Sherwin Williams Riverway SW 6222: Paint Color Review

Ever gone on a search for that unique shade of teal? Sherwin Williams Riverway may be just the color you need. The truth is that blue-green paint colors are so beautiful that we usually get stuck trying to pick one.

However, if Riverway is the color you’ve chosen, is it ideal for your decor? What makes it the unique paint color it is, and when is it best to use it? These and more are answers this guide provides. Stick around to learn all there is about this paint color. Ready? Let’s go!

When to Choose Sherwin Williams Riverway

Are you wondering when Riverway is the ideal option over other similar colors? You’re not alone because it is such a rich color. But I’ve got some ideas of how to make the best of the rich blue.

Looking for something slightly complex?

Riverway is not your everyday blue paint color. It shows some complexity, although it’s nothing you can’t work into your decor. However, it makes adding other colors like yellow, light blue, orange, and wood tones easy.

Thinking of an unconventional cabinet color?

White may be a safe color and one of the best cabinet colors. But Riverway brings something different to the decor, especially if the walls and appliances are white.

Is bright blue not your style?

If you want something blue in your decor but bright blue is not cutting it, try Riverway. It is a gentle shade that makes everything better and doesn’t feel overwhelming.

Want to add a saturated color to the decor?

Sometimes, neutrals may feel overused or you want to be unconventional. If black is too heavy or moody, RIverway may give you that burst of color with enough saturation to change the decor. Use it with a few other vibrant colors and ground them with neutrals like light gray or white.

Now, you know a little about how to make Riverway work in your decor. Of course, there are many other possibilities and combinations where it works, but this is a start. Don’t go anywhere just yet; I’ve got a lot more to show you about this paint color.

What Color Is Riverway?

Have you ever wondered why Riverway has that specific name? Is there a story behind it? You may not know it, but a riverway is a route that boats can take to get to their destination. That means the paint color derives its name from calm and serene waters.

That is what comes to mind when you see Riverway. Want to get a look at what a riverway looks like? Here’s one to paint a mental picture:

Sherwin Williams Riverway is a rich and saturated blue paint color that looks complex but brings gentle tranquility to a room. It is reminiscent of a gentle river with a depth that makes you want to see more of it.

A Snapshot of the Specifications of Sherwin Williams Riverway

The core aspects of every paint color make it uniquely different from others. No two paint colors have the same basic characteristics, and the following chart details those of Riverway.

	Sherwin Williams Riverway
RGB	93, 114, 116
LRV	16
Undertone	Green-gray
HEX Code	#5D7274

Sherwin Williams Riverway: Understanding the LRV

This term may look complex, but LRV is the light reflectance value of color and is the amount of light that color can reflect on a scale of 0 to 100. The darker the color gets, the lower the LRV is, and the brighter it gets, the higher the LRv goes.

However, paint colors don’t have pure black or pure white. In other words, no paint color has an LRV of 0 or even 1, and none has an LRV higher than 94. The scale for paint colors is 2.5 to 94.

Sherwin Williams Riverway has an LRV of 16. Judging from the LRV scale for paint colors, this value is pretty low. That means Riverway doesn’t reflect a lot of light and needs to be used in a room with ample natural or artificial bright light.

Sherwin Williams Riverway: Examining the Undertones

Every paint color has undertones, regardless of pure or true it may be to its natural shade. You may see some colors that are called ‘true’, but they usually show some undertones in certain lighting. The only upside is that the undertones are minimal or barely there.

Riverway has green and gray undertones. The mixture makes the paint color appear to be teal, but it’s not exactly that shade. It is a blue paint color, but the undertones of green mixed with gray are pretty, muting the otherwise bright shade of blue.

It’s obvious from the picture above that the paint color has some gray in it. However, you may think it’s a unique shade of green at first glance, whereas it’s blue with a generous amount of green. Its red, green, and blue (RGB) code proves this.

Another thing that makes the color so saturated in the picture above is the number of paint coats. Riverway is typically a dark color, but there’s a difference between coating it once and twice. This also applies to other paint colors.

In this next picture, Riverway shows a bit more blue than green and gray:

Does Lighting Affect SW Riverway?

Lighting is one of the most crucial aspects of how you see or perceive a paint color. While it is true that color is subject to individual perception, in most cases, we can all agree that color looks different under different lighting conditions.

Here is Riverway in this room under warm artificial yellow light:

It looks pretty dark and slightly different from the color in the first picture. Now, here is the same paint color on the cabinets:

The results are different because of the lighting in the rooms. One has an abundance of natural light, while the other has no discernible natural light, only artificial. That is not to say that Riverway always looks dark under artificial lighting. If the setting is right, it may appear true to its original shade.

