Which Blue is for You?
A virtual paint consultation from a Knoxville color consultant
In interior design, blue is a color choice that is notoriously calming and can bring a sense of peace to a space. Whether we want to create a serene atmosphere in a bedroom or make a bold statement in a dining room, selecting the perfect shade of blue is key.
The truth is, there are countless shades to choose from, each with its own unique undertones and personality. From soft, airy blues to deep, moody hues, finding the right blue paint for your space can feel overwhelming. To help guide you through the sea of options, our interior design firm offers in-person paint consultations in Knoxville and surrounding areas to help you pick the perfect shade.
For those of you who aren’t located in the Knoxville, Tennessee area, our color consultant has curated a list of her favorite blue paint colors that work beautifully in a variety of settings.
Sherwin Williams Uncertain Gray (SW 6234)
Left: AMA Designs and Interiors, “50 Shdes of Gray Paint Colors”; Right: Highland Homes, “Inspiration Gallery Waylyn- Bedroom 3”
Sherwin Williams Uncertain Gray (SW6234) lives up to its indecisive name; we’d go so far as to say it reads as a blue. For those in search of a light mid-tone blue-gray, it’s certainly the right choice! Cool and subtle, this neutralized blue color creates a relaxed atmosphere in the goldilocks zone; it’s not overly light or dark, blue or gray, bright or pale.
Sherwin William Krypton (SW 6247)
Top Left: Chrissy Marie Blog, “Sherwin Williams Krypton: The Perfect Blue”; Top Middle, Top Right, and Bottom Left: Heathered Nest, “Sherwin Williams Krypton SW 6247 Color Study + 17 Real Pics”; Bottom Middle and Bottom Right: Hey There Home, “Sherwin Williams Krypton Paint Color – Is It A Neutral Or Accent Color?”
Sherwin Williams Krypton (SW 6247) is an airy light blue with gray undertones. Its ties to gray keep it from being an overly bright blue or a dated pastel. Think of it as sky blue’s sophisticated cousin! Krypton uplifts and freshens any space while remaining subdued enough to cover large areas. When paired with neutrals or contrasting colors, it’s just saturated enough to pop, though it still isn’t too loud. Versatile and charming, Krypton may be the perfect fit for your world.
Sherwin Williams Samovar Silver (SW 6233)
Top Left, Top Right, and Bottom Middle: Tinted by Sherwin Williams, “Color of the Month October 2022: Samovar Silver”; Bottom Left: Decor Pad, “Paint Gallery- Sherwin William Samovar Silver”; Bottom Right: Ballard Designs, “Winter 2018 Catalog Paint Colors- How to Decorate”
Sherwin Williams Samovar Silver (SW 6233) is a perfectly balanced blend of gray, green, and blue; all the mesmerizing hues of a cool iridescent gleam in one with a sophisticated matte finish. Combining feather-light gray with teal, Samovar Silver generally reads as a blue overall, but its ambiguous nature allows it to transform based on its surrounding colors, ensuring it will tie in perfectly to neutral, bright, and deep shades alike. Beautifully complex, it’s incredibly versatile and brings out the best qualities of both cool grays and blue-greens. Calming and unique, it adds charm and interest to any space.
Sherwin Williams Moody Blue (SW 6221)
Top Left: Southern Hospitality, “Our House Paint Colors”; Top Middle: Sherwin Williams via Facebook; Top Right: Sherwin Williams via Pinterest; Bottom Two: Knock Off Decor, “Sherwin Williams Moody Blue SW 6221 Review- A Mesmerizing Blue”
Sherwin Williams Moody Blue (SW 6233) is perfect for those looking for a rich blue-green midtone. Perfectly poised between blue and green, Moody Blue avoids being overly bright with its subtle gray undertones. It’s like teal’s more sophisticated cousin! Perfect to accent any space or to cover the walls with an eye-catching blue, Moody Blue makes a statement without being dark enough to make a space feel smaller. It’s a perfect choice to achieve a ‘cozy cave’ bedroom or a stylized dining or living room; its deep tone elicits a sense of calm or of grandeur depending on how it’s styled. Try pairing it with lighter neutrals and bronze accents for a lush, sophisticated feel!
Benjamin Moore Beach Glass (1564)
Bottom Right: Life on Virginia Street, “Best Blue Green Paint Colors”; The Rest: Remodelaholic, “Paint Color Spotlight- Benjamin Moore Beach Glass”
Benjamin Moore Beach Glass (1564) is a light blue-green subdued by subtle gray undertones that perfectly captures the color of its namesake. Bright yet sophisticated, it uplifts any space. An instant classic, Beach Glass is wildly versatile, playing nicely with both neutral partners and pops of color. Fresh yet relaxed, serves as an ideal backdrop for any interior space.
Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue (HC-144)
Top Left, Bottom Middle, and Bottom Right- Help With DIY, “Timeless Elegance: Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue Review”; Top Middle: Decor Pad; Top Right: The Turquoise Home, “Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue Paint Color Reveiw”; Bottom Left: Home Bunch, “The Best Benjamin Moore Paint Colors”
The brightest option in our list, Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue (HC-144) is in fact closer to a mint than a blue. Though ever so slightly more saturated and with a drop more blue than green, it’s comparable to one of our overall top favorite greens, Sherwin Williams Rainwashed (SW 6211). Though it does have just a touch of gray to endow it with the air of sophistication one expects from a Benjamin Moore hue, the combination of its light value and its unique saturation of color makes Palladian Blue almost seem to glow from within. Effervescent and full of life, it’s sure to elevate any space with a sense of joy, freshness, and vigor!
