Sherwin Williams Stardew 9138 – What To Know Before You Paint


When it comes to choosing paint color, we're faced with a staggering amount of options. Yet color plays a pivotal role in shaping how we feel when living in any space. And often we get stuck because we're scared to get it wrong.

I'm here to help you by narrowing the playing field to a few manageable options that will make choosing the right paint color easier and less stressful. The key to making the right choice for your space is in knowing what to look for in various paint colors.

Blue gray walls are a timeless and popular choice. In fact, Sherwin Willams just named Upward 6239 the 2024 color of the year! But each shade is a bit different and will give you a different feel. Today, let's dive deeper into a designer and homeowner favorite, SW Stardew 9138.

Sherwin Williams Stardew Paint Color ReviewPin

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What Color Is Stardew Sherwin Williams?

Stardew SW is a cool shade of blue with hints of green and gray. Its soft, muted hues create a soothing atmosphere, making it an ideal color choice for bedrooms, bathrooms, or any space where relaxation is key.

Stardew's versatility enables it to pair effortlessly with various design styles, from modern to rustic, and a wide range of complementary colors. Sherwin Williams places Stardew (SW 9138) on its list of top five shades of blue.

Sherwin Williams Stardew undertones

The undertones of Sherwin-Williams Stardew paint are a combination of cool gray and green hues that add depth and complexity to its overall appearance. Sometimes blue paint can end up looking purplish but you don't ever need worry about that with Stardew.

Undertones are one reason you can end up with the wrong paint color. In this post I’ll show you how to quickly and easily pick out the undertones in any paint color, so you never get it wrong again!

SW Stardew LRV

Light Reflectance Value (LRV) indicates the amount of light a paint color reflects. A higher LRV means the color reflects more light, while a lower LRV value means the color absorbs more light.

The LRV of SW 9138 Stardew is approximately 43, which suggests that it absorbs more light and appears darker than other blue gray paint colors. (Sherwin Williams North Star, by contrast, is a lighter shade of blue gray and reflects more light with an LRV of 62).

LRV is important to consider when choosing paint as it can influence the overall brightness and mood of a room. And it's one reason I recommend always testing Sherwin Williams Stardew paint on your wall first before commiting to it.

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Sherwin Williams Stardew Vs. Other Blue Gray Paint Colors

Use blue gray in your home interior wherever you're looking for a calming and sophisticated touch. Here are a few comparisons with other popular paints in the same color range.

Sherwin-Williams Stardew vs Let It Rain

While Let It Rain SW 9152 is technically a blue shade, it plays hard into its moody slate gray undertone. Side by side below, you can see that Stardew paint is the bluer and the brighter of the two. (**Note that Benjamin Williams also has a color named Let It Rain, but it's a tranquil blue green with no gray whatsoever.)

SW Stardew vs SW Krypton

SW Krypton 6247 is known for having an even balance of both gray and blue hues. Stardew is darker and sits more firmly in the blue category. These two are both cool blue grays, though, and they are quite similar in how you can use them. Like Krypton, Stardew walls looks beautiful with a true white trim, like Sherwin Williams Extra White or a creamy white trim, like Sherwin Williams Alabaster.

Stardew 9138 vs Rain 6219

Another cool blue gray neutral, Sherwin Williams Rain 6219 is calm and peaceful. What sets Rain apart from Stardew is the inclusion of green undertones which give it a look of nature. Stardew has stronger gray undertones which are more likely to show up depending on your room's lighting conditions.

Room Examples With A Stardew Color Palette

White combined with blue or blue gray is a classic and timeless color combination and you simply can't go wrong choosing it which is why SW Stardew goes well with so many white paint colors.

Another Sherwin Williams Stardew coordinating color is a soft gray like Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray if you like to keep your color palette in cool tones.

On the other hand, Stardew looks beautiful paired with warm colors like deep, rich browns and blacks, either in furniture or flooring or in cast iron.

Sherwin Williams Stardew bedroom

The bronze metal in the bed frame and lighting fixtures beautifully complement the deep powdery blue of Stardew in this master bedroom by Creativity Exchange. (Mixing metals in decor is a great way to broaden your color palette and add tons of style to your space.)

Sherwin Williams Stardew bedroomPin

Sherwin Williams Stardew bathroom

SW 9138 leans into its gray undertones in a homeowner bathroom featured by Sherwin Williams in its SW Color Love Gallery. In comparison, notice how much lighter Stardew paint appears on the wainscoting in the powder room featured by Home Bunch. (Don't forget to admire how nicely Stardew plays with the various shades of dark flooring in these examples.)

Stardew blue gray paintPin
Sherwin Williams stardew bathroomPin

Sherwin Williams Stardew kitchen walls

Wood is the star of the show in this charming farmhouse kitchen by Sherwin Williams Tinted, from ceiling beams to open shelving, from furniture to shiplap walls. Stardew paint plays a supporting role; it's strong enough to add interest, but neutral enough to blend into the background and let the wood elements take the lead. The white trim is High Reflective White SW 7757.

Sherwin Williams Stardew kitchenPin

Sherwin Williams Stardew cabinets

All the elements are here in these kitchens - white, black metal, dark flooring - and blue gray Stardew cabinets tie them all together in a tranquil, soft-spoken way.

Sherwin Williams Stardew office

A client asked for a blue office that felt relaxing yet inspiring, says designer Erica Alchermi. She definitely delivered a room anyone would want to work in with SW Stardew on the walls and on her DIY builtins.

Sherwin Williams Stardew doors

Again Stardew paint color nods to its lighter side on these doors in a home by In the House of David. Besides all the doors, they used versatile Stardew in the basement, hallway and foyer walls. While these homeowners love how Stardew shifts between blue and gray depending on various room elements, be sure that you are happy with its changeability before you commit to painting with Stardew.

Sherwin-Williams stardew interior doorsPin

Sherwin Williams Stardew furniture

I'm a sucker for painted furniture projects and Amelia Lawrence described Stardew as "the perfect shade of blue gray" for her painted dresser. I love the foggy coastal vibe this muted blue achieved in her master bedroom.

SW stardew dresserPin

Will Stardew SW Be Your Next Color Choice?

This soft yet bold blue gray paint color will definitely add interest to your space but as you can see it's important to test it on various walls because the amount of blue and gray will vary depending on lighting.

I hope this deep dive into what makes Sherwin Williams Stardew unique helps you decide if it's a contender for your next painting project.

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