Learn all about Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen in this paint color review.
SW Natural Linen is a really interesting color. It is a warm beige hue with pinkish, peachy undertones, which give it a really unique look on the wall. Natural Linen was really popular about 20 years ago, but recently we’ve seen a lot of interest in this color – and others like it – because it’s a beautiful, warm, soft beige.
Natural Linen can look beautiful, but is definitely not right for every space. At the beginning of 2025, I had a run on people asking me about this color and wanting to try it in their homes. Once we tested it, though, it almost always ended up looking very peachy in place.
Still, it’s a gorgeous color that can work for many homes. The key is using it alongside other colors and finishes that work with its peachy undertones.
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What Color is SW Natural Linen?
Natural Linen by Sherwin-Williams (Sample) is a warm, peachy beige paint color. It has enough pigment that it will never look white (even outdoors) and brings a cozy, inviting feeling to whatever space it’s used in.
Benjamin Moore Natural Linen vs Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen
Before we get into all the details of Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen (Sample), we need to clear up some common confusion about this paint color. What’s confusing is that Benjamin Moore also has a paint color called Natural Linen. The two colors are similar, but not the same.
Both colors are warm, lightish, and beige, but Benjamin Moore Natural Linen leans more into warm, green undertones than Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen, which is peachier and pinker.
In this post, we’re focusing on the Sherwin-Williams version of Natural Linen. If you want to learn more about Benjamin Moore Natural Linen, you can read our full review of that paint color. And read below for a more detailed breakdown of the differences between the two colors.
What is the SW Natural Linen LRV?
The LRV of SW Natural Linen is 66. It’s a bit darker than many of the colors we often see homeowners picking for interior projects today. But it’s still light enough that it won’t overpower a space – even if it’s used for an open-concept living area or a whole-house color palette.
Is SW Natural Linen warm or cool?
Natural Linen is definitely a warm paint color. It fits in well with the warm, cozy color palettes we see many homeowners asking for in 2025 (Article). But you do have to pay close attention to its undertones to ensure it will work in your space.
What are the Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen undertones?
SW Natural Linen has peachy undertones that make it look almost pink in some settings. Just looking at the swatch on your computer screen, it can be hard to see its undertones. But when you compare it to other beige paint colors with different undertones, it becomes a lot clearer.
There are three main types of beige paint colors: pink beige, green beige and yellow beige. Look at the three paint colors below, and you can see just how different their undertones really are. Some people think that SW Natural Linen has yellow undertones, and it does not. If you look at it next to a yellow beige, it’s easy to see the difference.
All of these types of beiges can be absolutely beautiful, but you have to choose carefully to ensure the hue will look good in your space with your finishes. One hard and fast rule of color consulting, for example, is that you can’t pair a pink beige with a yellow beige.
It’s not just about paint colors, either. If your home has finishes with warm, yellow undertones, Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen will look discordant with it.
What is one shade lighter than Natural Linen Sherwin-Williams?
Sherwin-Williams Aesthetic White (Sample) is a lighter version of Natural Linen. If you like the warmth and peachy undertones of Natural Linen but want something lighter, then Aesthetic White could be a great choice.
Whatever you do, don’t ask your paint store to lighten Natural Linen. When you add white to a color to lighten it, you risk changing the color’s undertones and creating a hue that really doesn’t match your vision. Plus, it’s really hard to get the exact same color again if you need more paint.
Instead of paint matching, simply choose an existing paint color with the same undertones that has the LRV you’re looking for. In this case, SW Aesthetic White (LRV=73) could be a great option.
Sample SW Natural Linen
We always recommend that you test paint colors on your home because lighting can change a color completely, both with interiors as well as exteriors.
In the old days, this meant we painted a large poster board with sample pots and a huge mess.
Now we have a better way to test paint, with Samplize Peel-and-Stick samples!
- Samples pre-painted with 2 coats of real paint from the manufacturer.
- Large 9” x 14” samples to see the color better in the lighting.
- Delivered overnight
- Colors are accurate
- Less expensive than painting a large poster board with sample pots
- No mess, and no toxic paint to dispose of
I use these in my color consulting practice for exact results. Discover Samplize peel-and-stick paint samples:
Using Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen Interior Paint
Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen paint can be absolutely beautiful in the right spaces. But its peachy undertones can also be a bit hard to work with. The photos we’re featuring in this post were actually the before photos of a client’s home, taken before we helped them pick a new paint color.
