Refresh
What Refresh Actually Looks Like
Refresh is a clean, mid-light teal that sits squarely between blue and green without committing fully to either. Think sea glass held up to daylight. It reads bright enough to keep a room airy (LRV 58.7) but saturated enough to register as a real color, not a tinted white. In person the blue leans forward while a green base keeps things grounded and organic. On a swatch it can look almost minty, but on a full wall it settles into a composed, watery teal that shifts cooler under LED light and slightly greener in warm afternoon sun.
Refresh Undertones
The dominant undertone is blue, with a secondary teal-cool quality that some designers read as aqua and others call seafoam. In north-facing rooms the blue undertone intensifies, pushing the color toward a cooler, almost icy territory. South-facing light warms it just enough to reveal the green base, and that is when the teal character really shows up. There is very little gray in this color, which keeps it from feeling moody. If you are sensitive to cool tones reading as clinical, test it alongside a warm white trim to see how it balances in your specific light.
Where Refresh Works Best
Refresh works well on walls in bathrooms, bedrooms, and kitchens where you want a calming but lively backdrop. It is popular on bathroom vanity walls and as a full-wrap color in small powder rooms, where its LRV of 58.7 keeps the space feeling open. In kitchens it pairs naturally with white cabinetry and brass or gold hardware. You can also use it on a front door or porch ceiling for classic coastal charm. For exteriors, it reads best as an accent, siding on a cottage, or a shutter color against white clapboard. Avoid using it in windowless rooms where the blue undertone can go flat without natural light to activate the green base.
Where to put Refresh
Refresh turns a bedroom into a restful retreat without the heaviness of a darker teal. Use it on all four walls and pair it with white bedding and warm wood nightstands. The color is cool enough to feel soothing at night but light enough (LRV 58.7) to feel fresh when morning sun hits it.
This is where Refresh really earns its name. On bathroom walls it reads like spa water, especially against white subway tile and chrome or polished nickel fixtures. In a small bathroom it keeps the space feeling expansive. Pair it with Nebulous White on the ceiling to avoid a closed-in feel.
In a living room, Refresh works best as an accent wall or in a space with plenty of natural light. Full-room coverage can skew cool in larger rooms, so balance it with warm textiles, leather, or a creamy sofa. Software as a secondary wall color creates a layered, calm palette.
Refresh on kitchen walls or an island base brings clean energy to the room. White or light gray cabinetry keeps it bright, and warm brass cabinet pulls add the contrast this cool color needs. Avoid pairing it with cool stainless everything, or the kitchen can feel a bit sterile.
What to Pair With Refresh
Sherwin-Williams suggests Nebulous White and Software as coordinating colors, and that is a smart starting trio. Nebulous White is a warm, barely-there neutral that keeps Refresh from feeling too icy, while Software, a warm medium gray, grounds the palette without competing. For trim, a crisp true white sharpens the look. A creamy off-white softens it. Add a deep navy or charcoal accent for contrast, or bring in warm wood tones and brass metallics to play against the coolness.
Refresh vs similar colors
All comparisons are matched against Refresh at LRV 58.7.
Colors that clash with Refresh
In north-facing rooms Refresh can lose its green base entirely and read as a cold, almost clinical blue.
Because Refresh sits opposite warm orange-reds on the color wheel, pairing it with terra cotta or rust decor can create a jarring contrast that feels unintentional.
Paired with too many bright whites and primary-color accents, Refresh can veer into nursery territory.
Common questions
Refresh has an LRV of 58.7, which places it in the mid-light range. It is bright enough to keep rooms feeling open but saturated enough to read as a distinct color on walls.
Refresh sits right between blue and green, which is why it is classified as teal. In cool or north-facing light it leans more blue. In warm, south-facing light the green base comes forward. Most people read it as blue-dominant overall.
A crisp white trim sharpens the contrast and gives the color a clean, modern look. For a softer feel, try Nebulous White (SW 7063), which has enough warmth to keep Refresh from looking stark.
Yes, but it works best as an accent rather than full siding on a large home. Think shutters, a front door, or a porch ceiling. Direct sunlight can wash it out, so test your sample outdoors at different times of day.