Benjamin Moore Smoke (2122-40)
Top Left, Top Middle Left, Bottom Left: Rowe Spurling Paint Company, “Color Spotlight- Benjamin Moore Smoke”; Top Middle Right: Ring’s End, “Benjamin Moore Smoke Review and Inspiration”; Top Right: Home Bunch, “Top Cabinet Paint Colors You Should Try!”; Bottom Middle Three and Bottom Right: Nikki’s Plate, “Benjamin Moore Smoke Paint Color Review”
Benjamin Moore Smoke (2122-40) is a light, airy blue with dominant gray and subtle green undertones. Only slightly lighter and much cooler-toned than Beach Glass (1564) but too green to be nearly as icy as Beacon Gray (2128-60), Smoke feels far too pure to align with its namesake. More reminiscent of a hazy spring mist, Smoke appears blue against neutral grays and true teal blue-greens, but green against cool blues with red undertones. Its touch of green prevents it from ever appearing violet in any lighting and bestows a bit of warmth. Beautifully complex, Smoke shines against warm neutrals, cool silvers, and fresh whites. It’s sure to enhance any space with tranquil, diverse color.
Benjamin Moore Beacon Gray (2128-60)
Top Left and Top Middle Right: Homes and Gardens, “5 Ways to Decorate with Benjamin Moore’s Beacon Gray”; Top Middle Left: cb2, “Top Paint Colors for 2016”; Top Right: Benjamin Moore, “Beacon Gray 2128-60”; Bottom Left: Home Bunch, “The Best Benjamin Moore Paint Colors”; Bottom Middle: Elissa Grayer Interior Design, “Beyond the Pale (Blue)!”; Bottom Right: Rowe Spurling Paint Company, “The Perfect GREY”
A true ice queen, Benjamin Moore Beacon Gray (2128-60) is a cool, light blue with subtle gray and red undertones. Cold and refreshing, Beacon Gray’s undertones lean ever-so-slightly red, ensuring it has no green whatsoever, though it reads more of a true icy blue than a blue-violet in most light. It’s the perfect blue to open up a space with its fresh, airy feel. Decisively cool, it can look stunning when paired with pops of warm, contrasting colors, which balance the temperature of the room. Or, it can be complemented with cool, bright whites to enhance its crisp, pure qualities. Why not go all out and pair it with both for maximum contrast? Incredibly diverse, Beacon Gray can be styled to look simple and clean or avant-garde. It’s up to you!
Benjamin Moore November Skies (2128-50)
Left, Top Left, Bottom Middle: Hackrea, “November Skies 2128-50 (Benjamin Moore)”; Top Right, Right: My Old Country House, “Your Favorite Benjamin Moore Blues”
Benjamin Moore November Skies (2128-50) is a cool, light mid-tone blue with gray and violet undertones. The red of its violet undertones eliminates any hints of green, evoking the lovely wintery blue its namesake suggests. As a cool blue with just enough gray to add a touch of sophistication, it pairs sensationally with deeper blues that share its red-violet undertones, such as Indigo and Navy. If you’re feeling daring enough to introduce warm colors to your pallet, choose cool pinks and magentas with plenty of blue in their undertones, while avoiding clashing yellow undertones, which appear in orangey-red vermillions and green-blue teals. Yellow itself, though, will be high-contrast enough to pop pleasantly!
Benjamin Moore New Hope Gray (2130-50)
Left: Good House Keeping, “14 Best Summer Color Trends for 2020”; Middle: Pinterest; Right: DIY Decor Mom, “Blue Gray Paint: 25+ Best Paint Shades 2024”
Benjamin Moore New Hope Gray (2130–50) is a cool, light mid-tone blue-gray. Like the sister colors Beacon Gray (2128-60) and November Skies (2128-50), New Hope Gray has violet undertones to its blue side. Free of the yellow tones that constitute warmer blue-green colors, New Hope Gray is decisively cool toned. However, it has more gray in its make-up than both of the other cool blues listed, making it deeper and more neutral for a more grounded look.
Benjamin Moore Van Courtland Blue HC-145)
Top Left: Life on Virginia Street, “The Best Blue Gray Paint Colors”; Top Middle: Decorate, “Moroccan Magic”; Top Right: Home Bunch, “2020 Archive”; Bottom Left: Benjamin Moore; Bottom Middle: Favorite Paint Colors Blog, “Van Courtland Blue”; Bottom Right: Lilac and Lipgloss, “My New Home Office”
The perfect gray-blue mid-tone, Benjamin Moore Van Courtland Blue (HC-145) has just a touch of warmth without leaning into blue-green territory. With just the right amount of gray, it brings to mind the sophistication of old-world blues while still fitting right into contemporary spaces. Something old, something new, not too gray, not too blue! Van Courtland Blue manages to avoid being too light, too deep, too warm or too cold; it’s right in the Goldilocks zone!
Need an expert’s opinion?
Our color consultant can help you find the perfect shade. Contact us here or book your paint consultation today.
Not sure which blue is right for you? Our color consultants are here to help! Whether you need an exterior color selection in Knoxville or wall color selection in Farragut, we can make the decision easy.
Contact us today to schedule your paint consultation, and we’ll guide you in choosing the perfect shade that aligns with your vision. With expert advice, you can avoid costly mistakes and be confident that your choice will enhance your space. Whether you’re in Knoxville or beyond, our team is ready to assist—virtually or in person. Let us help you transform your home with the perfect blue hue!
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