Finding the right paint color is basically a form of psychological warfare against your own eyeballs. You walk into the store thinking you want a "simple tan," and forty-five minutes later, you're staring at three hundred identical chips wondering if "Gobi Desert" is too aggressive for a guest bathroom. Enter Sherwin Williams Truly Taupe. It isn’t the celebrity that Agreeable Gray is. It doesn't have the cult following of Revere Pewter. Honestly? That’s probably why it actually works.
Truly Taupe (SW 6038) is a bit of a shapeshifter. Most people think they want a neutral until they put it on the wall and realize it looks like damp cardboard or, worse, a surgical suite. This color avoids that by leaning into a very specific, slightly moody violet undertone. It’s not purple. Please don’t tell your spouse you’re painting the living room purple. But it has that "mauve-adjacent" warmth that makes a room feel like an expensive hotel lobby rather than a builder-grade rental.
The Light Reflectance Value (LRV) Reality Check
Let’s talk numbers for a second, but I promise it won’t be boring. Every paint color has an LRV, which is basically a scale of 0 to 100 measuring how much light it reflects. Pure black is 0; pure white is 100. Sherwin Williams Truly Taupe sits at a 39.
That is surprisingly low for something people call a "neutral."
Most "safe" neutrals live in the 50 to 70 range. At 39, Truly Taupe is moving into the mid-tone territory. It’s got weight. It’s got gravity. If you put this in a tiny, windowless basement, it’s going to feel like a cave. A cozy cave, sure, but a cave nonetheless. However, in a room with massive south-facing windows? It’s pure magic. The sunlight washes out the darkness but leaves behind this rich, velvety texture that cheaper, lighter paints just can’t replicate.
Why the Undertones Make People Nervous (And Why They Shouldn't)
Colors aren't just one thing. They’re layers. Truly Taupe is part of the Red-Violet hue family. This is where people usually freak out. They see "red-violet" on the technical specs and envision a 1980s nursing home.
Relax.
In the real world, those red-violet undertones serve a purpose. They counteract the "muddy" look that plagues so many traditional tans and khakis. If you’ve ever painted a room beige only for it to look slightly green or yellow once the sun goes down, you know the struggle. Truly Taupe won't do that. It stays warm. It stays sophisticated. It feels "organic" in a way that modern grays—which often feel cold and sterile—simply cannot manage.
📖 Related: Kiko Japanese Restaurant Plantation: Why This Local Spot Still Wins the Sushi Game
I’ve seen designers like Shea McGee and various high-end renovators move away from the "all-white" look recently. People are craving pigment. They want "color-drenched" rooms. Truly Taupe is the gateway drug for that trend. It’s a color for people who are tired of white walls but aren't quite brave enough to paint their bedroom navy blue or forest green.
Where to Actually Use It
Seriously, don’t just slap this everywhere. It’s a specific tool for a specific job.
The Primary Bedroom
This is the gold standard for Sherwin Williams Truly Taupe. Because it has that underlying warmth, it creates an immediate sense of "hush." It pairs beautifully with linen bedding, unlacquered brass hardware, and light oak floors. It’s a color that asks you to take a nap.
Cabinetry and Millwork
If you have a mudroom or a laundry room that feels a bit utilitarian, try this on the cabinets. Use a satin or semi-gloss finish. The way the light hits the recessed panels of a Shaker door painted in Truly Taupe is incredible. It looks custom. It looks like you hired a designer who charges $300 an hour.
Exterior Accents
Believe it or not, this works outside. On a stucco home or as an accent for shutters against a creamy white brick, it holds its own against the harshness of direct UV rays. Just remember that colors always look lighter outside. That LRV of 39 will behave more like a 55 in the high noon sun.
The Trim Dilemma: What Goes With It?
You can ruin a good wall color with the wrong trim. It’s a fact.
If you pair Truly Taupe with a stark, blue-toned "hospital white," the taupe is going to look dirty. It will look like you haven't dusted since 2012. You need a trim color that shares its DNA. Think Sherwin Williams Alabaster or even Greek Villa. These are "creamy" whites. They have just enough warmth to bridge the gap.
👉 See also: Green Emerald Day Massage: Why Your Body Actually Needs This Specific Therapy
Some people are getting adventurous and doing "color-drenching," where they paint the walls, the baseboards, and the crown molding all the same color—Truly Taupe—just in different finishes. Flat on the walls, semi-gloss on the trim. It’s a bold move. It makes the room feel taller because the eye doesn't get "cut off" by a white line at the floor and ceiling.
