Color spec
| Brand | Dutch Boy |
| Name | Subdued Blue |
| SKU | 238-4DB |
| Hex | #8BAEC5 |
| RGB | 139, 174, 197 |
| HSL | 204°, 33%, 66% |
| LRV | 40 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Blue |
About Dutch Boy Subdued Blue
Subdued Blue sits in the mid-range at LRV 40, 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.
Subdued Blue is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Blues calm a room, which makes them popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.
Closest matches by brand
13 brands within ΔE 5The 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
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Similar Dutch Boy colors
closest in the Dutch Boy deckThe nearest shades to Subdued Blue within Dutch Boy's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #8BAEC5 in HSL space. Pair Subdued Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Dutch Boy Subdued Blue Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Subdued 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 Dutch Boy 238-4DB directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Subdued Blue
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Subdued Blue is Resolute Blue (SW 6507) — very close at ΔE 2.88, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 40) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Resolute Blue swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Subdued Blue
At Behr, the closest color to Subdued Blue is Atmosphere (QE-51) — very close at ΔE 3.12, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 40) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Atmosphere swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Subdued Blue
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Subdued Blue is New Born's Eyes (1663) — very close at ΔE 2.63, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 40) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full New Born's Eyes swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Subdued Blue
At Valspar, the closest color to Subdued Blue is Porcelain Vase (V109-4) — very close at ΔE 2.08, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 37.7 vs 40) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Porcelain Vase swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Subdued Blue
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Arabella (PPG1157-4), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.61). It runs slightly darker (LRV 38 vs 40) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Subdued Blue without repainting risk. See the full Arabella swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Subdued Blue
At Glidden, the closest color to Subdued Blue is Mayflower Blue (70BG 41/201) — very close at ΔE 2.15, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 40) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Mayflower Blue swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Subdued Blue
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Subdued Blue is Resolute Blue (HGSW 2365) — very close at ΔE 2.88, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 40) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Resolute Blue swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Subdued Blue
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Subdued Blue. The nearest is Winter Solstice (JG-89) at ΔE 4.42 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 37 vs 40). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Winter Solstice swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Subdued Blue
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Subdued Blue. The nearest is Yonder (NO. 9810) at ΔE 3.85 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 42 vs 40). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Yonder swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Subdued Blue
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Subdued Blue is Calm Tint (0645) — very close at ΔE 2.69, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 40) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Calm Tint swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Subdued Blue
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Subdued Blue is Calm Tint (0645) — very close at ΔE 2.35, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 40) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Calm Tint swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Subdued Blue
C2 Paint's nearest match is Linus (C2-749), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.69). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 40) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Subdued Blue without repainting risk. See the full Linus swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Subdued Blue
At Kompozit, the closest color to Subdued Blue is Calm Tint (0645) — very close at ΔE 2.35, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 42 vs 40) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Calm Tint swatch →