Celtic Blue
ES-31 · #A9B5BC · LRV 45 — cool blue tone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Kendall Charcoal15
- 2Retreat21
- 3Celtic Blue45
- 4Upward57
- 5Sea Salt63
What Color Is Celtic Blue, Really?
Celtic Blue reads as a cool blue tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore ES-31 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Celtic Blue
Celtic Blue is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
How Lighting Changes Celtic Blue
Celtic Blue sits in the mid-range at LRV 45, 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.
Most complaints about Celtic 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 ES-31 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 | JubileeSW 6248 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.9 | 45 | Color page → |
| Behr | Intercoastal GrayMQ5-23 · Behr | 0.4 | 45 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Bedside MannerT671 · Valspar | 1.7 | 45.1 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Smoke ScreenPPG1038-4 · PPG / Glidden | 2.0 | 46 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Nautical StarPPG1036-3 · Glidden | 2.5 | 45 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Tempest Wind431-2DB · Dutch Boy | 3.0 | 46 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Celtic 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 #A9B5BC in HSL space. Pair Celtic Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Celtic Blue?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question