While the homeowner wanted a change, Natural Linen looked so beautiful in this home. And there are some great examples of just how beautiful this color can be!
Is a Natural Linen bedroom a good idea?
Yes, SW Natural Linen is a great choice for a warm, calming bedroom paint color (Article). In our client’s bedroom below, Natural Linen walls look really beautiful as the foundation for the space’s neutral color palette, and keep the room feeling warm and inviting.
Can I paint a SW Natural Linen dining room?
Absolutely! A Natural Linen dining room would look beautiful in many homes. The warm hue pairs really well with dark wood, as seen in our client’s dining room below. It’s a great option if you want a slightly darker color for your dining room but don’t want to overpower the space.
Should I try SW Natural Linen cabinets?
I would not use Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen as a cabinet paint color (Article) because the undertone is so specific that it can be very hard to find countertops and other kitchen finishes that look good with it. In our client’s home, for example, the only space Natural Linen really didn’t work, was in the kitchen.
But the challenge for this house was the very large and dominant granite countertop. It is a very warm, kind of golden granite called Santa Cecilia (see below). This stone has so much yellow in it that it really didn’t look good with Natural Linen’s pinky-peach undertones. We see this granite countertop A LOT both in our in-person and online projects. It was very popular in the day.
Natural Linen looks perfectly lovely with the kitchen’s warm cherry wood cabinets.
But when you view it alongside the countertops, it looks really discordant.
Painting Natural Linen cabinets would significantly limit your finish options, so it’s not my first choice. If you do use it on cabinets, it looks great with a clean white backsplash and most quartz countertops.
Does SW Natural Linen work for North-facing rooms?
Natural Linen is fantastic in a North-facing room (Article). These rooms tend to get cool light and may also have less natural light overall. SW Natural Linen has so much warmth that it still looks lovely and inviting in the cool light.
What about South-facing rooms?
Yes, you can use Natural Linen in a South-facing room (Article), too. While Natural Linen may look even warmer than usual in the warm light of a Southern exposure, it has enough pigment not to look washed out.
Is SW Natural Linen a good whole-house color?
It absolutely can be! You have to make sure it flows with all the undertones of the finishes, furniture, and other paint colors in your home.
In our client’s home, for example, the undertone works great with the stacked stone fireplace in the family room.
It also looks so cozy and inviting in our client’s entryway, where there is a ton of natural light.
I would choose this as a whole-house paint color (Article) if the house gets a ton of sunshine and doesn’t have hard finishes that will clash with the peachy undertones.
Best SW Natural Linen Coordinating Colors
While you do have to be careful of Natural Linen’s undertones, it’s actually a pretty versatile paint color and looks beautiful alongside many other hues.
Does SW Natural Linen go with green and blue?
I love to pair Natural Linen paint with green hues, especially greens with cooler blue undertones. I would not use a color with very strong yellow undertones because those can look discordant with Natural Linen. Deep teal paint colors and even light or dark blue can be really beautiful.
Does Natural Linen go with white?
Natural Linen looks best with clean white paint colors and finishes. I would not use it with overly creamy off-white hues like Shell White or Oyster White because they won’t look right with the Natural Linen undertones. Instead, go for a cooler, clean white.
Does SW Natural Linen go with SW Alabaster?
I would not recommend these two colors together. They’re both absolutely beautiful in the right settings, but Alabaster (Article) as strong yellow undertones that will definitely clash with the pink undertones of Natural Linen.
What are the Best Interior Trim and Ceiling Colors For Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen?
Stick with clean whites when choosing interior trim for SW Natural Linen walls. Sherwin-Williams White Snow (clean white) (Sample) or Sherwin-Williams Extra White (blue white) (Article) are both good options. Darker whites won’t provide enough contrast with Natural Linen, and creamier whites can look off compared to Natural Linen’s undertones.
Best Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen Alternatives
Not sure if SW Natural Linen is right for your project? Explore the color comparisons below to see how it compares to other popular beige paint colors.
