Bedford Blue
1679 · #4E738C · LRV 17 — cool blue tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Anchors Aweigh3
- 2Hale Navy8
- 3Bedford Blue17
- 4Williamsburg Wedgwood Blue28
- 5Resolute Blue40
What Color Is Bedford Blue, Really?
Bedford Blue reads as a cool blue tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore 1679 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Bedford Blue
Bedford Blue works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Blues calm a room, which makes them popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.
How Lighting Changes Bedford Blue
With an LRV of 17, Bedford Blue is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Bedford 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 Benjamin Moore 1679 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 | Inky BlueSW 9149 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.7 | 15 | Color page → |
| Behr | Arrowhead LakePPU14-01 · Behr | 2.9 | 16 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Veranda Blue4004-6B · Valspar | 1.0 | 15.3 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Smoke BluePPG1156-5 · PPG / Glidden | 1.7 | 17 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Smoke BluePPG1156-5 · Glidden | 1.6 | 17 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Ahoy Blue336-5DB · Dutch Boy | 3.1 | 15 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Bedford Blue within Benjamin Moore'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 #4E738C in HSL space. Pair Bedford Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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