Sherwin Williams Neutral Ground is a perfectly neutral light beige paint color. It gives a home a warm, soft look that feels inviting and calming.
Neutral Ground (SW 7568) is a warm white that has been around for years, but never gained the fame of many warm whites from Sherwin Williams like Alabaster or Greek Villa.
Recently, I began painting my new home and wanted a light beige to make the space feel cozy. Some of the top colors I considered were White Duck, White Sesame and Alabaster.
White Duck was too blah in my space. White Sesame flashed a bit too purple. Alabaster looked almost cool next to my creamy tile and honey oak cabinets (their transformation is coming…).
So, after looking at a million paint colors, I ended up with Neutral Ground. Here are all the details on this warm neutral paint color, and why I chose it out of a hundred other neutrals.
Neutral Ground Paint Color Details
Sherwin Williams Neutral Ground blends light beige, a hint of gray, and very faint undertones.
Sherwin Williams describes these undertones as khaki colored, but honestly, I see almost no discernible, undertones of green, blue, purple, or anything else that we usually see in neutral paint colors. I believe they very accurately named Neutral Ground, because it seems to omit all of these tones, and just remains perfectly neutral.
Sure, you can push Neutral Ground towards a more green, purple or blue look, depending on what you put around it, but this is due to its LRV of 70. Paint colors with higher LRVs reflect the colors around them back into the space, and Neutral Ground will do this if you put it next to a blue rug or something like that.
But among other neutral finishes, Neutral Ground is very neutral.
Paint Colors that Go With Neutral Ground
Sherwin Williams recommends a couple of paint colors to go with Neutral Ground.
First, they chose their highly popular Alabaster. Alabaster is a light white paint color that has hints of yellow and gray in it. It is a very paint color for walls, and some people like it for a light, slightly creamy trim that isn’t too bright.
Second, Sherwin Williams pairs Neutral Ground with Shell White. Shell White is light off-white paint color with light pink/peach undertones. This would work in a room that is adjacent to Neutral Ground. While it is also a light off-white like Alabaster, I would hesitate to use it on trim because the pink undertone will struggle to go with future paint colors on the wall.
Last, Sherwin Williams pairs Neutral Ground with Honed Soapstone. Honed Soapstone is a deeper earthy neutral paint color that is greenish brown.
Really, Neutral Ground is a great paint color to pair with so many different shades. It goes with many light off-whites with yellow or pink undertones, beiges with slightly more depth than it, greens, blues, pinks, grays, deep neutrals and more.
It works well with blonde, neutral and orange wood tones, and looks amazing with gold, black or bronze finishes.
Where to Use Neutral Ground
Neutral Ground works great as an all-over-the-house paint color, in individual rooms, or as an open floor plan shade.
To begin with, it works with most lighting. In cooler, northern facing light it will lean a bit more gray, but will still give a warm, neutral look. In warmer, southern facing light, Neutral Ground will look like a creamy, light beige.
Because it has an LRV of 70, Neutral Ground sits right in the depth of paint colors that work in mostly any space as well. While you always want to have adequate lighting for a paint color to really look its best, Neutral Ground will also work in spaces with less lighting like hallways, basements, or bathrooms.
So, Neutral Ground is great in bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms, offices, and anywhere else that you want a soft, creamy, almost beige shade.
As for home exteriors, Neutral Ground will work, but remember that paint colors always look lighter outside than they do inside. If you want a light beige on your home exterior, Neutral Ground may look a bit washed out in the bright sunlight. But, if you want a soft white, Neutral Ground may work. Since painting a home exterior is such a costly and/or time intensive project, I always recommend testing the paint color on a large sheet and moving it around the home at different times a day to really see how the paint color will work.
Other Paint Colors to Consider if you like Neutral Ground
If you like Neutral Ground but you’re not quite sure yet, you should also consider White Duck and White Sesame.
Sherwin Williams White Duck is a neutral off-white paint color that is light and warm. It is very similar to Neutral Ground but is slightly lighter and creamier than it. If you like Neutral Ground but want a more airy option, consider White Duck.
Sherwin Williams White Sesame is a soft, off-white paint color that is similar to Neutral Ground, but has a bit of a purple undertone. It is a little more of a taupe shade, but just slightly. If you have reddish wood tones, White Sesame is the better choice.
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