Now, here is Riverway looking totally different in this mudroom:

Doesn’t it look like a different color? It’s all subject to the lighting and elements in the room. Plus, the type you use and the number of coats may also affect the resulting shade.

How Does Riverway Feel in a Room?

Sherwin Williams Riverway is a beautiful color, I must say. It has a buttery look and feel to it, and brings a certain gentle complexity to a room. If you want a cool burst of color that doesn’t feel overwhelming but makes a room feel serene, Riverway should make the list.

Sherwin Williams Riverway: Warm or Cool?

Riverway is a cool blue paint color with gray and green undertones that enrich its depths. Because of its cool tone, the paint color is ideal for warm rooms.

That is to say rooms with a lot of sunlight will look great with Riverway. You can opt to use it in a slightly cool room because of the green in it, but do this with caution so the color doesn’t appear too muted or dark.

Sherwin Williams Riverway Color Strip: Lighter to Darker Exploration

You may find that Riverway is not the exact shade you want. It may be too dark or light, and you are unsure of how to get what you want. If that is the case, don’t fret. I’ve picked colors similar to Riverway, ranging from lighter to darker.

• Sherwin Williams Tradewind SW 6218
• Sherwin Williams Rain SW 6219
• Sherwin Williams Interesting Aqua SW 6220
• Sherwin Williams Delft SW 9134
• Sherwin Williams Moody Blue SW 6221
• Sherwin Williams Riverway SW 6222
• Sherwin Williams Still Water SW 6223

Sherwin Williams Riverway Complementary Color

On a color wheel, every color faces another color. These colors that face each other are complementary. In other words, complementary colors are opposite each other on a color wheel. Popular examples include red and green, blue and orange, and yellow and purple.

Riverway is not your regular shade of blue, so you may have some difficulty pinpointing the exact complementary color. Fortunately, I’ve done the job so you don’t have to, and the best complementary color is a pretty deep shade of red with some brown in it.

Browse Brown SW 6012 is the closest shade to this color from Sherwin Williams. You can also try Benjamin Moore’s Pinch of Spice 1449 or Behr’s Sweet Truffle 730B-6.

Sherwin Williams Riverway Complementary Colors

Some colors go well together, and we usually say they complement each other. Complementary colors can be any color, and they blend so well, even if they are different shades.

This is usually because of the similarity between them, creating a seamless flow and pleasing combination in any color scheme. The coordinating colors for SW Riverway include Tin Lizzie, Tinsmith, and Topsail.

• Sherwin Wiliams Tin Lizzie SW 9163: A medium gray paint color with enough neutrality to work well with almost every color.
• Sherwin Williams Tinsmith SW 7657: A cool and light gray paint color with a cyan undertone, acting as the perfect light neutral for a dark color like Riverway.
• Sherwin Williams Topsail SW 6217: A sky-blue paint color with enough lightness to act as the pastel in your otherwise saturated decor.

Sherwin Williams Riverway Color Palettes

If you’re looking to paint one room or add color to an already-decorated space, you may not see the importance of a color palette.

However, if you’re only just decorating or have an entire house to paint, color palettes are crucial for a seamless color flow in the decor. So, let’s see examples of different color palettes.

Contrasting Color Palette

• Sand Dollar SW 6099: A beige paint color that looks light tan color but blends well with the beautiful Riverway.
• Snowbound SW 7004: One of the best bright white paint colors in the market because of its versatility and minimal undertones.
• Mountain Air SW 6224: A pale blue paint color that acts as the lighter shade of Riverway and softens the darker color.

Monochromatic Color Palette

• Tradewind SW 6218: A pretty pale version of Riverway and can be used in bits around the same room as Riverway.
• Interesting Aqua SW 6220: Still in the same color strip as Riverway but coming in a lighter shade, Interesting Aqua can maintain the color pattern without looking odd.
• Rain SW 6219: It reminds you of rain in a good way, a shade that is light and playful, still from the same strip as Riverway.

Coordinating Color Palette

• Tinsmith SW 7657: Take a step away from the usual dark gray to something light for the decor, especially if it already feels somber.
• Tin Lizzie SW 9163: A rich and saturated gray paint color that complements the gray depths of Riverway.
• Topsail SW 6217: A pale blue paint color to keep RIverway from feeling too much or to act as neutral if white is not your style.

Sherwin Williams Riverway vs Similar Colors

Only a few colors look similar to SW Riverway, and I want you to see how they compare to each other.

