Sherwin Williams Color of the Year 2024 Upward Paint Color Review
Sherwin Williams announced their color of the year among great anticipation and they did not disappoint. Their color of the year for 2024 is a beautiful calming blue-gray shade called Upward SW 6239. Upward is a blue with gray undertones. It also has a slight violet undertone to it so depending on the other elements of your room, and your lighting, you may or may not find this a good fit for your space. You definitely want to test this one to see if you can live with the violet undertones or not.
Upward is a warm blue BUT it can look like a cool blue depending on the light or room direction that it faces like a north facing room. That’s why its always so important to test your colors before painting your walls!
According to Sue Wadden, Director of Color Marketing at Sherwin-Williams, “Upward SW 6239 represents the gentle forward momentum in all of our lives. It brings to life that carefree, sunny day energy that elicits a notion of contentment and peace. With this color, we invite our consumers to take a pause and infuse a new sense of ease and possibility into their spaces – one that doesn’t overwhelm, but rather establishes meditation and tranquility.”
Read: Best of Benjamin Moore & Sherwin Williams blue-gray Paint Colors
What’s Is Upward’s LRV?
Upward’s LRV (Light Reflective Value) is 57 which puts it in the medium-light color category but its not too light and not too dark. You could say its just right. lol
Read: What LRV means in paint colors and why it matters!
Where can I use Sherwin Williams Upward?
Upward typically leans into a coastal color category but that doesn’t mean that you can’t use it in an urban home. As you will see in the photos below, depending on the furniture & accessories that you pair with it, Upward can be appropriate with most Interior Design Style. Of course it would look fabulous in any room but using Upward as an Exterior paint color I would tend to save it for a costal home or an exterior that tends to be warmer, most of the year.
Read: What are interior design styles + how do I pick one for my home?
Sherwin Williams Upward in the Living Room
Photo: Decorcreek.com
Upward looks beautiful here in this coastal living room. You can see the gray undertones at the back wall in the dining room area. I love how the homeowner pulled the color Upward in the accessories like the couch, accent chair and cushions.
Photo: The Nordroom.com
In this living room above, Upward was used for the walls in this contemporary interior design style. By using sophisticated colors and accessories, this shows how you can use the same color in different design styles depending on the fixed elements, and furniture that is chosen.
Sherwin Williams Upward in the Dining Room
Photo: Sherwin Williams blog
Upward works well here in this dining room. This room uses two interior design styles successfully here, traditional and coastal.
Sherwin Williams Upward in the Bathroom
Photo: Sherwin Williams
Blue bathrooms are always serene and calming and its the look you want for your bathroom in my humble opinion. SW Upward would look great for any bathroom be it the family bathroom or a powder room. In our photo above, Upward was used for the bathroom cabinet and the inside of the bathroom door to create this stunning retreat!
Sherwin Williams Upward in the Bedroom
Photo: Greg Howell blog
Blue is always a relaxing and calm color for a bedroom and Upward is no exception to this bedroom above. I would absolutely use Upward in a heartbeat in a bedroom. This bedroom has more of a farmhouse or cottage feel, but as we have seen in other styles above, you can switch the style by the accessories and furniture pieces that you use.
Is Upward a good color for a Kitchen?
This kitchen above using Upward is super cute and I would love to have it in my beach house. In fact, I may paint my beach house kitchen this color lol. But, for me, an Upward kitchen shouts coastal and beach vibe. Would I use Upward in an urban kitchen? No, I wouldn’t recommend it. It would look out of place and not be great for resale value if you’re selling your home.
Is Upward a good color as an exterior paint color?
Typically Upward would not be a good exterior color unless its used in a coastal area. I could see myself painting my beach house located in a popular tourist town this color. It would look fabulous, but I would not recommend Upward for an urban setting. It would look out of place.
What white trim goes with Upward?
Upward is a warm paint color but so you can pair either a warm or cool white with it. However, a cool crisp white would look the room or your exterior look crisp and make the blue really stand out. Here are my recommendations of cool white Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore Colors that would look great with Upward.
- Sherwin Williams High Reflective White SW-7757
- Sherwin Williams Extra White SW-7006
- Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65
- Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White OC-149
Read: The Best White Paint Colors for your Doors & Trim
So what room are you going to paint with Sherwin Williams Upward?
Need some color advise?
Choosing the right paint color the first time around can feel overwhelming whether it be one room, your kitchen cabinets or a whole house paint color.
I can help you take the overwhelm out choosing the right paint color for your home with my online e-design services.
How does it work? Once I have received your payment, I will send you a questionnaire within 24 hours asking you a few questions about your kitchen, and show you how you need to take pictures that I will receive. Once I review your information, I will provide you with your personal consultation with 3 -5 business days with 3 paint color choices, and DETAILED instructions on how to test your paint.
Check out my online paint color consults here.
Hi! I’m Debi Collinson. Designer. Color Consultant. Real Estate Investor.
I conducted my first color consult at the age of 7, for my father for one of his design | build projects. I’m an Interior Designer, a Double-Certified Paint Color Expert, with advanced training in kitchens + bathrooms!
Since 2006, I have helped hundreds of clients, just like you, to style their house to make it a stunning retreat, that is functional for the family AND that they love and enjoy their home. In 2020, I moved my design business online.
I have successfully flipped 9 houses and in my spare time, lol, I’m working on our dated 1950’s river house.
