
Oh how I love the chance to give you guys a thorough paint color review for a new hue that I’ve used and fallen in love with! It’s one of my favorite things to do here on the blog, and I love that you guys seem to find these helpful, too. Are you on the hunt for the perfect neutral paint color for a space in your home and feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of options? Or maybe you, like me, have fallen in love with the putty hues that keep finding their way into so many chic spaces seen around the interwebs. Well, look no further than Sherwin Williams Shiitake!
This earthy and versatile shade is an increasingly popular choice for both interior and exterior paint projects, and today I’m diving into my experience trying Shiitake on one of my own DIY paint projects, its color profile qualities and tips for incorporating it into your own color scheme.


One little note about the pics: I used a little photoshop magic to experiment with different art options above the dresser. So let me know which option you like! It’s so fun to be able to experiment with different options digitally before I land on a decision.
As you can see in the pics, we gave this steadfast old dresser a little facelift that would make it fit perfectly in our new bedroom by painting it in Sherwin Williams Shiitake. As always, when I had an idea that I wanted to paint this dresser in the perfect “putty” color, I went down a putty paint rabbit hole and went through way too many samples on my way to finding my unicorn. Paint colors can be so hard, especially in a new space! I had no idea what the light would do to a neutral paint color in this room, so it was an adventure figuring out what colors and undertones would work.
Finally we landed on Shiitake and I’m SO glad we took a chance on it. I was initially scared it might skew too grey in our space, but I absolutely love it! As a side note, if you’ve been around this little blog for a few years, you may already know that this antique dresser has moved from room to room and been repainted several times. It’s seen some stuff, and it continues to find new life in new spaces in our house. Which makes me heart so happy!
Click to see how we’ve given this dresser a paint makeover before:
What is Sherwin Williams Shiitake?
Shiitake is a warm gray-beige paint color by Sherwin Williams with slightly pink undertones, which I can definitely see in the dresser in our bedroom. It has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 51, which means it’s a medium-light color (Light Reflectance Value or LRV is a scale that measures the percentage of light that a paint color reflects. It’s measured on a scale from 0 to 100, with 0 being the darkest color or black, and 100 being the lightest color or white).
Because of its neutral hue, Shiitake is a really versatile color that can work well in so many different rooms in your home. The sky’s the limit! And it’s perfect for creating a calming and relaxing atmosphere, which is why we thought it was a great choice for this dresser in our very zen new bedroom. Another thing I really love about this color is that it’s at once stylish, timeless and sophisticated – not an easy balance to strike for any paint color. Which is why I think I’ve fallen so hard for it and would now consider it one of my very favorite neutral paint colors. It can do so many things!
Why Choose Sherwin Williams Shiitake?
- It’s a versatile color that can be used in a variety of rooms. Shiitake’s a great choice for any room in your home, from the living room to the bedroom to the kitchen, and when I was researching this neutral color before using it on my own project, I came across images of the color utilized beautifully in pretty much every one of those spaces. It’s also a serious style chameleon and can be used to create a variety of different looks, from traditional to modern, but I particularly love how well it lends itself to that cozy cottage/traditional vibe.
- It’s a calming and relaxing color. Shiitake, like so many of the best neutral or putty paint colors out there, is a great choice for creating a calming and relaxing environment in a space in your home. That’s why it’s particularly perfect for bedrooms and living rooms, where you want to create a space to unwind and relax.
- It’s a timeless color. Shiitake is a timeless color that I think will never really go out of style, as long as its not overdone. Because of its beige or “greige” hue, I think there’s a chance that over-utilizing the color on every wall in a room could date it at some point. That’s why it’s particularly powerful as an accent color used on cabinets and furniture. Stylish and beautiful forever!


How to Use Shiitake
After working with this color and figuring out some of the nuance in the hue, here’s a few ideas for how to best utilize Shiitake in your home:
- Kitchen: One of my favorite spaces I’ve seen Shiitake used in is the kitchen. It is a great choice for creating a cozy, traditional, timeless look in the kitchen and looks just dreamy on cabinets, kitchen islands, built-ins and the like. I love it paired with warm, inviting cream or off-white walls or cabinetry. And because of its versatility, Shiitake pairs perfectly with chrome, stainless steel, black and gold/bronze, so the sky’s the limit on hardware and appliance colors!
- Bedroom: Shiitake is a great choice for the bedroom, too which is why we thought it would be the perfect paint color for this antique dresser in our new bedroom. It’s just such a peaceful hue, and like I said about using it in a kitchen, I love its use on accent pieces like this to give it a little bit of interest while still staying neutral and ultra zen. Pair Shiitake with soft white or off-white bedding, textured, calming accessories and natural accents for the most relaxing oasis.
- Living room: Shiitake is a great choice for the living room. It can be used to create a relaxing vibe where you can unwind after a long day and snuggle into the couch cushions under a soft blanket. Pair Shiitake with warm wood furniture and warm, cream or off white walls or accents for a timeless and inviting space.
So there you have it, friends! That’s Shiitake, in a nutshell. Do you love it as much as we do? I’m currently plotting where else I can utilize this perfect neutral in other spaces around our house!
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