BM Natural Linen vs SW Natural Linen
As we mentioned above, Benjamin Moore Natural Linen (Article) is often confused with Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen. But while they’re similar, they can’t be used interchangeably. BM Natural Linen is darker than you would expect a beige to be these days and it doesn’t skew as pink as the SW version.
SW Natural Linen vs SW Accessible Beige
SW Accessible Beige (Article) is darker than SW Natural Linen, with an LRV of 58. It’s also much more muted and cooler, with green undertones.
SW Natural Linen vs BM Manchester Tan
Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan (Article) is just slightly darker than Natural Linen, with an LRV of 63, but it looks very different because of its strong green undertones.
SW Natural Linen vs SW Wool Skein
Sherwin-Williams Wool Skein (Sample) is very similar to both BM Manchester Tan and BM Natural Linen. When compared to Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen, however, there are some clear differences. It has green undertones and is less muted than Manchester Tan, so it looks slightly warmer than Natural Linen.
SW Natural Linen vs BM Muslin
Benjamin Moore Muslin (Sample) is one of the closest match’s to Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen. It has similar pink undertones and a nearly identical LRV (66.54). But SW Natural Linen is a bit more muted and looks softer than BM Muslin.
What is the Best Benjamin Moore Alternative for SW Natural Linen?
Despite its name, Benjamin Moore Natural Linen is not the best option if you want a Benjamin Moore color that looks like SW Natural Linen. The closest Benjamin Moore match is probably BM Tucson Winds (Sample). It has an LRV of 64.62 and has similar peachy undertones. While it’s actually slightly more pink than SW Natural Linen, it will looks very similar in place.
SW Natural Linen Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Offers a warm beige color perfect for today’s warm interior color trends
- Has enough pigment and warmth that it will look great in rooms with low light
- LRV is perfect at 66 that it won’t wash out in rooms flooded with light
- Is an excellent foundation for whole-house color palettes
Cons:
- Has a strong peachy/pink undertone
- May be too dark for many of today’s lighter color palettes
- Undertones are too strong and pink to use as a cabinet color
Key Learning Points
Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen is a beautiful, warm beige paint color that can help make any space cozy and inviting.
- SW Natural Linen has strong pinky-peach undertones. They give the color its warmth but can also make it look discordant with colors and finishes that have strong yellow undertones. Be sure to test carefully.
- SW Natural Linen is a great option for both North- and South-facing rooms. It works best in spaces with lots of natural light.
- Avoid pairing SW Natural Linen with overly creamy whites, such as SW Alabaster. Instead, option for clean, cooler whites like SW White Snow and SW Extra White.
Remember: NEVER, EVER use paint matches from a different brand than the one specified. Results are poor and there are no standards for the sheens. Even though your painter may truly believe it can be done, don’t do it. See results from paint matching here.
No matter what, always test your paint colors. It’s a standard best practice. Whenever I test my paint colors, they are perfect, and when I don’t test they turn out wrong. Learn how to test your paint colors here.
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Related Posts
- Benjamin Moore Natural Linen Color Review
- Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan Color Review
- Best Warm Beige Paint Colors for 2025
- Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige Color Review
About the Author
Hi, I’m Michelle Marceny, founder, owner, and Principal Color Designer at The Color Concierge. I believe a fresh coat of paint can completely transform a space. The Color Concierge was born out of my drive to help clients fall back in love with their homes. My clients trust me to help them find the perfect paint color for their home – whether it’s a whole-house paint color scheme or ideas for a single room.
Since The Color Concierge was founded in 2017, we have completed over 3000 color consultations, both online and in-person. I am a Certified Color Expert with 7 years of experience creating interior and exterior color palettes throughout North America.
We love your comments! Please note that the blog is meant as general advice, and it is not possible to give out specific answers to your paint questions. If you want more specific advice, please consider purchasing a color consultation. Thank you for your understanding.
One Response
I used Natural Linen as my base wall color in my bedroom with one side wall that has full height battens which is painted in SW Auric. The rest of the room has off whites, metallic golds, tans, roses, and other softer warm tones. The paints add that green and earthy tones.
The bedroom windows face south west and pick up all of that evening glow. It’s a great space to unwind in at dusk.