Cardboard
We've categorized Cardboard as a versatile Yellow because of its unique LRV profile. We have documented it across our network because it can add character and warmth to any space so effectively. Explore our collection of 10 room photos to see how it looks alongside coordinating accent choices.
Hex
#9C7A56
LRV
21.66
Cardboard's Color Strip
Cardboard is the sixth shade on this 7-color strip, sitting between Baguette and Craft Paper. The strip spans from Believable Buff at the lightest end to Craft Paper at the deepest. Strip 141 puts these related shades in sequence, making it simple to find the tone that suits your room.
Cardboard in Real Rooms
Cardboard has a medium LRV of 21.66 — 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 dining room, bedroom, front door, home office, bathroom, house, mudroom, kitchen, patio and living room.
1 Dining Room Photo
Dining rooms are often the best place to take a "color risk." By choosing Cardboard, 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.
Cardboard paint in a contemporary dining room
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Bedroom Photo
The bedroom is where Cardboard 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 modern luxury bedroom painted in Cardboard
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Front Door Photo
A front door in Cardboard changes the entire read of a facade without requiring a renovation. The color is strong enough to register from the street but refined enough not to feel like a statement for its own sake. It's the "handshake" of the home.
classy front door featuring Cardboard by Sherwin-Williams
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Home Office Photo
Cardboard 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 Cardboard in a contemporary home office
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Bathroom Photo
Cardboard is the perfect "clean" color for a bathroom that still wants to feel cozy. It lacks the clinical coldness of a pure white but retains a sense of hygiene and order that is essential for a space dedicated to self-care and grooming.
Cardboard — industrial bathroom
@mybudgetrecipes
1 House Photo
In suburban environments, Cardboard provides a sophisticated point of difference. It stands out from the sea of beige and grey without being "that house" that's too loud. It's the subtle, high-end choice that improves the curb appeal of the entire block.
Cardboard color — mediterranean house inspiration
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Mudroom Photo
Cardboard 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.
Cardboard paint in a rustic modern mudroom
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Kitchen Photo
For smaller kitchens, Cardboard can be used to create a "jewel box" effect. By painting the walls and trim in this same shade, you eliminate visual breaks, making the room feel more expansive and sophisticated despite its modest footprint.
Cardboard — vintage kitchen
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Patio Photo
The way Cardboard interacts with fire—whether from a fire pit or outdoor torches—is magical. It catches the orange glow and creates a warm, flickering atmosphere that is perfect for late-night outdoor entertaining.
rustic modern patio featuring Cardboard by Sherwin-Williams
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Living Room Photo
There is a specific "glow" that Cardboard takes on during the golden hour in a living room. As the sun sets, the pigments react with the low-angled light to create a hazy, ethereal atmosphere that feels incredibly high-end. It's a color that rewards those who use the room during the transition of the day.
A scandinavian living room painted in Cardboard
@mybudgetrecipes
Coordinating Colors
At LRV 72 vs 22, Antique White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 48 vs 22, Whole Wheat is decisively the brighter choice.
Trim Color
At LRV 72 vs 22, Antique White is decisively the brighter choice.
Similar Colors
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 22 vs 19), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 22 vs 22), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 3-point LRV gap (25 vs 22) makes Rookwood Antique Gold the marginally brighter of the two.
With LRVs of 23 and 22, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 4-point LRV gap (25 vs 22) makes Almond Roca the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 22 vs 19), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 24 vs 22), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 22 and 21, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Complementary Colors
Cardboard reflects far more light (LRV 22 vs 6), opening up a space where Mount Etna encloses it.
Cardboard reads slightly lighter (LRV 22 vs 11), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Cardboard reflects far more light (LRV 22 vs 7), opening up a space where Sea Mariner encloses it.
Starry Night reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 22), opening up a space where Cardboard encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 22 vs 20), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Lighter Colors
Iced Mocha reads slightly lighter (LRV 25 vs 22), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 24 vs 22), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Dormer Brown reads slightly lighter (LRV 32 vs 22), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Double Latte reads slightly lighter (LRV 28 vs 22), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Darker Colors
At LRV 22 vs 9, Cardboard is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (22 vs 16) makes Cardboard the marginally brighter of the two.
A 11-point LRV gap (22 vs 11) makes Cardboard the marginally brighter of the two.
Cardboard reads slightly lighter (LRV 22 vs 16), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.