Our Review of Illusive Green by Sherwin Williams

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With so many exterior paint colors available, finding the one that’s just right for your home can be daunting. That’s why we review all our tried-and-true paint colors here on our blog and share need-to-know information about each one. In this post, we’re highlighting Illusive Green by Sherwin Williams, a sophisticated shade that’s been catching our eye lately. This soothing green is classic, elegant, and timeless. It’s the perfect shade for those who want something that feels current but not trendy.

Keep reading to learn more about Illusive Green. We share our favorite ways to use this gorgeous hue, colors that pair nicely with it, and a few alternatives as well.

If you’re only in the market for paint color recommendations, we have the perfect tool! Our paint visualizer package is great for those looking to see their home transformed with paint only. If you still need help with other aspects of your exterior, we’ve got you covered there too. We can assist with visualizing design elements such as siding, patios, and much more. Learn all about our virtual exterior design services.

Our designers only use and recommend products that we know, love, or would use on our own properties. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. 

Digital rendering of a modern farmhouse painted in Sherwin Williams' Illusive Green with wood cladding and columns, and black windows.

Sherwin Williams’ Illusive Green: The specs

Illusive Green has an LRV of 29, putting it on the darker end of the spectrum. (Curious about LRV? Learn more here, including why LRV is so important to keep in mind when choosing the perfect paint color for your home.)

Illusive Green is considered a neutral and has subtle gray and cyan undertones that soften it just a touch. Illusive Green’s undertones can shift slightly throughout the day as the amount of natural light your home receives changes.

WE ALWAYS RECOMMEND SAMPLING AND TESTING PAINT COLORS BEFORE COMMITTING. FACTORS SUCH AS NATURAL LIGHTING, UNDERTONES, AND YOUR PROPERTY’S FIXED ELEMENTS WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON HOW A COLOR WILL APPEAR ON YOUR EXTERIOR. OUR FRIENDS AT SAMPLIZE OFFER EXTRA-LARGE 9 X 14.75 INCH PEEL-AND-STICK PAINT SAMPLES OF THE COLORS WE LOVE FOR EXTERIORS. ORDER YOUR ‘REAL PAINT, NO MESS’ SAMPLES FROM SAMPLIZE HERE.

Virtual rendering of a farmhouse painted in Illusive Green by Sherwin Williams with black windows, and a wood paneled garage door.

What color is Illusive Green?

Illusive Green by Sherwin Williams is a sophisticated blend of green and gray, creating a versatile hue that can adapt to various environments.

Thanks to its cyan undertones, Illusive Green leans cool. In the afternoon and evening light, however, it might appear a bit warm, but the color shift isn’t enough to stress over. In the morning light, it will appear cooler, and its cyan undertones might be more noticeable.

Modern style house with wood garage doors, a glass balcony railing, off-white trim, and black light fixtures.

Recommended applications for Illusive Green

One of the best things about Illusive Green is its versatility. Whether you have a traditional Craftsman or a sleek contemporary home, this color just works. It pairs beautifully with natural and organic materials like wood and stone, as well as brick! It softens the lines of contemporary homes, adds a modern touch to Craftsman style homes, and can even bring a fresh feel to homes on the coast.

Natural stone, particularly variations with gray or beige tones, complements Illusive Green and adds an earthy and serene feel. Wood elements, such as lintels or porch columns stained light or dark, also look stunning. We recommend using rich, warm tones like walnut or mahogany for more contrast and for homes tucked into nature. For a breezier design on beach homes, try a lighter stain. If you’re looking to add warmth without wood, pair Illusive Green with metal accents like copper gutters or Corten steel planters.

Illusive Green can also be applied to more than the walls of your exterior. We’ve used it on shutters, doors, and garage doors with beautiful results.

Virtual rendering of a white duplex with doors and shutters painted in Sherwin Williams' Illusive Green, with white windows, and wood columns.

What colors pair well with Illusive Green?

Choosing the right complementary colors is key to maximizing Illusive Green’s potential. Our designers love to use soft or bright whites for a light and airy look or darker greens for a tone-on-tone exterior. To make a bolder statement, try deep grays and blacks. To add warmth, use an accent color like Sherwin Williams’ Urbane Bronze. If you want to try color blocking, we think Illusive Green could look great with a deep navy like Naval by Sherwin Williams.

