Daydream
Daydream is a versatile and reflective Purple from Sherwin-Williams. Our real-world data shows it is a primary choice when homeowners need to provide a clean, timeless feel that works across various lighting conditions. Below, you'll find 10 examples of this shade in actual homes along with suggested color relationships.
Hex
#BDC3CD
LRV
54.17
Daydream's Color Strip
Daydream is the second shade on this 7-color strip, sitting between Starry Night and Vesper Violet. The strip spans from Starry Night at the lightest end to Majestic Purple at the deepest. As part of strip 187, these colors are curated to work together — helpful when you're deciding how light or deep to go.
Daydream in Real Rooms
Daydream has a medium-high LRV of 54.17 — 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 Purple family, the photos below show it applied in a bedroom, bathroom, front door, home office, dining room, patio, house, kitchen, living room and mudroom.
1 Bedroom Photo
For guest bedrooms, Daydream is a welcoming embrace. It's a universally appealing tone that feels clean and fresh for new arrivals, yet has enough "personality" to make their stay feel special and considered. It works across all seasons, feeling cool in summer and cozy in winter.
A cozy bedroom painted in Daydream
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Bathroom Photo
The psychology of Daydream in a bathroom is all about the "slow down." It's a visual cue to breathe, relax, and take your time, turning a utilitarian room into a true retreat from the frantic pace of the rest of the world.
Daydream — japandi bathroom
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Front Door Photo
A front door painted Daydream makes a confident first impression without shouting. The color's depth draws the eye and signals personality before guests even step inside. Pair with crisp white trim and warm brass hardware to complete the look.
traditional front door featuring Daydream by Sherwin-Williams
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Home Office Photo
The psychology of home office color matters more than most people acknowledge. Daydream 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 Daydream in a scandinavian home office
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Dining Room Photo
The best dining room colors look different lit by daylight versus candlelight, and Daydream is one of them. It holds the room's warmth in the evening in a way that makes dinner feel like an occasion even when it's just a casual weeknight.
Daydream paint in a elegant dining room
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Patio Photo
Using Daydream on outdoor furniture or structures helps them "recede" into the shadows of the garden, creating a more seamless and naturalistic look. It avoids the harsh, synthetic feel that many outdoor-specific colors can have.
Sherwin-Williams Daydream in a contemporary patio
@mybudgetrecipes
1 House Photo
In suburban environments, Daydream 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.
Daydream — scandinavian house
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Kitchen Photo
Daydream is particularly effective in kitchens with a lot of natural light. It tempers the glare from sun hitting polished surfaces, providing a matte-like visual anchor that keeps the room feeling grounded even during the brightest parts of the day.
A scandinavian kitchen painted in Daydream
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Living Room Photo
Daydream 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.
Daydream paint in a contemporary living room
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Mudroom Photo
For smaller entries, Daydream provides a "box" of color that defines the space. It tells you exactly where the "messy" zone ends and the "clean" house begins, using color psychology to manage the flow of the household.
Daydream — small mudroom
@mybudgetrecipes
Coordinating Colors
At LRV 72 vs 54, Spatial White is decisively the brighter choice.
Original White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 54), opening up a space where Daydream encloses it.
At LRV 54 vs 23, Daydream is decisively the brighter choice.
Trim Color
At LRV 72 vs 54, Spatial White is decisively the brighter choice.
Similar Colors
A 9-point LRV gap (63 vs 54) makes Breathtaking the marginally brighter of the two.
A 5-point LRV gap (60 vs 54) makes Hyacinth Tint the marginally brighter of the two.
A 6-point LRV gap (54 vs 48) makes Daydream the marginally brighter of the two.
Evening Shadow reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 54), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 8-point LRV gap (62 vs 54) makes North Star the marginally brighter of the two.
Complementary Colors
At LRV 54 vs 35, Daydream is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 81 vs 54, Heavenly White is decisively the brighter choice.
Original White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 54), opening up a space where Daydream encloses it.
Daydream reflects far more light (LRV 54 vs 20), opening up a space where Warm Stone encloses it.
Lighter Colors
At LRV 69 vs 54, Starry Night is decisively the brighter choice.
Lavender Wisp reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 54), opening up a space where Daydream encloses it.
White Iris reflects far more light (LRV 76 vs 54), opening up a space where Daydream encloses it.
Darker Colors
Daydream reflects far more light (LRV 54 vs 35), opening up a space where Vesper Violet encloses it.
At LRV 54 vs 29, Daydream is decisively the brighter choice.
Daydream reflects far more light (LRV 54 vs 28), opening up a space where Dusty Heather encloses it.
