I’ve always been drawn to the understated elegance of pewter, a color that straddles the line between gray and silver with effortless grace. I’m excited to guide you through the world of pewter, from its rich, muted tones to its surprising versatility in design and fashion. We’ll delve into the meanings, psychological effects, and the many ways you can incorporate this sophisticated hue into your style and surroundings.
Table of Contents
- 1 What Color Is Pewter?
- 2 Meaning of the Pewter Color
- 3 Pewter Color Palette Shades
- 4 Pewter Color Combinations
- 4.1 Neutral Pewter Color Combinations
- 4.2 Yellow and Pewter
- 4.3 Green and Pewter
- 4.4 Navy Blue and Pewter
- 4.5 A Few More Pewter Color Combinations
- 4.6 A Brief History
- 5 Pewter in Fashion
- 6 Pewter in Interior Design
What Color Is Pewter?
Pewter might just seem like another member of the gray family at first glance, but trust me, there’s a whole world in that one color. It’s got its roots in the classic metal it’s named after, giving it that cool, dark gray vibe. But it’s not just any gray—it’s got these subtle hints of blue that can totally transform it, and instead of a flashy shine, pewter carries itself with a kind of understated elegance, like a matte finish that’s way more chic than shiny.
To me, pewter is like the perfect middle ground between the deep intensity of charcoal and the bright sparkle of silver. Sometimes it leans a bit cooler, with those blueish notes coming through, and other times, it warms up and you can almost see a touch of brown in there. It’s this chameleon-like quality that makes pewter so incredibly neutral and adaptable—it can play nice with pretty much any color it’s paired with.
In my own home, I’ve used pewter in so many ways. It’s a rockstar as a backdrop color, letting other hues pop, but it can also step up as the main event in a room’s color scheme. And because it comes in such a range—from light to dark, cool to warm—it’s an ace at being that perfect accent that ties everything together.
Color Name | Hex Code | CMYK Color Code (%) | RGB Color Code | Color |
Pewter | #96A8A1 | 12, 0, 5, 40 | 150, 168, 161 |
Meaning of the Pewter Color
In general, gray, and pewter can be seen as a neutral, serious color that helps to balance other more vibrant colors. All shades of pewter are practical and portray a sense of maturity and also represent responsibility. Gray may seem to be a dull color that can be linked with emotions like sadness.
However, pewter can have warmer or cooler undertones that help to bring more warmth and calm. Since pewter can be a little bit more lively than your average gray, it can appear more sophisticated.
Aspect | Pewter Color Associations |
---|---|
Symbols | Durability, Timelessness, Subtlety, Versatility |
Effects | Grounding, Stabilizing, Complementing, Understated Elegance |
Color Psychology | Conveys Reliability and Neutrality, Evokes a Sense of Practicality |
Positive | Sophistication, Professionalism, Flexibility, Modernity |
Negative | Can Be Perceived as Dull or Lacking in Energy if Overused |
People who choose gray or pewter as their favorite color, are generally more introverted and they like to blend in with the crowd.
Pewter Color Palette Shades
There’s so much more to pewter than just being a one-note wonder. It’s got layers, depth, and an array of shades that can really capture your heart. I’ve created a comprehensive table with all known pewter shades, including color codes and the color visualization.
Color Shade Name | Hex Code | RGB | CMYK (%) | Color Visualization |
Antique Pewter 1560 – Benjamin Moore | #8B8A7B | 139, 138, 123 | 0, 1, 12, 45 | |
Blue Pewter | #8BA8B7 | 139, 168, 183 | 24, 8, 0, 28 | |
Classic Pewter – Matthews Paint | #83807F | 131, 128, 127 | 0, 2, 3, 49 | |
Dark Pewter 2122-10 – Benjamin Moore | #4B5756 | 75, 87, 86 | 14, 0, 1, 66 | |
Deep Pewter | #606865 | 96, 104, 101 | 8, 0, 3, 59 | |
Intense Pewter | #647180 | 100, 113, 128 | 22, 12, 0, 50 | |
Library Pewter SW 0038 – Sherwin Williams | #7F7263 | 127, 114, 99 | 0, 10, 22, 50 | |
Light Pewter 1464 – Benjamin Moore | #DBD8CE | 219, 216, 206 | 0, 1, 6, 14 | |
Pewter | #E9EAEC | 233, 234, 236 | 1, 1, 0, 7 | |
Pewter 2121-30 – Benjamin Moore | #979C9F | 151, 156, 159 | 5, 2, 0, 38 | |
Pewter Blue | #8BA8B7 | 139, 168, 183 | 24, 8, 0, 28 | |
Pewter Cast SW 7673 – Sherwin Williams | #9B9893 | 155, 152, 147 | 0, 2, 5, 39 | |
