Underwater
PPU12-20 · #4E6163 · LRV 11 — cool blue-green tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Salamander6
- 2Underwater11
- 3Adirondack Blue22
- 4Van Courtland Blue31
What Color Is Underwater, Really?
Underwater reads as a cool blue-green tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Behr PPU12-20 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Underwater
Underwater works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Teals add character without shouting — good for a vanity, an island or a feature wall.
How Lighting Changes Underwater
With an LRV of 11, Underwater is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its teal 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Underwater 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 PPU12-20 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 | Rain CloudSW 9639 · Sherwin-Williams | 4.1 | 11 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Vermont Slate1673 · Benjamin Moore | 4.6 | 13 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Grand Prix8003-38F · Valspar | 4.4 | 11 | Color page → |
| Glidden | MysteriousPPG1037-6 · Glidden | 4.3 | 11 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Stormed Blue334-6DB · Dutch Boy | 3.3 | 11 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | OceanusHGSW 3301 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 1.4 | 10 | Color page → |
Similar Behr Colors
The nearest shades to Underwater 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 #4E6163 in HSL space. Pair Underwater with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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