Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen review (SW 9109)

What color is Natural Linen?

Natural Linen (SW 9109) is a light, warm beige with a greige base. Sherwin-Williams describes it as a "light, warm neutral" with a greige undertone that pairs well with light wood tones, and that sums it up: it is unmistakably beige, but soft and muted rather than yellow.

Natural Linen undertones

Natural Linen's yellow–blue value (b*) is +9.4, warmer than Accessible Beige (+8.7) and far warmer than the popular greiges. Its green–red value (a*) is +1.5, a small warm-red lean. Together they give Natural Linen its soft, sandy warmth; in warm evening light that red lean can make it read slightly peachy or taupe.

Natural Linen LRV and light

Natural Linen has an LRV of 66.3: lighter than Accessible Beige (57.7), so it feels airy, but with enough color that walls clearly read as beige.

Simulated from the manufacturer's color values. Always test a sample in your own light.

It is at its best in north- and east-facing rooms that need warmth. In strong south or west light it can get quite warm and golden, so test it there first if you want a cooler neutral.

Best uses for Natural Linen

Natural Linen suits living rooms, bedrooms and dining rooms where you want a relaxed, warm backdrop. As Sherwin-Williams suggests, it looks best with light woods such as white oak, ash and maple, and with linen, jute and rattan. It is also listed for exterior use, where it gives a soft sand-colored house that pairs well with white trim and a dark roof.

Where to be careful: next to cool gray tile or stone, its warmth can look yellow by contrast. In those spaces a greige such as Agreeable Gray is usually the easier match.

Natural Linen color strip

Natural Linen is the lightest color on its strip. One step darker is Malabar (SW 9110, LRV 53.1), then Antler Velvet (LRV 43.4), down to deep browns like Fallen Leaves and Cowboy Boots, all in the same warm family.

Natural Linen hex code, RGB and LRV

Sherwin-Williams lists Natural Linen (SW 9109) as hex #DFD3C3, RGB 223, 211, 195 and LRV 66.329.

Natural Linen coordinating and complementary colors

Sherwin-Williams' coordinating colors for Natural Linen are a soft white, a deeper warm beige and a muted gray-violet:

Divine White makes a soft, warm trim; Antler Velvet adds depth on an accent wall or cabinetry; Gris Morado brings a cool, complementary contrast that keeps the beige from feeling heavy. Muted greens and slate blues also complement its warmth well.

Colors similar to Natural Linen

Natural Tan (SW 7567) is the closest Sherwin-Williams color we measured, with a ΔE under 1. In Benjamin Moore, Edgecomb Gray is the nearest, a little darker and less warm.

ΔE is the CIEDE2000 color difference between the two manufacturer colors: around 1 is barely visible; 2–3 is visible when the chips sit side by side.

Natural Linen FAQs