Pewter Green SW 6208 – Sherwin Williams | #5E6259 | 94, 98, 89 | 4, 0, 9, 62 | |
PEWTER GREY HDGWN50 – Glidden | #BCB7AF | 188, 183, 175 | 0, 3, 7, 26 | |
Pewter Metallic | #838897 | 131, 136, 151 | 13, 10, 0, 41 | |
PEWTER MUG – Behr | #B2B3B5 | 178, 179, 181 | 2, 1, 0, 29 | |
Pewter Silver – AMC | #797A75 | 121, 122, 117 | 1, 0, 4, 52 | |
Pewter Tankard SW 0023 – Sherwin Williams | #A39B90 | 163, 155, 144 | 0, 5, 12, 36 | |
Requisite Gray SW 7023 – Sherwin Williams | #B9B2A9 | 185, 178, 169 | 0, 4, 9, 27 | |
Revere Pewter HC-172 – Benjamin Moore | #CBC6B8 | 203, 198, 184 | 0, 2, 9, 20 | |
Roycroft Pewter SW 2848 – Sherwin Williams | #616564 | 97, 101, 100 | 4, 0, 1, 60 | |
Shale 861 by Benjamin Moore – Benjamin Moore | #C3BDB1 | 195, 189, 177 | 0, 3, 9, 24 | |
Tavern Gray CW-40 by Benjamin Moore – Benjamin Moore | #918A74 | 145, 138, 116 | 0, 5, 20, 43 | |
Vintage Pewter CSP-110 – Benjamin Moore | #A09E97 | 160, 158, 151 | 0, 1, 6, 37 | |
Warm Pewter SW 9572 – Sherwin Williams | #B4ADA6 | 180, 173, 166 | 0, 4, 8, 29 |
Pewter Color Combinations
We have already established that pewter falls in the category of neutral colors, that being said, it can work well with most colors. However, the color works best with shades of gray and a beautiful crisp white. Depending on the shade of pewter, the color can work well with cream, beige, gold, burgundy, shades of green, and blue.
Neutral Pewter Color Combinations
Since pewter is a neutral color, it is safe to say that it will cork great with other neutral colors. Of course, you can use various lighter and darker shades to balance the color scheme. For example, a crisp white with dark pewter. Pewter is a shade of gray, so it can easily work well with other gray colors.
Black is another color that works well with pewter, especially pewter colors that have a blue or green undertone.
Pewter Shade | Pewter Hex Code | CMYK Pewter Color Code (%) | RGB Pewter Color Code | Pewter Color |
Pewter | #e9eaec | 1, 1, 0, 7 | 233, 234, 236 | |
Beige | #f5f5dc | 0, 0, 10, 4 | 245, 245, 220 | |
Dark Pewter | #4c5857 | 14, 0, 1, 65 | 76, 88, 87 | |
White | #ffffff | 0, 0, 0, 0 | 255, 255, 255 |
Yellow and Pewter
You can try using any shade of yellow with pewter to bring more warmth into a room. If you choose a pewter color as your background in a room, it is best to add yellow as an accent color so as not to overwhelm the space.
Pewter Shade | Pewter Hex Code | CMYK Pewter Color Code (%) | RGB Pewter Color Code | Pewter Color |
Pewter Green | #5e6259 | 4, 0, 9, 62 | 94, 98, 89 | |
Yellow | #ffff33 | 0, 0, 80, 0 | 255, 255, 51 |
Green and Pewter
Pewter walls will make a nice backdrop for other cooler shades of green. You can try using a warmer pewter color instead of a simple white to add a little more contrast.
Add to this your touches of green, which should make for an interesting color combination.
Pewter Shade | Pewter Hex Code | CMYK Pewter Color Code (%) | RGB Pewter Color Code | Pewter Color |
Light Pewter | #dbd8ce | 0, 1, 6, 14 | 219, 216, 206 | |
Emerald Green | #50c878 | 60, 0, 40, 22 | 80, 200, 120 |
Navy Blue and Pewter
Navy blue is the type of color that works easily with other neutral colors. When it comes to pewter, you may want to choose cooler gray pewter shades over your warmer pewter undertones. This combination is also a favorite for wedding color schemes. Add a hint of gold color for a more sophisticated look and to bring in a bit of warmth.
Pewter Shade | Pewter Hex Code | CMYK Pewter Color Code (%) | RGB Pewter Color Code | Pewter Color |
Pewter | #e9eaec | 1, 1, 0, 7 | 233, 234, 236 | |
Navy Blue | #000080 | 100, 100, 0, 50 | 0, 0, 128 |
A Few More Pewter Color Combinations
Pewter is an elegant, classic, and sophisticated color that can work well with any décor theme. The color is highly adaptable and can be used to create both cooler, warmer, darker, or lighter options.
This is why it works so well as a base color, to which you can add accents of most other colors in the form of furniture, cushions, carpets, and curtains.
Below are a few more pewter color combinations that you might find appealing. First, you have a beautiful combination with light pewter. The second is a color combination with a brighter yellow and pewter. The third option is for those who cannot do without purple in their lives, while the last example is for those who enjoy a bit of green.
