Sherwin Williams Illusive Green (Palette, Coordinating & Inspirations)

We have seen impressive paint colors from Sherwin Williams and even encountered amazing ones. However, Sherwin Williams Illusive Green will surprise you even further with its uniqueness and properties.

Naturally, one would expect such a paint color to be quite popular and never short on reviews and information. However, you are here because you can’t seem to find one. This is why I have put together a Sherwin Williams Illusive Green (SW 9164) Paint Color Review.

This post covers everything you need to know about this exceptional blend of green and gray.

What Color is Sherwin Williams Illusive Green (SW 9164)?

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green is a medium-tone green paint color with very strong gray undertones. So much so that you can safely refer to it as a shade of gray with a blend of green. This unique composition also makes it an excellent neutral in relevant decor and settings.

As its name implies, Sherwin Williams Illusive Green can play tricks on the eyes depending on the lighting. Sometimes, it can appear slightly green, other times, you might see only gray with hints of blue or cyan. Since its green can be quite illusive, you can see where it got the name.

The cool paint color brings a natural, earthy vibe that does one of two things to your space or even both. Firstly, Sherwin Williams Illusive Green can give your room or space the feeling of being in nature, drinking in its bliss, and enjoying the relaxing vibe.

Secondly, SW Illusive Green can make your space look bigger but will not make it outrightly icy or cold.

Manufacturer	Sherwin Williams
Paint Color	Illusive Green
LRV	29
RGB	R: 146 G: 148 B: 141
Hex Value	#92948d
Color Collections	Color ID (Nurturer)
Color Family(s)	Neutral

RGB of Sherwin Williams Illusive Green (SW 9164)

Encycolorpedia highlights the RGB value of Sherwin Williams Illusive Green and the percentages as follows.

Red: 146 (57.25%)    Green: 148 (58.04%)    Blue: 141 (55.29%)

Although its saturation of 3% fits its LRV, the paint color has a surprising lightness of 57%.

LRV of Sherwin Williams Illusive Green (SW 9164)

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green has an LRV of 29.

LRV refers to Light Reflective Value, which shows a paint color’s strength in reflecting or absorbing light. Since it runs on a scale of 0 – 100, the lower you go on the scale, the darker the color, and lighter colors have higher values.

You can also say that lower values depict paint colors with strong light absorption, while higher values represent weak light absorption. Naturally, the values 0 and 100 represent true Black and White, respectively. However, no paint color is truly either of the two.

Normally, one would expect a paint color with such LRV to look more on the dark side. However, Sherwin Williams Illusive Green looks lighter than its Light Reflective Value. Nevertheless, it will not wash out in bright light, rather, the gray will become more vivid, making it take on the role of a full neutral.

Is Sherwin Williams Illusive Green a Warm or Cool Color?

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green is a cool paint color, but while it will make this quite obvious, it will never look icy, regardless of the lighting. Generally, green falls on the cool side of the spectrum, and gray mostly stays neutral.

On the other hand, the paint color can looks warmer in the presence of warm sunlight rays or incandescent light. However, such a setting also strengthens its green, relegating the strong gray to its original role as an undertone.

I will better cover its interaction with light later in this review.

What Are The Undertones?

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green generally has gray undertones. However, the gray can sometimes take over, making it appear neutral gray with green undertones. This particularly occurs in the north-facing rooms.

Note that Sherwin Williams Illusive can also manifest subtle cyan undertones. This behavior makes some homeowners perceive it as unpredictable, making them a little wary of it. On the bright side, you can take advantage of its many appearances to put together a natural, earthy decor that changes or adapts to the season.

In summary, Sherwin Williams Illusive Green undertones can switch between gray (strongest), green, and cyan (weakest). It all depends on the lighting in the space or room you choose to use it. However, exterior spaces allow the paint color to maintain its gray undertone most of the time.

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green Color Strip

As one would expect, Sherwin Williams Illusive Green color strip has a neutral gray theme. You can easily find more than one paint color that can fit your requirement for a neutral in the strip. With members like SW Unusual Gray and SW Silver Strand, the color strip is well stacked.

