The BEST Ways to Use Naval, Sherwin Williams Color of the Year for 2020

Sherwin Williams announced their 2020 Color of the Year, Naval, last September. A deeply rich navy blue, Naval can be both traditional as well as contemporary and can be used in many ways throughout your home. So whether you want a timeless look or an edge, you can achieve that with this versatile color.

First, let’s discuss the process. The Color Marketing Team at Sherwin Williams literally traveled the globe to gather inspiration and bring it back to the States. Sue Wadden, the Director of Color Marketing says, “Naval merges the desire for rich, inspiring color with our yearning for relaxation and retreat.” Don’t you feel more relaxed just reading that? There is a reason for that! Psychology plays a big part in how color affects us and blue is known for being calming and relaxing. Naval specifically is deep and rich with no other undertones and no question that it is a classic, timeless navy blue.

The next questions to follow are usually, where can I use it in my house? Isn’t it too dark? To answer the first question, there are very few places that you cannot use Naval, interior AND exterior! Determining if a color is too dark depends on where it is being used and someone’s individual perception of what is considered “dark”. Yes, Naval is considered a “dark” color in terms of the LVR(Light Reflective Value) The light is literally measured bouncing off a color and with Naval, light tends to be absorbed, instead of reflecting. So yes, this color in a small bedroom with 8ft ceilings and only one window can seem “dark”. But if it’s a cozy office and you want to feel like your wrapped in a cocoon, this may be perfect for that application! Next we will discuss the many areas of your home where this color can evoke relaxation and conversation.

If the idea of a dark color makes you nervous, start with one accent wall. Don’t be concerned about whether accent walls are “trendy” because it’s the color combinations that can look outdated. Accent walls are a great way to bring color into a space without committing to the whole room. Accent walls should be walls that have some sort of primary focus, such as a fireplace wall, the wall the TV, a wall with nice big windows or a wall with great art work. You never want an accent wall to look forced. Here are several other examples of where you can use Naval in your home:

· Kitchen island or cabinets (paired with white or light gray cabinets)

· A piece of furniture

· Built-in bookcases

· Tray or Coffered ceilings (I suggest ceilings that have a nice symmetrical shape and crown moulding)

· Interior doors

· Theatre/Media Rooms

· Front door (either the inside of the door or the exterior or both!)

· Shutters

· Exterior Body of the house (depending on the architecture. Historic homes would not have been painted a dark blue like this)

If you do decide to paint the 4 walls of a room this color, here is the best way to determine if it would work in your space. If your trim and door/window casings are less than 4” you won’t have much contrast with the wall color, and it could become overpowering. Think of a 1970’s ranch with 3” baseboards and 8ft ceilings vs. a historic home with 8” baseboards and 9ft ceilings. Also, look at how many openings are there in the room. If this is a dining room with a nice big picture window, a wide opening to the living room and a doorway to the kitchen, then you don’t have four solid walls. In that case, the color will not overpower the room.

Now that you have decided to go for it, you’ll want to consider what other colors pair nicely with Naval. We can go back to the days of elementary art when we learned about “complimentary colors”, which are colors that are opposite on the color wheel. In this case, it would be yellow or orange. An earthy mustard color like SW6369 Tassel is a great place to start. Again, think outside the box of 4 walls of a room. Maybe in your Naval dining room, you choose to paint an old frame in Tassel, or buy a runner for the table that is similar to the rich, mustard yellow. A traditional light gray will always pair nicely with navy. In that case, you could paint your kitchen SW7671 On the Rocks, which is open to the Naval dining room. Other colors that pair nicely with Naval are: SW9166 Drift of Mist, SW7576 Natural Tan, SW0070 Pink Shadow and SW7506 Loggia.

If you want a monochromatic color scheme, choose a much lighter version of Naval, such as SW7656 Rhinestone. There are so many possibilities and that is why Naval is such a great color for anyone’s home.

The other finishes in the room are also important to consider. Brass has made an exceptional comeback in the last year or so and it a great compliment to Naval. Brass has yellow undertones, so the sharp contrast is a great way to catch the eye and as explained above, is a complimentary color to blue. Rich wood tones also look lovely paired with Naval. There is something so earthy and warm about a rich wood stain like Walnut and navy blue. Finishes like nickel chrome will also balance nicely with Naval and provide a timeless look if brass isn’t your style.

The last thing you’ll want to consider is the finish of the paint. Dark colors show a lot more of the sheen, or how shiny the paint is. With a color this deep, I would recommend either a Flat or Matte finish.

I hope this information will give you the confidence to use Naval throughout your home!

If you need more help, head over to Gillie Cavan Color & Design for some professional advice on color and design. Erin, the owner of Gillie Cavan, worked as a color consultant and color program supervisor with Sherwin Williams for 6 years. During that time, she helped over 3,000 clients with over 5,000 color consultations. She can guide you to finding your true colors!