SW Riverway vs SW Slate Tile

Riverway is only one value higher than Slate Tile when it comes to LRV. But both colors have gray in them, although Slate Tile is only blue-gray, while Riverway is a mix of blue, gray, and green.

SW Moscow Midnight vs SW Riverway

Moscow Midnight is another saturated blue with some green in it. However, its LRV of 5 is considerably lower than that of Riverway.

SW Mediterranean vs SW Riverway

Mediterranean is a blue color with similar gray and green undertones. But it has a higher LRV of 18, which means it reflects more light than Riverway.

SW Labradorite vs SW Riverway

Labradorite is slightly different when paired with Riverway because it has more gray. Its LRV of 19 is slightly higher than that of Riverway.

Benjamin Moore Paint Color Equivalent to SW Riverway

You won’t find an exact equivalent paint color from Benjamin Moore to match Sherwin Williams Riverway. The reason is that every paint color is unique, designed to fulfill a specific need. However, some are pretty close in shade and undertones, making them comparable and interchangeable.

Benjamin Moore’s Blue Spruce 1637 is that color that looks close to Riverway. It has almost the same amount of red, green, and blue, although the blue in it is slightly higher than the rest. Another Benjamin Moor paint color that is similar to Riverway is Caribbean Teal 2123-20.

Where Can You Use Sherwin Williams Riverway?

This paint color is not as versatile as some others. It can feel full and deep, so not everyone will feel open to using it. However, it is so stunning that you may be tempted to add it to your decor. So, where does Riverway work? Let’s take a look at some real-life examples.

Best Trim Color for SW Riverway Walls

White is your best bet for a trim color if you want to see the best of Riverway. Try a cool and crisp white with a bit of gray and blue in it to make Riverway pop.

Sherwin Williams Riverway on a Ceiling

Shelve the usual white for your ceiling and try something bold, although white is safe. If your walls are white or a light gray, Riverway can cause the room to look striking and become the central focus of the room.

Sherwin Williams Riverway in a Bathroom

Ok, this bathroom looks amazing, although it is done mostly in Riverway. The striking contrast between the walls and the bathtub is everything, creating sophisticated decor.

Best Ceiling Color for Sherwin Williams Riverway

You can get adventurous or creative and try other colors, but white is the best color for the ceiling. Riverway is rich and full, and you need to ground it with a light color.

Sherwin Williams Riverway in a Living Room

Try Riverway on accents or furniture to see what it looks like in your living room. Pair it with light colors, wood tones, and mustard for the best results.

Sherwin Williams Riverway in a Bedroom

Create a striking appearance and relaxing vibe in your bedroom with a bit of Riverway. You can use it on one wall, on the ceiling, or as an accessories color.

Sherwin Williams Riverway on a Door

Be bold and different with your front door color. Use Riverway on the door and let it be a conversation starter. Let others see the beauty of this paint color. You can also try it on interior doors.

Sherwin Williams Riverway on Window Frames

This restaurant corner may be everyone’s favorite because of this paint color. It looks cool and peaceful, a palace where you can unwind or quietly have a cup of coffee.

Sherwin Williams Riverway on Kitchen Cabinets

If the walls in your kitchen are light-colored, which they usually are, a dark color for the cabinets will make a striking contrast. Check out the next picture for inspiration:

Sherwin Williams Riverway on a Kitchen Island

If you want a bit of color in your kitchen, consider using Riverway on the island. It is a great cabinet color, so it should also work for islands.

Sherwin Williams Riverway on Exteriors

Riverway is a beautiful exterior paint color because of its shade. It won’t look heavy or out of place. The excess daylight will reveal its true shade.

Sherwin Williams Riverway in a Powder Room

Use Riverway with white and light wood tones in your bathroom or powder room for the best result. Its buttery look will create a soothing comfort.

Sherwin Williams Riverway with Various Colors

How does Riverway hold up with different colors around it? Take a look at the next picture to find out.

Conclusion

Sherwin Williams Riverway is a deep blue paint color with cool undertones of green and gray. It has an LRV of 16, which means it doesn’t reflect a lot of light. Consequently, it is best in a room with a lot of light to keep it from looking too dark.

I know it can look like a lot at first, and if that is the case, start with a little. Paint patches with the color, allow it to dry, and see how you like it. You can use it with light neutrals because these colors work well together. Alternatively, follow the examples in the color palettes to create yours.

I’ve no doubt you will enjoy this paint color. You already have everything you need to start your painting journey. Let me know your thoughts and ask your questions in the comments section.