Comparing the Competition
How does it stack up against the big names?
- Versus Poised Taupe (SW 6032): Poised Taupe was the 2017 Color of the Year. It’s much more gray. It’s cooler. If Truly Taupe is a warm latte, Poised Taupe is a rainy afternoon in London.
- Versus Joa’s White (Farrow & Ball): This is a close cousin. Joa’s White is a bit more "red" and "clay-like." Truly Taupe feels more refined and less "earthy."
- Versus Moth Wing (SW 9174): Moth Wing has a lot more green-gold in it. If you have olive skin or lots of plants, Moth Wing might feel more natural, but Truly Taupe is more universally flattering for human skin tones. Seriously, you look better in a mirror surrounded by Truly Taupe. It’s like a permanent Instagram filter for your face.
The "Oh No" Moments: When to Avoid SW 6038
Let's be honest. This color isn't perfect for every house.
If your home is filled with cherry wood or very red-toned mahogany furniture, Truly Taupe might clash. The red in the wood and the violet in the paint will fight for dominance, and the whole room will end up feeling "hot" and claustrophobic.
Also, watch out for your light bulbs. If you use "Daylight" LED bulbs (those 5000K ones that make everything look like a laboratory), Truly Taupe is going to look like a flat, depressing gray-purple. You need "Warm White" bulbs—somewhere in the 2700K to 3000K range. This brings out the "Truly" in Truly Taupe. It lets those red-violet undertones glow instead of turning them into a bruise.
Real World Application: A Case Study (Illustrative Example)
Imagine a standard 1990s suburban flip. Orange oak floors, dated crown molding, and zero character. A developer I know decided to skip the usual "Gray Owl" and went with Sherwin Williams Truly Taupe in the dining room.
He didn't just paint the walls. He added picture frame molding (wainscoting) and painted everything from the floor to the ceiling in this color. He swapped the boob light for a matte black chandelier.
✨ Don't miss: The Recipe Marble Pound Cake Secrets Professional Bakers Don't Usually Share
The result? The room looked like it belonged in a $2 million estate. The taupe disguised the cheapness of the oak floors by making the "orange" in the wood feel like an intentional "warmth" rather than a mistake. It’s a "fixer" color. It hides sins.
The Best Way to Test It
Stop buying those little tiny plastic pots of paint. They’re a mess, and they’re expensive.
Get a Samplize sheet. They are peel-and-stick samples made with real paint. Stick one on your North wall. Stick one on your South wall. Look at it at 8:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 9:00 PM with the lights on.
You’ll notice that in the morning, Truly Taupe looks very neutral, almost like a heavy cream. By the evening, it deepens. It gets mysterious. If you love it at 9:00 PM under a lamp, that’s your sign. That’s when you’re actually living in your house, after all.
Technical Specifications for the Pros
If you're heading to the store, here is exactly what you need to know:
- Color Number: SW 6038
- Hex Code: #a6968b
- RGB: 166 / 150 / 139
- Location in the Deck: It’s on the same strip as Diverse Beige and Moth Wing, usually toward the middle-bottom.
Actionable Next Steps
Ready to pull the trigger? Don't just buy five gallons yet.
- Check your flooring: Hold a sample against your floor. If your floor looks yellow, Truly Taupe will make it look more yellow. If your floor is neutral or gray-washed, you’re good to go.
- Verify your lighting: Change those 5000K bulbs to 3000K. Do it now. It changes everything.
- Define your "Zone": Decide if you're doing an accent wall or the whole room. For a color with an LRV of 39, the "whole room" approach is actually often better because it creates a cohesive mood.
- Pick your white: Buy a gallon of Sherwin Williams Alabaster for the trim. It’s the safest, most reliable partner for this specific taupe.
Truly Taupe isn't a "safe" choice in the way that white is safe. It’s a choice with a personality. It’s for the person who wants their home to feel curated, slightly historic, and incredibly cozy. It’s a grown-up color. And honestly? It’s about time we moved past "Standard Gray."
Summary of Recommendations
- Best for: Bedrooms, dining rooms, and cabinetry.
- Avoid in: Small rooms with no natural light or rooms with heavy cherry/red-wood furniture.
- Pro Tip: Use a Flat or Matte finish on the walls to hide imperfections; the depth of this color shows every bump in the drywall if you use an Eggshell or Satin finish.