Upward SW 6239

The color of the year 2024, a gorgeous gray-blue that marks the shift to light neutrals full of contentment, well-being, and optimism.

LRV 57

Upward (SW 6239): What Color Is, Review, and Use

The Color of the Year 2024 at Sherwin-Williams marks the shift to lighter natural shades after several years of earthy colors. Upward SW 6239 emerged from Redend Point, a blush clay tone that renders a feel of home and connection, Sherwin-Williams’ color of the year 2023. Back to the star of this season, Sherwin-Williams’ Upward is a delightful green-blue with a grayish tint.

There is more to this blue. SW colorists created this breezy pastel tone to encourage us to take a second and meditate on the moment. Like a breath of fresh air, this blissful sky-blue color reminds us to slow down and clear our minds. No secret color plays an essential role in how we feel and see the world, and choosing a refreshing and calming blue like this in your home will surely bring a change to your well-being.

Upward Paint Color Features

The mid-tone neutral blue that took centerstage this season renders complete contentment, creativity, and freedom. The clear blue sky has always been there; you just have to look up and see the world from a new perspective.

“With this color, we invite our consumers to take a pause and infuse a new sense of ease and possibility into their spaces,” states Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. Moreover, the Sherwin-Williams team claims that this new-generation blue represents the shift from the long-lasting farmhouse interiors to the emerging coastal style, which is expected to become impressively popular. Upward is a promising light and airy blue that will bring change to the interior and exterior design.

Upward: Is It Warm or Cold?

The first impression may lead to the idea that Sherwin-Williams’ Upward is a cool blue. Let’s check the facts. Colorists operate with such a term as RGB value, showing the amount of Red, Green, and Blue in a color. At SW 6239, the blue value prevails over red and green, making this paint color seem relatively cool. Yet, lighting is essential.

How Does Lighting Affect Upward?

An abundance of natural lighting brings an overly light effect to this gorgeous blue shade, drawing it closer to gray. On the other hand, the lack of natural light leads to a more intense blue. Some colorists even underline the presence of a subtle purple note under specific lighting conditions.

In this context, we mention the difference between exposures. For instance, expect Upward to look colder and more solid in a north-facing room. Simultaneously, the eastern, south-western, and primarily southern exposure makes this beloved blue appear softer and sun-kissed. The story changes at night when artificial lighting transforms this light blue into a deeper gray blue, yet the type of lighting source still plays an essential role (ambient or task lighting).

Upward LRV

The Light Reflectance Value is a valuable figure that shows how much light a color can bounce back, revealing how light or dark this shade is. It’s essential to know the LRV to be aware of how a paint color will behave. Upward has an LRV of 57, which means a mid-tone blue. Therefore, it is pretty skillful at reflecting light and preserving the room well-lit and airy. Still, don’t hesitate to experiment with a color sample in your home before painting the walls or furniture.

Upward Undertones

This light denim blue proudly shows off a beautiful mix of green and gray undertones that take us to the stratosphere. This beautiful pairing of natural notes makes for an airy blue that feels as easy and relaxed as it looks.

Similar Colors

Blues have always been popular among paint brands. Undoubtedly, you’ll find lighter, darker, cooler, or softer blue variations of Upward. We’ve gathered the most prominent alternatives from Sherwin-Williams and other renowned manufacturers.

Icy SW 6534 by Sherwin-Williams – this slightly colder icy blue devoid of the gray undertone feels even fresher than Upward;
Krypton SW 6247 by Sherwin-Williams – with a more emphasized gray note, this light blue shade seems slightly heavier on a space;
Iced Slate 2130-60 by Benjamin Moore – almost the same gray-blue you can safely use as an alternative to SW 6239;
Mt. Rainier Gray 2129-60 by Benjamin Moore – a feathery tinge of green adds more vibrancy to this neutral gray-blue;
Icicles N490-2 by Behr – a slightly darker neutral blue that stands out with a rather green-gray undertone;
Flowing Breeze N480-2 by Behr – an airy green-blue diluted with foggy gray notes of refreshing calmness.

