Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Poetry Reading |
| SKU | MQ5-17 |
| Hex | #9DABC7 |
| RGB | 157, 171, 199 |
| HSL | 220°, 27%, 70% |
| LRV | 40 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Blue |
About Behr Poetry Reading
Poetry Reading sits in the mid-range at LRV 40, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. 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. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Poetry Reading is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Blues calm a room, which makes them popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.
Closest matches by brand
11 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all blue from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
Dunn-Edwards
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Poetry Reading within Behr's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #9DABC7 in HSL space. Pair Poetry Reading with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Behr Poetry Reading Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Poetry Reading from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint Behr MQ5-17 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Poetry Reading
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Poetry Reading is Indulgent (SW 6969) — very close at ΔE 2.87, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 40) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Indulgent swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Poetry Reading
At Valspar, the closest color to Poetry Reading is Bonnie Blue (8003-47C) — very close at ΔE 2.38, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 40) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bonnie Blue swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Poetry Reading
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Easter Egg (1166-4), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.16). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 40) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Poetry Reading without repainting risk. See the full Easter Egg swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Poetry Reading
Glidden's nearest match is Fresh Violet (PPG1166-4), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.16). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 40) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Poetry Reading without repainting risk. See the full Fresh Violet swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Poetry Reading
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Lite Periwinkle (141-4DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.27). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 40) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Poetry Reading without repainting risk. See the full Lite Periwinkle swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Poetry Reading
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Sapphire Fog (DE5899), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.76). It runs noticeably darker (LRV 13 vs 40) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Poetry Reading without repainting risk. See the full Sapphire Fog swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Poetry Reading
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Poetry Reading is Lazy Day (0596) — very close at ΔE 2.82, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 42 vs 40) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Lazy Day swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Poetry Reading
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Poetry Reading. The nearest is Approaching Storm (BD12) at ΔE 4.33 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 40). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Approaching Storm swatch →