Professional painters prefer Sherwin-Williams because of its superior coverage, high-solids formulation, and extensive network of dedicated contractor stores. These benefits translate to time saved on the job, flawless finishes, and reliable supply chains.
Contractors are often requested to use low- or zero-VOC paints, and this is something they can get from Sherwin-Williams in a variety of their paint lines. Sherwin-Williams paint is thick because it uses more solids, which makes it easier to work with and will cover more surface area.
Sherwin-Williams paint is generally considered worth the premium if you prioritize durability, excellent coverage, and a smooth finish. While it costs more upfront than budget brands, its higher pigment and resin content save you time and labor by requiring fewer coats.
Neither brand is universally "better". Both offer premium, highly durable, professional-grade products. The best choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and application preferences.
Professional painters usually use contractor-grade or pro-line paints that aren't always available at your typical home improvement store. These include: Sherwin-Williams ProMar, SuperPaint, or Emerald lines.
The best paint brands on the market are Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore, known for pro-grade durability and rich color fidelity, respectively. For convenient, budget-friendly DIY options, Behr (available at The Home Depot) is a top-tier performer.
While Sherwin-Williams is an industry giant, many interior designers and professional painters consider Benjamin Moore to be the superior brand. Benjamin Moore offers better coverage, a smoother application, and deeper color vibrancy thanks to its proprietary resin and colorant technologies.
Red is universally considered the hardest paint color to cover. Vibrant red pigments are highly transparent and inherently prone to bleeding through subsequent layers. Other notoriously difficult colors to cover include black, dark blue, dark green, and bright yellow.
A gallon of Sherwin-Williams paint generally costs between $40 and $140, depending on the specific product line, finish, and any sales or contractor discounts.
Colors that make a house look expensive rely on high contrast, deep earthy tones, and warm, timeless neutrals. These premium palettes add immediate depth and a custom, curated feel to both interiors and exteriors.
No, the Sherwin-Williams paint sold at Lowe's is not the same quality as the paint sold at physical Sherwin-Williams retail stores. While manufactured by the same company, they feature different chemical formulations and are produced in different “good, better, best” tiers.
Sherwin-Williams' undisputed best-selling paint colors are overwhelmingly warm whites, soft grays, and "greiges" (gray-beige hybrids). The most popular colors include:
Cool gray is being replaced by "mushroom" neutrals (warm taupes and greys with subtle green or violet undertones), warm earthy khakis, and soft, natural sages.
Sherwin-Williams and Home Depot (which primarily sells Behr paint) cater to different needs. Sherwin-Williams offers premium, professional-grade finishes with exceptional coverage and expert support. Home Depot’s Behr brand is heavily favored by DIYers for its budget-friendliness, wide color selection, and easy one-coat coverage options.
Sherwin-Williams dates from 1866, when Cleveland bookkeeper Henry Sherwin invested in Truman Dunham & Co., a paint distributorship. After the partnership dissolved in 1870, he formed Sherwin, Williams, & Co. with Edward Williams and A.T. Osborn.
Here are five paint colors that real estate professionals and designers consistently recommend to help homes sell faster and for more:
Benjamin Moore is generally slightly more expensive than Sherwin-Williams. While retail prices for premium lines (like Benjamin Moore Aura and Sherwin-Williams Emerald) are comparable, Sherwin-Williams runs frequent 30% to 40% sales, making their premium paints much more affordable if you time your purchase.
There are three main types of “impossible” colors: Forbidden colors. These are colors our eyes simply cannot process because of the antagonistic way our cones work, for instance “red-green” or “yellow-blue.”
Top 10 Timeless Paint Colors for Your Home
Interior designers generally advise avoiding bold, highly saturated, and overly stimulating hues for bedroom walls. The bedroom should be a calming retreat for rest and relaxation, making these specific colors the ones to skip:
Eggshell is generally better for high-traffic areas (living rooms, hallways) because it is durable and easy to clean, while matte is superior for hiding wall imperfections in lower-traffic rooms (bedrooms, dining rooms) due to its non-reflective, soft finish. Eggshell offers a slight, subtle sheen, whereas matte absorbs light.
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) and Color Properties
With its LRV hovering around 3, Tricorn Black absorbs approximately 97% of the light that hits its surface, creating that deep, rich appearance that makes it so desirable for high-impact design applications.