Natural Choice SW 7011

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There’s no denying that neutrals are among the most popular paint color choices. They are easy to work around and they make a stunning backdrop for all decor styles. That being said, Sherwin Williams Natural Choice SW 7011 is a beautiful light neutral paint color that fits the bill perfectly.

Here we are again, another day another paint color review. I feel like I have been obsessing over so many new paint colors lately that I want to review them all and I probably will. But anyway, let me stick to the plan at hand and not get ahead of myself.

If you haven’t noticed, neutral colors with a natural, tan-ish, beige feel to them are trending and popping up everywhere. And let me tell you, I am here for it. Don’t get me wrong, I still have a soft spot for my beloved grays *cough, cough* Repose Gray, but there is plenty of love to go around.

I feel like the best way to join in on this natural neutral paint color trend is to talk about one. A super fabulous one might I add.

SHERWIN WILLIAMS NATURAL CHOICE SW 7011

STATS

• HUE FAMILY  – Yellow / Green-Yellow 
• LRV – 73
• Color Collections – West Elm, Living Well, Top 50 Colors, Warm White, Finest Whites

Let’s talk about these stats a bit further.

Natural Choice has an LRV of 73. As a quick refresher, I’ll explain what that means. LRV or Light Reflectance Value is a measurement commonly used by design professionals that measures the amount of light reflected from and absorbed by a surface. LRVs range from 0 -100, with 100 being pure white and 0 being absolute black. A great article to read to learn more about LRV is Light Reflectance Value: What Do Those Numbers Mean?

Hue Family. I like to give this bit of information because it allows you to know where the color comes from. Unlike undertones where they are merely perspective, the paint color’s hue family stems from scientific data. In the case of Natural Choice, its hue family is yellow.

Finally, color collections. I like sharing these because it’s just fun and interesting.

WHAT COLOR IS NATURAL CHOICE?

According to Sherwin Williams, Natural Choice is considered a white paint color. It is a part of the Warm Whites and Finest Whites Color Collections and is categorized in the White and Pastel Paint Colors.

To get into it in more detail, Natural Choice is a soft, warm, neutral white. It comes from the yellow hue family. Knowing this, in certain unbalanced lighting, you can expect to see some yellow in this color. Will it look canary yellow? Most likely not, but if you are sensitive to the color yellow, this is something you need to be aware of.

Do you want to know how to tell if Natural Choice will look yellow in your room? Sample it! Sampling the paint color in the room you are painting is the only definitive way to see how the color will look.

IS NATURAL CHOICE A WARM COLOR?

Yes, Natural Choice is a warm paint color. We learned that it comes from the yellow hue family, and yellow is a warm color. However, a better way to learn if a paint color is warm or cool is by comparing it to another color.

LIKE COOL-TONED PAINT COLORS? CHECK THESE OUT:

• Sherwin Williams Reflection
• Benjamin Moore Moonshine
• Sherwin Williams Passive
• Sherwin Williams Lazy Gray

WHAT UNDERTONES DOES NATURAL CHOICE HAVE?

Undertones are merely perspective, so if you have an imbalanced lighting situation, you may see Natural Choice look a bit yellow. But if you have daylight/lighting, which is rather evenly balanced in all lightwaves, it will appear just as a neutral, warm, natural white.

I always suggest sampling a paint color in the room you plan on using it. That is the only way to see how the light will affect the color. And it will allow you to see how the color will look in your space.

WHAT IS THE BEST TRIM COLOR FOR NATURAL CHOICE?

SW Natural Choice tends to look the best with white paint colors with a bit of warmth to them. My favorite color to use on the trim to complement it is Sherwin Williams Alabaster. It has a bit of warmth to it, and it looks lovely paired with NC.

Traditionally, trim is often painted a shade of white. However, white paint colors can be tricky to coordinate with other white paint colors. This is why I like to keep it simple when using a shade of white that has less depth to it than Natural Choice on the walls.

READ MORE: THE BEST WHITE PAINT COLORS FOR TRIM

To make your life as simple as possible, use the same white on the trim and walls but in different sheens. For example. Use a flat finish on the walls and a semi-gloss finish on the trim.