The fact that a color strip consists of colors that share the same base formula allows them to work perfectly for a monochromatic palette.

However, members of the same strip differ in saturation and LRV, making them lighter or darker than one another.

Sherwin Williams Silver Strand (SW 7057)

Sherwin Williams Silver Strand is a light-tone blend of green and gray with subtle cyan undertones. It is several shades lighter than Sherwin Williams Illusive Green because of its LRV of 59.

The paint color is also the lightest in the strip and can work wonders if you want something not too light for a neutral. Sherwin Williams Silver Strand looks good in both interior and exterior spaces.

It has an RGB value of R: 200, G: 203, and B: 196. It also has a saturation of 6% and a lightness of 78%.

Sherwin Williams Magnetic Gray (SW 7058)

Sherwin Williams Magnetic Gray is a cool gray with green and cyan undertones. You will notice the green most of the time, with the cyan coming out only under certain conditions. However, this paint color doesn’t have as many surprises as Sherwin Williams Illusive Green.

SW Magnetic Gray has an LRV of 46, making it significantly lighter than SW Illusive Green. It has an RGB value of R: 178, G: 181, and B: 175, a saturation of 4%, and a lightness of 70%.

Sherwin Williams Unusual Gray (SW 7059)

Sherwin Williams Unusual Gray arguably has the highest versatility of all the members of this color strip. The medium-tone gray has an LRV of 38, with green and cyan undertones. However, it does a better job of hiding the cyan compared to some other members.

SW Unusual Gray pairs particularly well with other paint colors like SW Silver Strand, SW Waterloo, and SW Reserved White.  Also, it looks slightly lighter than SW Illusive Green.

The paint color has an RGB value of R: 163, G: 167, and B: 160, a saturation of 4%, and a lightness of 64%.

Sherwin Williams Attitude Gray (SW 7060)

Sherwin Williams Attitude Gray has a stronger cyan undertone compared to the other members of the strip. The bold gray paint color has an LRV of 20, making it significantly darker than Sherwin Williams Illusive Green.

While it lacks the versatility of Sherwin Williams Unusual Gray, it brings a soothing vibe to spaces and rooms.

The cool paint color has an RGB value of R: 124, G: 125, and B: 117, a saturation of 3%, and a lightness of 47%.

Sherwin Williams Night Owl (SW 7061)

Sherwin Williams Night Owl has an LRV of 13, putting it several shades darker than SW Illusive Green. The cool neutral blends green and charcoal gray to give an atmosphere of calm that is perfect for a seclusive learning environment.

It has a little cyan in the mix, and you should sample it first before use. Also, remember to use it in spaces or areas with enough light to balance its dark shade.

Sherwin Williams Night Owl has an RGB value of R: 99, G: 101, and B: 95, a saturation of 3%, and a lightness of 38%.

Sherwin Williams Laurel Woods (SW 7749)

Sherwin Williams Laurel Woods has an LRV of 6, making it the darkest paint color on this strip. It also does a good job of flaunting its green, which is a deep forest shade perfect for nature-themed decor.

The cool deep paint color has cyan and charcoal undertones that serve to emphasize its boldness.

It has an RGB value of R: 68, G: 73, and B: 61, a saturation of 9%, and a lightness of 26%.

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green Color Palette

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green Coordinating Colors

This section covers paint colors that pair well with Sherwin Williams Illusive Green, including complementary ones.

When it comes to Sherwin Williams Illusive Green color palette, you can pair it will other members of its color strip for a monochromatic palette. On the other hand, there are other paint colors that can make lovely palettes too.

Sherwin Williams Reserved White

With an LRV of 74 and green undertones, Sherwin Williams Reserved White is the perfect white for SW Illusive Green. Both colors pair well since they have similar undertones and, ultimately same temperature.

Not only can you use Sherwin Williams Reserved White on walls, you can also use it as a trim in both large and small spaces or rooms.