Pewter Shade | Pewter Hex Code | CMYK Pewter Color Code (%) | RGB Pewter Color Code | Pewter Color |
Light Pewter | #dbd8ce | 0, 1, 6, 14 | 219, 216, 206 | |
Light Pink | #ffb6c1 | 0, 29, 24, 0 | 255, 182, 193 | |
Gray | #808080 | 0, 0, 0, 50 | 128, 128, 128 | |
Ivory | #fffff0 | 0, 0, 6, 0 | 255, 255, 240 |
Pewter Shade | Pewter Hex Code | CMYK Pewter Color Code (%) | RGB Pewter Color Code | Pewter Color |
Pewter | #e9eaec | 1, 1, 0, 7 | 233, 234, 236 | |
Dark Blue | #00008b | 100, 100, 0, 45 | 0, 0, 139 | |
Blue-Gray | #6699cc | 50, 25, 0, 20 | 102, 153, 204 | |
Yellow | #ffff33 | 0, 0, 80, 0 | 255, 255, 51 |
Pewter Shade | Pewter Hex Code | CMYK Pewter Color Code (%) | RGB Pewter Color Code | Pewter Color |
Pewter | #e9eaec | 1, 1, 0, 7 | 233, 234, 236 | |
Ivory | #fffff0 | 0, 0, 6, 0 | 255, 255, 240 | |
Lilac | #c8a2c8 | 0, 19, 0, 22 | 200, 162, 200 | |
Rosewater | #edaec0 | 0, 27, 19, 7 | 237, 174, 192 |
Pewter Shade | Pewter Hex Code | CMYK Pewter Color Code (%) | RGB Pewter Color Code | Pewter Color |
Light Pewter | #dbd8ce | 0, 1, 6, 14 | 219, 216, 206 | |
Olive Green | #808000 | 0, 0, 100, 50 | 128, 128, 0 | |
Sage Green | #b2ac88 | 0, 3, 24, 30 | 178, 172, 136 | |
Olive | #bab86c | 0, 1, 42, 27 | 186, 184, 108 |
A Brief History
There is no mention of a pewter color name in the past, but the color does come from the well-known metal. The metal itself has been used over the years for light fixtures and other items. However, today the color is used in paint and fabrics. The metal pewter has been used since Ancient Roman times when it was used to make utensils and other items. So, we know that pewter metal has been around for many years.
To begin, the pewter metal consisted of tin alloy, copper, and lead. This was used for many years until lead was discovered as being toxic and the cause of lead poisoning. This was only realized in the 1970s, so it was not all that long ago and if you have any pewter items in your home that come before 1980, it may be a good idea to test it out.
Today, the makeup of pewter has changed and now only includes a tin alloy, copper, and antimony. Pewter containing more copper will have a warmer tone than others with less copper. Pewter has gained more popularity in the 21st century as a color than as a metal, so let us now have a look at what meaning the pewter color provides.
Pewter in Fashion
Pewter is one of those cool, versatile colors that’s super easy to match with almost anything in your closet. It’s like a chameleon, fitting in with bold colors or keeping things chic with black and white.
I personally love how it adds a touch of modern sophistication without trying too hard—whether it’s a sleek pewter jacket, a pair of shiny flats, or even some subtle jewelry. It’s the perfect go-to when you want to look effortlessly stylish and a bit edgy.
Pewter in Interior Design
Pewter is my secret weapon for creating a cozy yet sophisticated space in my home. It’s this beautiful, muted shade that’s not quite silver and not quite gray, but it brings the best of both to the table.
I love pairing pewter accents with bold colors for a pop, or with soft pastels for a tranquil vibe. It’s amazing for things like picture frames, lamp bases, or throw pillows—just a few pewter touches can make any room feel more grounded and pulled together. Trust me, a little pewter goes a long way in making your space look thoughtfully designed.
Pewter is a color that is neutral and comes in a variety of shades as well as color temperatures. It is truly a color that is more than your average gray and offers great versatility. This is no trending color, but remains constant and timeless, providing the perfect backdrop to any décor theme.
Charlene Lewis( Content Creator and Creativity Writer )
In 2005, Charlene completed her Wellness Diplomas in Therapeutic Aromatherapy and Reflexology from the International School of Reflexology and Meridian Therapy. She worked for a company offering corporate wellness programs for a couple of years, before opening up her own therapy practice. It was in 2015 that a friend, who was a digital marketer, asked her to join her company as a content creator, and this is where she found her excitement for writing.
Since joining the content writing world, she has gained a lot of experience over the years writing on a diverse selection of topics, from beauty, health, wellness, travel, and more. Due to various circumstances, she had to close her therapy practice and is now a full-time freelance writer. Being a creative person, she could not pass up the opportunity to contribute to the Art in Context team, where is was in her element, writing about a variety of art and craft topics. Contributing articles for over three years now, her knowledge in this area has grown, and she has gotten to explore her creativity and improve her research and writing skills.
Charlene Lewis has been working for artincontext.org since the relaunch in 2020. She is an experienced writer and mainly focuses on the topics of color theory, painting and drawing.
Learn more about Charlene Lewis and the Art in Context Team.