Playing with sheens will give you a slight difference between the walls and trim, yet it will still look cohesive.

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NATURAL CHOICE AND LIGHTING

Light plays an influential role in the way a color looks and can change the appearance of essentially any color. For this reason, it’s a good idea to be familiar with the lighting condition of the room you are choosing the right paint color for. 

North-facing rooms – Light in North-facing rooms comes off cooler and sometimes somewhat bluish. Lighter colors appear more muted, while bolder colors will show up or appear better. 

South-facing rooms– In South-facing rooms, there tends to be a consistently bright light throughout the day. Warm and cool tones work with south-facing light. This light intensifies colors, so darker colors will seem more vivid while softer colors will almost look like they are radiating.

East-facing rooms– East-facing rooms have the brightest light in the mornings, with a yellow-orange tone.  If an east-facing room will be used regularly in the evenings, going with a warm palette will help to offset the lack of natural light.

West-facing rooms- Early evening is when West-facing rooms have the most favorable light. Warmer tones might seem a bit strong because of the red-orange tones the light gives off. However, if the main use of the room is in the mornings, the colors won’t seem as intense.

As greatly as lighting plays a major role in how a paint color can look at times, there are some other factors you simply cannot forget about.

For example, the color of your decor, furniture, fixtures, cabinetry, and floors. These are all elements that can affect the way a paint color will look in your room. These things are often overlooked when choosing a paint color.

WHAT ARE THE BEST LIGHT BULBS TO USE?

Natural light affects paint colors, and guess what? So does artificial lighting.

The color of the light bulbs you use will affect how a paint color will look in a room. And unfortunately, it’s an essential detail that is frequently overlooked.

With the variety of light bulbs available, it can become overwhelmingly confusing. I mean, what really is the difference between a soft white and bright white?

Thankfully, finding the right light bulbs becomes easier once you know a little bit about them.

For reference, light color or light appearance is measured on the Kelvin (K)temperature scale. Lower Kelvin numbers mean more yellow light; the higher the Kelvin number, the whiter or bluer light.

Remember, lower Kelvin (K) numbers = yellow light, Higher Kelvin (K) numbers = white/blueish light

I always recommend using this type of light bulb.

Be cautious of the light bulb names such as “daylight” or warm light.” I’d advise against picking a light bulb by its name.

Instead, always check the package for actual facts. This allows you to choose the best bulb for you.

Don’t forget, as much as lighting plays a major part in how a paint color will look at times, there are other determinants to be aware of. For instance, decor, furniture, fixtures, cabinetry, and floors. These are all elements that can affect and/or influence the way a paint color will look in your room.

WHERE TO USE SW NATURAL CHOICE

Being that Natural Choice is a neutral warm white paint color, and it tends to work beautifully in many places.

Some of my favorite places to use NC are:

• Kitchen
• Bathroom
• Bedroom
• Living room
• Cabinets

KITCHEN

BATHROOM

LIVING ROOM

WAIT! Before you start painting make sure you have the best painting tools to make your job easier. It will take hours off your painting time!

IS NATURAL CHOICE A GOOD EXTERIOR PAINT COLOR?

Natural Choice is an absolutely beautiful choice for the exterior. One may even say it’s a natural choice. (get it?) Honestly, though, the exterior of the home really looks beautiful.

The reason it is a great white for the exterior is that it has a bit more depth and warmth to it than some other starker whites.

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Find More Exterior Paint Color Inspiration:

• The Best Benjamin Moore Exterior Paint Colors
• Great Sherwin Williams Paint Colors for the Exterior
• Exterior Colors Combinations
• Inviting Exterior Paint Colors
• Paint Colors that go with Brick Exteriors
• SW Dovetail – A Great Exterior Paint Color
• 12 Great Blue Exterior Paint Colors
• Mushroom Paint Colors
• Green Exterior Paint Colors

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WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO SAMPLE SHERWIN WILLIAMS NATURAL CHOICE?

Let’s talk about how you can avoid the biggest painting mistake. And that is by sampling paint colors! I know you may be sick of me saying this, but you have to sample your paint colors. I promise it is something you will not regret.

We know we need to sample, but what is the best way to do that?

