Inkstain
238-7DB · #334C64 · LRV 7 — cool blue tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Nightlife2
- 2Inkstain7
- 3Waterloo13
- 4Charcoal Blue19
What Color Is Inkstain, Really?
Inkstain reads as a cool blue tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Dutch Boy 238-7DB behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Inkstain
Inkstain 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.
How Lighting Changes Inkstain
At LRV 7, Inkstain 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.
Most complaints about Inkstain 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 Dutch Boy 238-7DB 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 | Indigo BatikSW 7602 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.7 | 8 | Color page → |
| Behr | Rain BootsHDC-FL14-12 · Behr | 0.9 | 7 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Blue FedoraV111-6 · Valspar | 1.7 | 6.2 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Blueberry PiePPG1163-7 · PPG / Glidden | 1.0 | 7 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Deep Arctic Night Blue10BB 07/150 · Glidden | 0.8 | 7 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Indigo BatikHGSW 7602 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 2.7 | 8 | Color page → |
Similar Dutch Boy Colors
The nearest shades to Inkstain within Dutch Boy'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 #334C64 in HSL space. Pair Inkstain with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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