Color guide · Dunn-Edwards · Purple

Beaded Blue

DE5909 · #494D8B · LRV 8 · cool blue tone

DE5909 · #494D8B · LRV 8 — cool blue tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.

Beaded BlueDunn-Edwards · DE5909
The color, edge to edge.Use your own photo →
Beaded Blue
DUNN-EDWARDS · DE5909 · #494D8B
Brand · codeDunn-EdwardsDE5909 · all Dunn-Edwards purples
LRV8Very dark — reads black in most rooms.
Undertonecool blue tone
FamilyPurple
Hex · RGB · HSL#494D8B · 73, 77, 139 · 236°, 31%, 42%Display values from the brand. Match it at another brand
Sheen we recommendEggshell on walls · satin on trim and cabinetsWhich sheen where, explained
Where it sits, light to dark
  1. 1Liberty Blue1
  2. 2Beaded Blue8
  3. 3Blue Nova17
  4. 4Gothic Purple24
Undertone and depth

What Color Is Beaded Blue, Really?

Beaded Blue reads as a cool blue tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Dunn-Edwards DE5909 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.

Room by room

Best Rooms and Uses for Beaded Blue

Beaded 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. Purples range from restful (bedrooms) to dramatic (powder rooms) depending on depth.

Light by light

How Lighting Changes Beaded Blue

At LRV 8, Beaded 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.

Test it in your light, not a showroom's

Most complaints about Beaded 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.

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Same color, different store

Need It From Another Brand?

Any paint counter can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DE5909 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.

Same deck, next chip over

Similar Dunn-Edwards Colors

The nearest shades to Beaded Blue within Dunn-Edwards's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.

Contrast, for text and signage
Black text on Beaded Blue · 2.7 : 1 · fails for textWhite text on Beaded Blue · 7.7 : 1 · passes AA and AAA

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 #494D8B in HSL space. Pair Beaded Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#494D8B + #8B8749
TRIADIC
#494D8B · #8B494D · #4D8B49
ANALOGOUS
#496E8B · #494D8B · #66498B

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Jessica Williams

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