Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze Review: How And Where To Use This Moody Neutral In Your Home
This post is an in-depth Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze review.
It can be hard to choose the right dark neutral that isn’t just totally black.
In this Urbane Bronze paint color review, you’ll get an idea if this dark color is right for your home.
I’ll walk you through its undertones, best ways to use it, coordinating colors, and how it compares to other similar colors.
What color is Urbane Bronze?
So, exactly what color is Urbane Bronze?
I’ve heard some people refer to it as a dark gray. And while that’s not entirely wrong…it’s not entirely true either.
Urbane Bronze is a dark, earthy bronze that has a blend of brown, gray, and even a touch of green.
It’s softer than black, but darker than most grays or taupes.
Think of it as a moody new neutral.
Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze LRV and Undertones
Urbane Bronze has an LRV of 8, so that means it’s a very dark color.
In case ya didn’t know, the closer a paint color’s LRV is to 0 the darker it is…and the closer the LRV is to 100, the brighter it is.
Since Urbane Bronze comes in at a very dark 8 on the scale, it absorbs much more light than it reflects, which gives it that dramatic vibe.
Urbane Bronze has gray undertones and just a whisper of green, which helps make it more organic and earthy than just typical gray or black.
Where to use Urbane Bronze in your home
The best thing about Urbane Bronze, in my opinion, is just how versatile it is!
You could use it in many ways inside your home, and it looks just as good as an exterior color too.
Here are a few examples:
Urbane Bronze cabinets
Cabinetry is where this color really looks its best! You could go full-on moody and paint all your cabinets in Urbane Bronze. Or create some contrast with just an Urbane Bronze kitchen island and leave the rest of your cabinets in a white paint color.
Urbane Bronze interior doors
If you’re using a soft white, like Shoji White (see the color palette below), on your walls, you could paint your interior doors in Urbane Bronze. This looks SO good in all kinds of contemporary and modern style homes!
Urbane Bronze office
One of my favorite rooms to design is a home office. Because it’s such a specific space, it can have its own vibe. An Urbane Bronze office feels sophisticated and special, and who doesn’t want that feeling when working from home?!
Urbane Bronze bathroom
I probably wouldn’t recommend this color for a primary bathroom. HOWEVER, it can be downright stunning in a powder room, especially if you pair it with warm brass finishes and a statement marble countertop.
Urbane Bronze exterior
Bold and dramatic for exteriors, especially when paired with crisp white trim.
Urbane Bronze front door
If you’re nervous about painting your whole exterior this dark, I’d definitely recommend doing an Urbane Bronze front door! If your house exterior is white, Urbane Bronze will be a STUNNING accent color on your door.
Urbane Bronze coordinating colors
You’re probably wondering what color goes with Urbane Bronze. The good news is that since Urbane Bronze acts as a neutral, you could pair it with a wide range of other colors.
One of my favorite ways to create a whole home color scheme with Urbane Bronze is to pair it with other warm and earthy colors, like these:
Here are some stunning options for a cohesive Urbane Bronze color palette:
- Shoji White: Shoji White and Urbane Bronze together create a beautiful contrast for both interiors and exteriors.
- Modern Gray: Soft warmth in this gray color helps make it a great coordinating color for Urbane Bronze.
- Rosemary: Rosemary is an earthy green that looks super pretty when used as an accent color. One way to use this color would be to do Shoji White walls, Rosemary cabinets and Urbane Bronze island in your kitchen.
- Waterloo: Blue can be tricky to use in an Urbane Bronze palette, but this deep blue has gray undertones that helps it coordinate nicely with Urbane Bronze.
Comparing Urbane Bronze to other dark neutrals
When you’re considering a deep, moody color like Urbane Bronze, it helps to see how it stacks up against similar shades.
Urbane Bronze vs Iron Ore
- LRV: Iron Ore has an LRV of 6, so it’s a tad darker.
- Undertones: The undertones of Iron Ore are brown.
- Comparison: Iron Ore is much closer to a true charcoal black, whereas Urbane Bronze leans brown and earthy with green undertones.
Black Fox vs Urbane Bronze
- LRV: The LRV of Black Fox is 7.
- Undertones: Black Fox has a warm greige undertone.
- Comparison: Black Fox is also dark and rich but it has more noticeable brown undertones compared to the slightly greener Urbane Bronze.
Urbane Bronze vs Peppercorn
- LRV: Peppercorn has an LRV of 10, so it’s a few notches lighter.
- Undertones: Peppercorn doesn’t really have strong undertones in any direction.
- Comparison: Peppercorn is a deep charcoal gray without the brown warmth that Urbane Bronze offers.
Is Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze the right dark neutral for your home?
I adore Urbane Bronze. As a designer, it would be near the top of the list for whenever I’d recommend a dark neutral.
Personally in most cases, I’ll recommend Iron Ore over Urbane Bronze because it just seems to work better in most homes with modern/contemporary styles today.
HOWEVER, if your style leans more toward warm and earthy tones, then I would recommend giving Urbane Bronze a try.
Don’t get the wrong color – remember to sample first!
You can’t tell how any paint color will look in your home just by looking at photos or even swatches. And paint is expensive, so you don’t want to waste money by getting the wrong color!
That’s why I recommend getting these peel & stick samples from Samplize.
It makes it so easy & affordable to test colors before you commit!