Sherwin Williams Navajo White

Sherwin Williams Navajo White is a warm creamy white paint color with an LRV of 72. Its yellow undertone is almost entirely responsible for its warmth, which it maintains regardless of lighting.

The vibrant white does well in both interior and exterior spaces, especially in homes. You will sometimes detect beige undertones, but they do little to alter the paint color’s appearance.

Sherwin Williams Blonde

Sherwin Williams Blonde is a medium-toned shade of yellow with an LRV of 54. The warm paint color goes well with Sherwin Williams Illusive Green in large and small spaces or rooms.

Both colors have enough disparity between their vibrancy and cheerfulness to deliver splendid pairing results.

Sherwin Williams Blonde will not readily wash out in bright light despite its vivid look.

Honorable Mentions

Sherwin Williams Night Owl

If you want a monochromatic palette, Sherwin Williams Night Owl is one of the best options you have. The paint color is significantly darker than SW Illusive Green and pairs well with it in small and large spaces.

However, since both paint colors fall on the dark side of the spectrum, you should avoid using them in spaces with limited access to light. This way, you can prevent the space from looking gloomy or foreboding.

Sherwin Williams Attitude Gray

Sherwin Williams Attitude Gray is another option for a monochromatic palette. The dark gray paint color has a lower LRV than Sherwin Williams Illusive Green. Since both paint colors have the same undertones, you can always pair them up without the fear of contradicting colors.

Sherwin Williams Song Thrush

Sherwin Williams Song Thrush is a warm medium shade of yellow that also pairs well with Sherwin Williams Illusive Green. It is bold than SW Blonde, making it an excellent choice if you want a darker shade of yellow with subtle brown undertones.

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green Complementary Colors

These paint colors complement Sherwin Williams Illusive Green.

Sherwin Williams Sea Salt

Sherwin Williams Sea Salt is a popular green-gray paint color notorious for flashing into blue sometimes. It has an LRV of 63, which makes puts it in the ‘sweet’ range for reflecting and absorbing light.

Looking at the fact that it can change its appearance sometimes, I can’t help but imagine how amazing this paint color could look when paired with Sherwin Williams Illusive Green. If done right, you could even get proper ocean-themed decor.

Sherwin Williams White Truffle

Sherwin Williams White Truffle is a light red shade of red with an LRV of 60. The paint color generally takes the look of a strawberry-flavored ice cream and reads warm.

Most importantly, SW White Truffle complements Sherwin Williams Illusive Green in both interior and exterior spaces.  It is also suitable for walls, even in dimly-lit areas.

Sherwin Williams Acacia Haze

While SW Illusive Green displays more gray than green, Sherwin Williams Acacia Haze shows more green. Pairing the two paint colors together works really well for forest-themed decor or if you simply want a create the feeling of being in the woods.

Both colors read cool but not icy, and that is another advantage to pairing them up. Consider applying them to areas like the bedroom to both the naturally soothing atmosphere.

Sherwin Williams Cocoa Berry

As its name implies, Sherwin Williams Cocoa Berry has a look that I can only call delicious. The light blend of orange and red complements Sherwin Williams Illusive Green just like SW White Truffle. However, I want to believe it does it better.

It is important to sample the paint color first before committing to using it.

What Trim Colors Go With Sherwin Williams Illusive Green?

While trim colors are not compulsory, they become a must if you desire to switch up the overall finish of your space. When you finish painting your space or room and would love to get a crispy or creamy finish, this is where trim colors come into play.

Generally, you can choose to use a trim color that is lighter or darker than the one you used on the walls. For Sherwin Williams Illusive Green, I will mention only white trims as they have been proven to tolerate its various appearances.

Examples of white paint colors that can trim well for Sherwin Williams Illusive Green include the following.

• Sherwin Williams Extra White
• Sherwin Williams High Reflective White

Both paint colors that I mentioned have no discernable undertones. This means that you can rest assured that they will not contradict your decor or main color.

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green Color Comparisons

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green vs Evergreen Fog

Sherwin Williams Evergreen Fog is an awesome shade of green with some gray in the mix and subtle blue undertones. It has an LRV of 30, which is slightly higher than that of Sherwin Williams Illusive Green.

