Cool Beige
Often used for its versatile qualities, Cool Beige remains a staple for Sherwin-Williams designers. It is widely considered one of the best colors in its class to add character and warmth to any space. We've gathered 1 real-home scenarios to help you visualize this color alongside our expert data.
Hex
#C6B5A7
LRV
48.07
Cool Beige's Color Strip
Cool Beige is the second shade on this 7-color strip, sitting between Touch of Sand and Smoky Beige. The strip spans from Touch of Sand at the lightest end to Half-Caff at the deepest. Color strip 199 groups these shades together so you can see how each reads next to its neighbors.
Cool Beige in Real Rooms
Cool Beige has a medium-high LRV of 48.07 — present enough to register on the wall without making a room feel heavy. 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 living room.
1 Living Room Photo
Cool Beige 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.
Living room walls in neutral Cool Beige brighten the entire space.
@fivestarpaintingslc
Coordinating Colors
Modest White reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 48), opening up a space where Cool Beige encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 48, Greek Villa is decisively the brighter choice.
Cool Beige reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 11), opening up a space where Manor House encloses it.
Trim Color
Modest White reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 48), opening up a space where Cool Beige encloses it.
Similar Colors
With LRVs of 50 and 48, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 48 vs 47), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 48 vs 46), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 48 vs 46), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 48 vs 46), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 50 and 48, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 48 and 45, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 48 vs 47), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Cool Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 48 vs 43), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Complementary Colors
At LRV 77 vs 48, Glass Bead is decisively the brighter choice.
Cool Beige reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 29), opening up a space where Morning at Sea encloses it.
Cool Beige reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 6), opening up a space where Mount Etna encloses it.
Cool Beige reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 34), opening up a space where Debonair encloses it.
Cool Beige reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 7), opening up a space where Tarragon encloses it.
Cool Beige reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 11), opening up a space where Rain Cloud encloses it.
Cool Beige reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 7), opening up a space where Sea Mariner encloses it.
Lighter Colors
Twilight Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 53 vs 48), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Pediment reflects far more light (LRV 61 vs 48), opening up a space where Cool Beige encloses it.
Angora reads slightly lighter (LRV 57 vs 48), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 61 vs 48, Popular Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Darker Colors
Cool Beige reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 23), opening up a space where Rookwood Clay encloses it.
Cool Beige reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 25), opening up a space where Iced Mocha encloses it.
Cool Beige reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 29), opening up a space where Nearly Brown encloses it.
Cool Beige reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 33), opening up a space where Mexican Sand encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (48 vs 37) makes Cool Beige the marginally brighter of the two.