Waterfall
What Waterfall Actually Looks Like
Waterfall reads like cool water caught in a glass, a light blue-green that feels clean without going clinical. It sits in that sweet spot between blue and green where neither side fully wins. In bright daylight the color looks airy and almost minty. Under warm incandescent light it calms down and leans slightly greener. In north-facing rooms the blue side comes forward, giving you more of a spa-water quality. With an LRV of 70.9, it reflects a good amount of light, so it keeps rooms feeling open even when you use it on every wall.
Waterfall Undertones
The dominant undertone is cool blue, but there is a secondary green current running through Waterfall that keeps it from feeling icy. Some designers read it as a soft teal, while others insist it is firmly a blue with just enough green to stay friendly. That debate matters because in rooms flooded with natural light, the green becomes more apparent. In shadowy corners or north-facing spaces, the blue takes charge. If you are sensitive to blue reading too cold, test a large sample on the actual wall, because small swatches can hide the blue lean.
Where Waterfall Works Best
Waterfall works anywhere you want a sense of calm without making the space feel overly sleepy. It is a natural fit for bathrooms, where its watery quality feels right at home. In bedrooms it creates a restful backdrop that pairs well with white bedding and natural wood. Living rooms benefit from its high reflectivity, especially if the room does not get tons of direct sun. In kitchens, try it on an island or lower cabinets paired with white uppers for a fresh, modern look. It is also a strong choice for a front door or a sunroom where you want color that stays cheerful year round.
Where to put Waterfall
Waterfall turns a bedroom into a quiet retreat. Use it on all four walls and pair it with Egret White on the trim and ceiling. Layer in warm textures like linen curtains and a jute rug to balance the cool tone. The LRV of 70.9 means even a smaller bedroom will feel spacious.
This is where Waterfall really shines. Paint it on the walls above white subway tile and let the color do the talking. It pairs well with brass or matte gold fixtures, which add warmth against the cool blue-green. Natural Tan on a vanity or woven baskets keeps the room from feeling too sterile.
In a living room, Waterfall gives you color without drama. Use it as your main wall color and bring in Natural Tan through throw pillows, a wooden coffee table, or a woven shade. White or cream upholstery keeps things light. If the room gets strong afternoon sun, expect the green undertone to show up more, which is a good thing.
Try Waterfall on kitchen cabinets for a coastal, collected feel, or use it as a wall color behind open shelving stocked with white dishware. Pair it with Egret White on the trim and a warm wood cutting board or butcher block counter to bring some earthiness into the mix.
What to Pair With Waterfall
Sherwin-Williams suggests Natural Tan and Egret White as coordinating colors, and those choices make sense. Natural Tan is a warm, sandy neutral that grounds Waterfall's coolness and keeps a room from feeling one-note. Egret White is a soft, slightly warm white that works beautifully as trim or ceiling color, giving you contrast without the harshness of a pure white.
Waterfall vs similar colors
All comparisons are matched against Waterfall at LRV 70.9.
Colors that clash with Waterfall
If you pair Waterfall with other cool blues or grays on the trim, furniture, and textiles, the whole room can feel chilly and flat, especially in winter or north-facing spaces.
A stark, cool white trim can push Waterfall's blue undertone forward and make it look more intense than you expected on the swatch.
Strong warm pinks and corals can create a jarring contrast with Waterfall's cool blue-green base, making both colors look off.
Common questions
Waterfall has an LRV of 70.9, which places it in the light range. It reflects a generous amount of light and keeps rooms feeling bright and open without washing out.
It depends on the light. The dominant read is cool blue, but a green undertone is always present. In warm, south-facing light the green shows up more. In cooler, north-facing light the blue takes over. Most people land on calling it a blue-green.
A soft warm white like Egret White is the safest and most flattering trim choice. It provides clean contrast without amplifying the blue undertone the way a bright, cool white would.
Yes, but expect it to lean more blue and slightly cooler. The LRV of 70.9 means it still reflects light well, so the room will not feel dark. Pair it with warm lighting and warm accents to offset the blue shift.