The name sounds almost like a joke. A paint color that refuses to identify itself?
Hold the chip against a wall, and later against a stretch of siding, and it becomes clear why this shade keeps coming up in neutral-color conversations.
Sherwin-Williams Anonymous SW 7046 is a warm, gray-green taupe.
It sits in the Neutral family on the official Sherwin-Williams color page. And it does not sit still visually; it shifts with whatever light hits it.
The following is a full breakdown of what the color actually is, and how it behaves in an exterior application. Just the details worth knowing before ordering a sample.
What Color is Sherwin-Williams Anonymous SW 7046?
Sherwin-Williams Anonymous is cataloged under SW 7046, location number 245-C5, and it’s sold as part of the standard Sherwin-Williams fan deck rather than a limited or seasonal collection.
On the official Sherwin-Williams color site, it’s filed in the Neutral family, though color databases and independent reviewers frequently describe it as a taupe-gray or a warm greige.
The color is rated for both interior and exterior use, which is part of why it shows up so often in siding and trim discussions, not just wall-color roundups.
Sherwin-Williams Anonymous SW 7046 Specifications
That reflectance detail shapes everything else about how the color reads. A medium-dark reflectance means Anonymous looks deeper in a dim room and softer in a sun-drenched one.
Both versions can show up within the same afternoon in the same space.
| Specification | SW Anonymous |
|---|---|
| Color | Anonymous |
| Number | SW 7046 |
| Color family | Neutral |
| LRV | About 20 |
| RGB | 129, 122, 110 |
| Hex | #817A6E |
| Undertone | Gray-green with warm earthy influence |
| Best uses | Interior and exterior |
Why the Undertone Keeps Shifting?
Anonymous is a neutral of low chroma made up of muted olive, taupe, and warm grey colors, with no single tone dominating in any direction.
A few patterns hold up consistently among people who’ve lived with the color on their walls:
- North-facing light: Usually cooler and grayer, with its green-gray side becoming more noticeable.
- South-facing light: Warmer and softer, particularly during strong daylight.
- East-facing light: Warmer in the morning and more muted later in the day.
- West-facing light: More neutral earlier and considerably warmer in late-afternoon light.
These are tendencies, not guarantees; flooring, neighboring finishes, landscaping, and reflected exterior light all play a part.
Is SW Anonymous a Good Exterior Color?
Anonymous holds up well in exterior applications, not just as a wall color pushed outdoors.
Its grey-green base color tends to blend in next to brick, stone, and wood rather than competing with them.
Since its LRV is about 20, it falls within the medium-dark range and therefore reflects noticeably less light than it absorbs – a point which is realized in different ways with each of the materials listed below.
Anonymous on Siding
Anonymous works well as a main-body siding color when the goal is something deeper than a standard greige without moving all the way into charcoal.
On a wall that receives sunlight, its medium-dark LRV appears lighter and warmer than the sample indicates; on a shaded part of the wall, it becomes the true, deeper gray-green that it is.
Anonymous on Brick
This color matches particularly well with brick in brown, taupe, muted red, or earthy tones.
Its moderate LRV keeps it from looking either washed out or overly heavy next to most brick tones, echoing them rather than clashing.
Anonymous on Stucco
Broad stucco surfaces benefit from Anonymous’s lower reflectance, since the added depth keeps large, flat expanses from looking washed out.
Stucco’s texture also softens the color slightly under direct sun, which can otherwise make a medium-dark LRV look flatter.
Anonymous With Stone and Wood
Stone containing beige, brown, gray, or muted green tends to coordinate naturally with Anonymous.
The warm tones of wood and cedar highlight the brown, earthy aspect of the material rather than its grey one. The low reflectance value ensures it doesn’t look too light against darker natural materials.
Best Trim and Accent Colors for an SW Anonymous Exterior
Sherwin-Williams officially lists Shoji White, Muslin, and Polvo de Oro as coordinating colors for Anonymous.
Beyond that official palette, several additional combinations hold up well outdoors.
Warm White Trim
Shoji White, Alabaster SW 7008, and Oyster White all read as warm, soft whites that avoid looking clinical next to a warm-based body color.
Dark Trim / Accents
Urbane Bronze, Black Magic, and Tricorn Black create crisp, high-contrast definition around doors, shutters, and window trim.
Natural Materials
Cedar, warm stone, bronze or brass hardware, and black metal fixtures all sit comfortably against Anonymous’s muted, earthy base.
SW Anonymous Indoors: Where It Works Best?
Anonymous doesn’t receive a rating for only the exterior siding; it also applies to the interior walls, cabinets, ceilings, doors, and trim.
It shows up often in bedrooms and dining rooms, where its earthy depth reads cozy rather than heavy. Kitchens and cabinetry are another common use, especially paired with black or brass hardware.
Studies and moody accent walls round out its most popular indoor placements.
Since the color is in the medium-dark range, an additional coat or a tinted primer may be necessary if it is to be applied over a very light or totally white wall to ensure even coverage.
Anonymous Compared to Similar Sherwin-Williams Neutrals
It’s easy to confuse Anonymous with a handful of adjacent Sherwin-Williams neutrals, so here’s a quick way to tell them apart:
- Porpoise (SW 7047): Noticeably darker and browner, with an LRV around 13 versus Anonymous’s roughly 20; a good choice if you want the same family but more drama.
- Worldly Gray (SW 7043): Lighter and warmer, better suited as a trim or secondary color alongside Anonymous rather than a substitute for it.
- Repose Gray (SW 7015): Much lighter, cooler-leaning gray with a higher LRV, a common trim pairing, not a twin.
Anonymous occupies a specific middle ground: dark enough to feel grounded and substantial, but not so dark that it reads as a near-black statement color.
Let’s Wrap Up
The popularity of Sherwin-Williams Anonymous SW 7046 is entirely well-deserved.
It is a truly flexible mid-dark neutral, having an LRV close to 20%, a hex code of #817A6E, and undertones that range from gray through green to brown depending on the lighting.
If you’re considering it for an accent wall or looking at an SW Anonymous exterior scheme for siding and trim, its main advantage is the way it blends naturally without ever looking flat.
If you obtain a large sample and compare it with the light and the materials found in your own home, you should be able to reach a certain conclusion within a day or two of seeing how the color changes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What White Goes Best with Sherwin-Williams Anonymous?
Shoji White is one of the official Sherwin-Williams pairings and a dependable starting point.
2. Does SW Anonymous Look Green Outside?
Yes, especially in shaded areas or under overcast daylight conditions.
3. Does Anonymous Work with Red Brick?
Yes, its warm gray-green base tends to complement red brick tones well.