Furthermore, we love seeing Illusive Green with white because it creates such a classic and elegant look. Paint colors like City Loft or Shoji White (both by Sherwin Williams) are two that would be gorgeous with Illusive Green on shutters and the front door. The rendering above is a great example. The addition of dark stained wood plays into the beige undertones of City Loft, while the black light fixtures and metal awnings provide contrast and a modern touch.

A large farmhouse with black windows, a black roof, wood paneled porch ceiling, stone skirting, and a cable porch railing.

We’ve been seeing more and more of the tone-on-tone design trend, and we’re here for it! Applying hues of the same color family but in different saturations is a great way to maintain a theme and cohesive design without getting too complicated with heavier contrasting colors. The farmhouse design above is an excellent example of how a lighter and darker green create the perfect amount of contrast without having a stark difference in appearance.

Virtual rendering of a mid-century home painted with an accent color in Illusive Green by Sherwin Williams, with black windows, and white trim.

The design above shows Illusive Green on the columns and entry wall of a mid-century modern home. The rest of the façade is rendered in Crushed Ice by Sherwin Williams. The slight tinge of gray in Crushed Ice complements Illusive Green’s undertones and enhances the modernity of the home.

A linear stone and paver walkway adds a little textural interest while black windows contribute to the polished feel. To keep the home from being too sterile, brown tones were introduced through the porch ceiling and the front door. We also like the concrete planters that add yet another shade of lovely gray to the design.

Virtual rendering of a modern farmhouse painted in Sherwin Williams' Illusive Green with white windows and a white portico, with a wood garage door.

Pros and cons of Sherwin Williams’ Illusive Green

PROS:

  • A neutral hue that’s not too dark or too bright
  • Looks great on modern and traditional home styles
  • Perfect for a softer, more subtle look

CONS:

  • Might be too subtle for those wanting a bolder look

Illusive Green alternatives

Although Illusive Green is a gorgeous color for your home’s exterior, we like to provide other comparable options as well.

Traditional rancher with wood porch columns, white windows, copper light fixtures, and a paved driveway.

Sherwin Williams’ Anonymous vs. Illusive Green

Sherwin Williams’ Anonymous is a deep, warm neutral with an LRV of 20, making it a slightly darker and moodier option than Illusive Green. Its rich and earthy tone can ground a home’s exterior. It’s excellent for bolder statements, especially when used on large façades as the central hue. Like Illusive Green, it pairs exceptionally well with wood and stone with warm tones.

Color pairing options for Anonymous are also similar to Illusive Green. Creamy and soft whites like Alabaster or beiges such as Balanced Beige by Sherwin Williams are lovely choices. To make this shade even bolder, you could consider Sherwin Williams’ Tricorn Black as an accent color.

Traditional brick rancher with white windows, wood columns, and a wood front door.

Sherwin Williams’ Dried Thyme vs. Illusive Green

Coming in the tiniest bit lighter than Anonymous is Dried thyme by Sherwin Williams. An amazing muted green, we named this paint color one of our favorite green exterior house colors and one of the best exterior house colors of 2022. In application, it’s very similar to both Anonymous and Illusive Green. Browns, blacks, and crisp whites are excellent color pairing options. Additionally, it also works well in a monochromatic color palette just like Illusive Green.

Traditional home with white trim, black garage doors and roof, wood porch columns, and a stone and oloaver walkway.

The bottom line on Illusive Green

Ultimately, Sherwin Williams’ Illusive Green is a color that deserves your attention if you’re looking to elevate your home’s exterior. Its adaptability, depth, and timeless appeal make it a standout choice for any homeowner. Whether you’re repainting your entire exterior or just looking to refresh your front door, Illusive Green by Sherwin Williams could be the perfect shade to bring your vision to life.

Does Illusive Green sound like the perfect exterior color for your home? If so, we’re ready to help! All we need are your answers to our short questionnaire for our designers to get started creating a custom design. We’ll even provide a shoppable resource list so getting started is as easy as clicking a few links. Get started here.

Author

Originally from Tennessee, Ami currently lives in South Carolina, which has been home since leaving the military in 2016. Interior and exterior design has always intrigued Ami, especially the styles and characteristics seen in other countries as an avid traveler and photographer. She lives for the renewal of older or historic homes that maintain their character, and regularly creates her own mood boards and virtual designs for inspiration or to help others with their spaces. Having always had a passion for design and following their work for years prior, Ami was excited to be brought onto brick&batten’s team of writers. Her writing endeavors actually started in an academic/scientific setting, then in a regulatory aspect. Writing about paint colors, emerging or current trends in exterior design, and so much more revolving around something she’s always enjoyed was a fun and welcomed change!

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