IS THERE A BENJAMIN MOORE EQUIVALENT TO NATURAL CHOICE?

There are times when you cannot access a paint brand, this can be due to multiple reasons, brand loyalty, your painter only using one type or you just don’t live near one or the other. These are the reasons why people ask about paint color equivalents.

As for the Benjamin Moore equivalent to SW Natural Choice, there is one color I found that is somewhat similar.

COORDINATING COLORS

Coming up with a color palette can be a bit overwhelming for some. That’s why I always like to give you a few colors that work well with the paint color I’m reviewing, which is Sherwin Williams Natural Choice.

Sure, it’s easy to say it will look good with blush, blue, and green paint colors. But it’s more helpful; some have a few specific paint color examples.

Some paint colors to coordinate with NC are:

• Analytical Gray
• Dorian Gray
• Alabaster
• Realist Beige
• Tricorn Black
• Portico
• Sea Salt
• Ancient Marble
• Pewter Tankard
• BM Caldwell Green
• BM Beach Glass
• BM Hale Navy

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PAINT COLORS

COLOR COMPARISONS

Now for the fun part, color comparisons. I mentioned earlier that comparing colors is a great way to determine the characteristics of each color. For example, warm or cool, darker or lighter, and so on.

I’ve collected a few colors to compare against Natural Choice. Let’s see how they stack up.

NATURAL CHOICE VS ALABASTER

• Natural Choice has an LRV of 73, whereas Alabaster has an LRV of 82
• Both colors are in the Yellow hue family
• Alabaster is the lighter of the two colors
• NC is the more saturated color.

NATURAL CHOICE VS NATURAL LINEN

• Natural Linen has an LRV of 66, lower than NC’s 73
• Natural Linen has a hue family of yellow red. You can see it has a bit more of a red tone to it.
• Natural Choice is the lighter of the two colors
• Regarding saturation, Natural Line takes this one. It definitely has a bit more depth to it.

NATURAL CHOICE VS SHOJI WHITE

• Shoji White has an LRV of 74, and hair higher than NC’s 73
• Shoji White and Natural Choice both have a hue family of yellow
• Natural Choice is a bit more saturated than Shoji White
• Shoji White is a bit lighter of the two colors.

NATURAL CHOICE VS WHITE DUCK

• White Duck has an LRV of 74 and a tiny bit higher than Natural Choices’s 73
• White Duck is the lighter paint color of the two
• White Duck is directly in the middle of the yellow hue family
• Natural Choice is a little more saturated of the two

NATURAL CHOICE VS CREAMY

• Creamy has an LRV of 81, which is higher than NC’s 73
• Both colors are from the same yellow hue family
• Creamy is the lighter paint color
• Creamy has a bit less saturation

RECAP

I know I threw a ton of information about Sherwin Williams Natural Choice at you so let me do a brief recap to sum it all up.

• has an LRV of 73
• is in the yellow hue family
• it’s a beautiful light neutral natural white paint colors
• is considered to be a warm white paint color
• can look yellow in certain lighting situations
• it’s a part of these color collections: West Elm, Living Well, Top 50 Colors, Warm White, Finest Whites
• Looks great paired with SW Alabaster
• it’s a great option for the exterior of the home
• it’s also well-suited to be used in other areas of your home

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, I think Natural Choice is a fantastic neutral paint color. I think if you are looking for a more natural neutral, you may really enjoy this color.

There is a fresh light and airy feel to it that makes it quite elegant. This is a color that is a great option for the nature-inspired decor trend.

Keep in mind, if you are not a fan of any yellow, you may want to find a color that is a little cleaner or less warm. Depending on the lighting and elements in your room, there is potential for a little yellow to come through. It’s not going to be glaringly yellow, but there is a chance of just a slight yellow tinge. For sure, it’s something to keep in mind.

If you are unsure about how Natural Choice will act in your home, all you need to do is sample it. That is a surefire way of seeing how the color will perform in your space. Remember, computer monitors do not render paint color accurately. That is why I always suggest sampling the paint color beforehand.

To sum it up, I think if you like a warm white with a natural neutral flair to it, I think you will really love Sherwin Williams Natural Choice.

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