Express Blue
M500-6 · #395A73 · LRV 9 — cool blue tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Naval4
- 2Express Blue9
- 3Smoky Blue15
- 4Wolf Gray21
What Color Is Express Blue, Really?
Express Blue reads as a cool blue tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Behr M500-6 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Express Blue
Express Blue earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Blues calm a room, which makes them popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.
How Lighting Changes Express Blue
At LRV 9, Express Blue is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Its blue undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Express Blue are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Behr M500-6 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Endless SeaSW 9150 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.5 | 9 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Summer Nights777 · Benjamin Moore | 3.0 | 11 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Mountain River4005-6C · Valspar | 2.5 | 9 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | BrigadePPG1152-6 · PPG / Glidden | 3.0 | 10 | Color page → |
| Glidden | BrigadePPG1152-6 · Glidden | 2.7 | 10 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Sailing Suzy336-6DB · Dutch Boy | 3.7 | 10 | Color page → |
Similar Behr Colors
The nearest shades to Express Blue within Behr's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #395A73 in HSL space. Pair Express Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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