Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

SW 6520

Honest Blue is a cool airy blue with a purple undertone, registering an LRV of 55. This moderate-to-high reflectance allows it to function as a main wall color in bedrooms, bathrooms, and living areas without darkening the space significantly. The purple undertone distinguishes it from straight sky blues, giving it a slightly dusty, muted quality.

Under warm lighting, the purple shift becomes more evident. It coordinates well with Sherwin-Williams Pure White, Naval, Agreeable Gray, Extra White, and Krypton in cool-toned palettes.

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Brand

Sherwin Williams

Code

SW 6520

Honest Blue in Different Light

Light temperature is measured in Kelvin: a warm 2700K bulb pulls colors toward yellow, while 5000K daylight reads cooler and truer. Check the color at the time of day you actually use the room.

Artificial Lighting

Bedroom scene to simulate Sherwin Williams Honest Blue under artificial light

Light Temperature: 2700K

Natural Lighting

Living room scene to simulate Sherwin Williams Honest Blue under natural light

Light Temperature: 4500K

Technical Specifications

Undertones

Type

Blue

Strength

Medium

Temperature

cool

Hue Angle

202°

Cyan Family

Lightness

76%

Light

Saturation

27%

Muted

LRV

55.0

0%100%

Very Dark

Dark

Medium

Light

Very Light

White

LRV measures how much light a color reflects, from 0 (black) to 100 (pure white). Below about 50 a color needs good lighting to avoid going flat, 60 and up helps brighten a room, and most whites sit above 80.

Color Position

Saturation →

Lightness →

Color Codes

HEX

#B2C7D3

RGB Decimal

178, 199, 211

RGB Percent

69.8%, 78.0%, 82.7%

HSL

201.8, 27.3%, 76.3%

HSV

201.8, 15.6%, 82.7%

CMYK

15.6%, 5.7%, 0.0%, 17.3%

YIQ

194.1, -16.4, -0.7

XYZ

50.54, 55.01, 69.58

CIE Lab

79.05, -4.62, -8.39

CIE Luv

79.05, -11.74, -12.11

Hunter Lab

74.17, -4.34, -8.39

Decimal

11716563

Coordinating Colors and Color Palettes

Darker Shades

Monochromatic dark

Honest Blue Coventry Blue French Court Superior Blue

Lighter Shades

Monochromatic light

Honest Blue Sheer Bliss Sweet Illusion Bellflower Blue

Complementary

Opposite on color wheel

Honest Blue Likeable Sand Pick of the Litter Jasmine Flower

Analogous

Adjacent colors

Honest Blue Lavender Wash Lake Breeze Orchid House

Cool Shades

Cool spectrum

Honest Blue Lavender Wash Purpleheart Orchid House

Closest Paint Matches

Cross-brand matches are close, never exact. Each brand uses different bases and sheens, so sample before you buy gallons.

Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

Sherwin Williams

Take Five

Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

Behr

Opal Waters

Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

Behr

English Hollyhock

Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

Behr

Gentle Sea

Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

Benjamin Moore

Blue Stream

Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

Behr

Elevated

Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

Benjamin Moore

Airway

Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

Valspar

Ruffled Feathers

Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

Glidden

Twinkle

Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

Sherwin Williams

Blissful Blue

Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

Benjamin Moore

Sea View

Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

Benjamin Moore

Blue Bay Marina

Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

Sherwin Williams

Sleepy Hollow

Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

Glidden

Pageant Song

Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

Benjamin Moore

Greenhow Blue

Sherwin Williams

Honest Blue

Sherwin Williams

Billowy Breeze