applied in a home office, dining room, bedroom, front door, bathroom, house, patio, mudroom, kitchen and living room.
1 Home Office Photo
Caramelized in a home office signals that the space was thought about. The color holds up under the scrutiny of video calls without feeling staged, and it stays comfortable across the full working day in a way that brighter colors often don't.
Sherwin-Williams Caramelized in a scandinavian home office
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Dining Room Photo
In a formal dining room, Caramelized provides a sophisticated backdrop for artwork and large-scale mirrors. The color's depth helps to "absorb" the room's edges, making the flickering light of candles and the sparkle of glassware the stars of the show.
Caramelized paint in a minimalist dining room
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1 Bedroom Photo
To use Caramelized in a bedroom is to lean into the concept of "soft minimalism." It provides enough visual interest that you don't need a lot of wall decor; the color itself becomes the art. This allows for a clutter-free environment that is essential for mental clarity at the end of the day.
A traditional bedroom painted in Caramelized
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Front Door Photo
Caramelized on a front door looks particularly stunning when framed by greenery or seasonal wreaths. The color provides a deep, matte background that makes the organic textures of a boxwood wreath or autumn garland really pop.
bold front door featuring Caramelized by Sherwin-Williams
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Bathroom Photo
Pairing Caramelized with natural stone like travertine or slate creates an earthy, elemental bathroom that feels connected to nature. It moves the design away from plastic-heavy modernism toward something much more timeless and tactile.
Caramelized — coastal bathroom
@mybudgetrecipes
1 House Photo
The way Caramelized interacts with exterior lighting—like sconces or path lights—is dramatic. At night, the house takes on a protective, fortress-like quality that feels incredibly secure and welcoming to those returning home.
Caramelized color — modern luxury house inspiration
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Patio Photo
In sun-drenched climates, Caramelized is a practical choice that helps reduce the glare from the patio floor. It absorbs the harsh light, making the outdoor space more comfortable for the eyes during the peak hours of the day.
warm patio featuring Caramelized by Sherwin-Williams
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Mudroom Photo
In a laundry/mudroom combo, Caramelized adds a touch of luxury to a space that is usually purely functional. It makes the chores feel a little less like work by surrounding you with a color that is sophisticated and calming.
Caramelized paint in a earthy mudroom
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Kitchen Photo
On kitchen walls, Caramelized adds a considered, intentional feel without demanding too much attention in a busy space. It holds its own against both warm wood countertops and cool quartz or marble, making it an incredibly flexible choice for the hardest-working and most high-traffic room in the house.
Caramelized — organic modern kitchen
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Living Room Photo
Caramelized works harder than it looks in a living room environment. Whether the space gets direct southern sun or stays north-facing and dim, the color finds its specific register — neither receding into the background nor demanding the spotlight. It acts as a sophisticated backdrop that makes every piece of furniture or art placed in front of it look immediately more considered and curated.
A organic modern living room painted in Caramelized
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Expert Perspectives
In-depth articles and real-home features from across our network of home and design sites.
Coordinating Colors
Biscuit reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 35), opening up a space where Caramelized encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 35, Dover White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 54 vs 35, Blonde is decisively the brighter choice.
Trim Color
Biscuit reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 35), opening up a space where Caramelized encloses it.
Similar Colors
With LRVs of 35 and 35, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 36 vs 35), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 35 and 34, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 37 vs 35), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Caramelized reads slightly lighter (LRV 35 vs 32), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 5-point LRV gap (35 vs 30) makes Caramelized the marginally brighter of the two.
With LRVs of 35 and 34, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 35 vs 34), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 35 and 33, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 5-point LRV gap (35 vs 31) makes Caramelized the marginally brighter of the two.
Complementary Colors
At LRV 35 vs 6, Caramelized is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 35 vs 34), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 35 vs 7, Caramelized is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 35 vs 11, Caramelized is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 35 vs 7, Caramelized is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 69 vs 35, Starry Night is decisively the brighter choice.
Caramelized reflects far more light (LRV 35 vs 20), opening up a space where Soulful Blue encloses it.
Lighter Colors
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 37 vs 35), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Kilim Beige reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 35), opening up a space where Caramelized encloses it.
Classic Sand reflects far more light (LRV 53 vs 35), opening up a space where Caramelized encloses it.
Fresco Cream reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 35), opening up a space where Caramelized encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 36 vs 35), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Darker Colors
At LRV 35 vs 15, Caramelized is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (35 vs 30) makes Caramelized the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 35 vs 17, Caramelized is decisively the brighter choice.
Caramelized reads slightly lighter (LRV 35 vs 32), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV NaN vs NaN, Carmel is decisively the brighter choice.