The chameleon green paint color won the Sherwin Williams 2022 Color of the Year, which is quite expected. The reason is that it has had an exceptional year, becoming a popular green for homes because of its calming freshness.

Sherwin Williams Paint Color	LRV	RGB	Hex Value
Indigo Batik	29	R: 146 G: 148 B: 141	#92948d
Evergreen Fog	30	R: 149 G: 151 B: 138	#95978a

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green vs Acacia Haze

Sherwin Williams Acacia Haze is a medium-tone green with a lazy but sophisticated vibe that looks particularly natural in bedrooms. The cool paint color has an LRV of 32, making it slightly lighter than Sherwin Williams Illusive Green.

Also, you will notice more green from SW Acacia Haze than SW Illusive Green. The higher percentage of green in the paint color also makes it more predictable.

It is important to note that Sherwin Williams Acacia Haze has blue undertones that makes it read cool.

Sherwin Williams Paint Color	LRV	RGB	Hex Value
Indigo Batik	29	R: 146 G: 148 B: 141	#92948d
Acacia Haze	32	R: 150 G: 156 B: 146	#95978a

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green vs Retreat

Sherwin Williams Retreat is a muted green with blue and gray undertones. As a result of this, the paint color reads cool all the time and even displays more green than Sherwin Williams Illusive Green.

With an LRV of 21, it is a couple of shades lighter than SW Illusive Green, making it less suitable to dimly-lit areas or rooms.

SW Retreat adds an uplifting feel to rooms and spaces.

Sherwin Williams Paint Color	LRV	RGB	Hex Value
Indigo Batik	29	R: 146 G: 148 B: 141	#92948d
Retreat	21	R: 122 G: 128 B: 118	7a8076

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green vs Tin Lizzie

While Sherwin Williams Tin Lizzie and Sherwin Williams Illusive Green look similar at first glance. However, the only component they have in common is gray. Yes, you read that right, SW Tin Lizzie doesn’t have green in it, the paint color is a medium-tone gray.

With an LRV of 30, there really isn’t any difference in how much light it reflects.

Sherwin Williams Paint Color	LRV	RGB	Hex Value
Indigo Batik	29	R: 146 G: 148 B: 141	#92948d
Tin Lizzie	30	R: 147 G: 149 B: 145	#939591

Illusive Green Benjamin Moore Version

Generally, paint producers do have products that are versions of one another, Benjamin Moore has no paint color called Illusive Green. Although the popular paint manufacturer has several shades of green, there is none that looks exactly like Sherwin Williams Illusive Green.

How Does Light Affect It?

Like I mentioned earlier, Sherwin Williams Illusive Green can appear quite differently depending on the lighting. Its interaction with light comes in two part, with the first being its LRV.

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green has an LRV of 29, which makes it unsuitable for dark areas. You should avoid using the paint color in somewhere like a basement or corridor.

On the other hand, SW Illusive Green looks a little lighter than one would expect from a color with that LRV. Therefore, it can pass with decent or moderate lighting.

The second way light affects Sherwin Williams Illusive Green is the interactions with its undertones. Using the paint color in north-facing rooms brings out the gray and makes the green assume the role of an undertone. Its cyan remains largely hidden.

The green becomes prominent in south-facing rooms or areas with access to warm sunlight or bulbs. Its cyan undertone doesn’t come out readily but afternoon sunlight can bring it in relevant settings.

Best Rooms to Paint Sherwin Williams Illusive Green

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green Bedroom

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green Bathroom

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green Exterior

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green Kitchen

 

Sherwin Williams Illusive Green Living Room

Final Thoughts

With all of its properties and appearances, Sherwin Williams Illusive Green lives up to its name. The paint color can breathe life into nature-themed decor when you pair it up with proper coordinating colors.

Furthermore, you can use a Sherwin Williams Illusive Green color palette that is made entirely of members of its color strip. However, the cool paint color can fit into other palette or decor that require a pensive green with soft but bold gray undertones.