CP

Dunn-Edwards Emboldened BlueDEFD50 · #334377 · LRV 7

Emboldened Blue reads as a cool blue tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover the color's details, what Dunn-Edwards DEFD50 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

DUNN-EDWARDS EMBOLDENED BLUE
RGB 51, 67, 119LRV 7

Color spec

BrandDunn-Edwards
NameEmboldened Blue
SKUDEFD50
Hex#334377
RGB51, 67, 119
HSL226°, 40%, 33%
LRV7
Undertonecool blue tone
FamilyBlue
See Dunn-Edwards Emboldened Blue on your own walls — upload a room photo.SEE IT IN YOUR ROOM →

About Dunn-Edwards Emboldened Blue

At LRV 7, Emboldened 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.

Emboldened 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. Blues calm a room, which makes them popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.

Closest matches by brand

12 brands within ΔE 5

The 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

1,947 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.32
All blue at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 6818 · #3E4371 · ΔE 3.32 · LRV 6
SW 6538 · #3B496D · ΔE 3.83 · LRV 7

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.98
All blue at Behr →
640F-7 · #364276 · ΔE 0.98 · LRV 6
S560-7 · #384674 · ΔE 1.57 · LRV 6
M530-7 · #2D437D · ΔE 1.68 · LRV 6
650F-7 · #3B3F72 · ΔE 3.18 · LRV 6

Benjamin Moore

4,068 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.13
All blue at Benjamin Moore →
2067-20 · #334076 · ΔE 1.13 · LRV 8
CC-968 · #3F457D · ΔE 2.71 · LRV 8
CC-966 · #40466D · ΔE 4.36 · LRV 8

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.42
All blue at Valspar →
4010-9 · #323F76 · ΔE 1.42 · LRV 5.6
V074-6 · #2B406F · ΔE 1.95 · LRV 5.3
8001-47G · #3D4281 · ΔE 3.11 · LRV 6
M240 · #25416D · ΔE 3.36 · LRV 5.2

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.1
All blue at PPG / Glidden →
PPG1166-7 · #384874 · ΔE 2.1 · LRV 7
PPG1162-7 · #324B77 · ΔE 3.42 · LRV 7
PPG17-03 · #324B77 · ΔE 3.42 · LRV 7
PPG1168-7 · #3D496E · ΔE 3.87 · LRV 7

Glidden

3,101 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.08
All blue at Glidden →
PPG1166-7 · #374874 · ΔE 2.08 · LRV 7
PPG1162-7 · #314A76 · ΔE 3.22 · LRV 7
PPG1168-7 · #3D496D · ΔE 4.07 · LRV 7

Dutch Boy

1,340 colors in deck · best ΔE 3
All blue at Dutch Boy →
141-7DB · #3C4C80 · ΔE 3 · LRV 8
140-7DB · #283E69 · ΔE 3.04 · LRV 5
241-7DB · #3B496D · ΔE 3.83 · LRV 7
HGSW 1401 · #3E4371 · ΔE 3.32 · LRV 6
HGSW 6818 · #3E4371 · ΔE 3.32 · LRV 6

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.15
All blue at Diamond Vogel →
0599 · #344B83 · ΔE 3.15 · LRV 7
0606 · #43487E · ΔE 3.46 · LRV 7

Hirshfield's

1,469 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.57
All blue at Hirshfield's →
0606 · #354079 · ΔE 1.57 · LRV 8
H0061 · #313D6C · ΔE 2.49 · LRV 5
0599 · #2A4983 · ΔE 3.74 · LRV 8
1271 · #3F3F75 · ΔE 4 · LRV 8

Annie Sloan

31 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.63
All blue at Annie Sloan →
NAPOLEONIC BLUE · #2E3C5F · ΔE 4.63 · LRV 5

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.57
All blue at Kompozit →
0606 · #354079 · ΔE 1.57 · LRV 6
0599 · #2A4983 · ΔE 3.74 · LRV 7
0613 · #324A8B · ΔE 3.82 · LRV 7
1271 · #3F3F75 · ΔE 4 · LRV 6

Similar Dunn-Edwards colors

closest in the Dunn-Edwards deck

The nearest shades to Emboldened 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.

DEA140 · LRV 6
DEA138 · LRV 6
DEA139 · LRV 7
DET587 · LRV 6
DET574 · LRV 7
DE5895 · LRV 8

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #334377 in HSL space. Pair Emboldened Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#334377 + #776733
TRIADIC
#334377 · #773343 · #437733
ANALOGOUS
#336577 · #334377 · #453377

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
9.5:1AAA
Sample text on black
2.21:1fail

WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.

Dunn-Edwards Emboldened Blue Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Emboldened Blue 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 Dunn-Edwards DEFD50 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Emboldened Blue

At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Emboldened Blue is Valiant Violet (SW 6818) — very close at ΔE 3.32, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Valiant Violet swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Emboldened Blue

The closest Behr equivalent of Emboldened Blue is Academy Purple (640F-7). At ΔE 0.98 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7). If Behr is your counter, order Academy Purple and you'll get the same color. See the full Academy Purple swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Emboldened Blue

Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Starry Night Blue (2067-20), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.13). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Emboldened Blue without repainting risk. See the full Starry Night Blue swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of Emboldened Blue

Valspar's nearest match is Jazzy Blue (4010-9), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.42). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5.6 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Emboldened Blue without repainting risk. See the full Jazzy Blue swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Emboldened Blue

At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Emboldened Blue is Daring Indigo (PPG1166-7) — very close at ΔE 2.1, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Daring Indigo swatch →

Glidden Equivalent of Emboldened Blue

At Glidden, the closest color to Emboldened Blue is Daring Indigo (PPG1166-7) — very close at ΔE 2.08, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Daring Indigo swatch →

Dutch Boy Equivalent of Emboldened Blue

Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Emboldened Blue. The nearest is Inky Blue (241-7DB) at ΔE 3.83 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Inky Blue swatch →

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Emboldened Blue

At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Emboldened Blue is Quark (HGSW 1401) — very close at ΔE 3.32, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Quark swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Emboldened Blue

At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Emboldened Blue is Florida Waters (0599) — very close at ΔE 3.15, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Florida Waters swatch →

Hirshfield's Equivalent of Emboldened Blue

Hirshfield's's nearest match is Frozen Blue (0606), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.57). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Emboldened Blue without repainting risk. See the full Frozen Blue swatch →

Annie Sloan Equivalent of Emboldened Blue

Annie Sloan has no exact twin of Emboldened Blue. The nearest is Napoleonic Blue (NAPOLEONIC BLUE) at ΔE 4.63 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 5 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Napoleonic Blue swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Emboldened Blue

Kompozit's nearest match is Frozen Blue (0606), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.57). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Emboldened Blue without repainting risk. See the full Frozen Blue swatch →

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