Coordinating Colors

According to colorists, Upward pairs well with crisp whites, fresh greens, cool pastels, earthy brown shades, and accent dark colors. You should choose between a monochromatic color palette with SW 6239 or a color code of contrast. Here are a few of the best matching paint colors for Upward:

Icicle SW 6238 by Sherwin-Williams – a bright pastel violet with gray-blue undertones that will effortlessly soften the slightly cool Upward;
Extra White SW 7006 by Sherwin-Williams – the truest white at this brand; it will serve as a perfect trim paint color paired with walls painted in gray-blue;
Snowbound SW 7004 by Sherwin-Williams – a soft off-white tone, neither warm nor cold, that will stylishly complement a light blue shade like SW 6239;
Natural Linen SW 9109 by Sherwin-Williams – a mid-tone beige diluted with the coziest yellow-pink undertones; the proper pastel to combine with Upward;
Drift of Mist SW 9166 by Sherwin-Williams– a creamy pastel gray with the calmest feature that will beautifully embrace the relaxed and unconditional character of Upward;
Honeydew SW 6428 by Sherwin-Williams – a warm yellow-green rooted in the sweet honey scent for a calm coastal effect formed together with Upward;
Palm Leaf SW 7735 by Sherwin-Williams – a generously saturated olive green with perceivable yellow notes that read tropical;
Antiquarian Brown SW 0045 by Sherwin-Williams – a weathered shade of vivid brown that brings a soft yellow veil to the surface;
Gale Force SW 7605 by Sherwin-Williams – a deep and dark marine green-blue that will continue the Upward’s fairytale on a more confident note;
Tricorn Black SW 6258 by Sherwi-Williams – a no-fail true black shade for accents in a gray-blue space.

Use of Upward in the Interior

Sherwin-Williams’ team recommends using Upward in both modern and traditional design styles. Since designers predict Coastal to be favored, this gorgeous blue seems more than welcome. Decorate all walls, ceilings, or furniture with this calm and restorative shade of blue. Experts draw our attention to relaxation spaces, such as the bedroom, where Upward will thrive and help you ease your mind. The color marketing director from the brand says that Upward looks awe-inspiring on a bathroom vanity paired with marble or on kitchen cabinets. The choice is all yours, yet a splash of inspiration won’t hurt.

New Coastal

Feel the marine breeze in your home with a renewed Coastal style updated by the brand-new blue from Sherwin-Williams. Embrace the calm and free lifestyle by stylishly pairing walls painted in light blue, white trim, and wicker furniture. Keep worries at bay when surrounded by this most welcoming combination of colors and textures in any room of your home.

Modern Gray-Blue

It’s impressive how the same traditional blue transforms into a modern color with the right accents. If you feel closer to a contemporary look, use Upward in your home paired with light pastels and wooden furniture for a more relaxed ambiance. At the same time, we cannot help but admire the integration of this blissful blue in rich color palettes of vibrant or dark shades for a trendy, energetic vibe.

Bedroom

Upward is the right blue shade for a relaxing and carefree bedroom. To be precise, experts from Sherwin-Williams see it as one of the best paint colors for spaces where we expect to relax, forget about worries, and be one with our thoughts. Enhance the airy effect by pairing blue walls with white, or enjoy the contrast between Upward and earthy colors, which perfectly complete each other.

Kitchen

No doubt, Upward looks beautiful in any room, especially in a kitchen. Think traditional kitchen cabinets painted blue together with white or black accents. Or, consider a fully modern cooking space with stylish ribbed cabinets in blue and white or vividly colored walls.

Bathroom

Blue will always look trendy in the bathroom, especially a breezy blue like SW 6239. As mentioned, a gray-blue vanity and a marble top will be mainstream. Still, this light and whimsical blue looks well on walls when paired with wooden furniture for a comfortable bathroom ambiance.

Use of Upward for the Exterior

On Sherwin-Williams’ website, we can find that Upward is a pretty good paint color for the exterior house as well. Even more, colorists say it looks full of character both on the exterior walls and the front door. For the latter, consider white for walls. Still, the region plays an essential role in how natural lighting will affect this color. Are you looking for a cool or rather soft blue for your exterior? It is better to use a color sample beforehand. Nevertheless, we cannot deny that Upward is the “it” color in the world of emerging exterior paint colors.

The Upward SW 6239 paint color by Sherwin-Williams will restore well-being and make you feel content when arriving home. Embrace the new wave of light paint colors with the primary representant – the color of the year 2024.

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