Above the Waves
HGSW 1344 · #71B8C7 · LRV 42 — cool blue-green tone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Hidden Gem14
- 2Van Courtland Blue31
- 3Above the Waves42
- 4Wythe Blue48
- 5Ocean Boulevard53
What Color Is Above the Waves, Really?
Above the Waves reads as a cool blue-green tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 1344 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Above the Waves
Above the Waves is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Teals add character without shouting — good for a vanity, an island or a feature wall.
How Lighting Changes Above the Waves
Above the Waves sits in the mid-range at LRV 42, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its teal 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 Above the Waves 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 HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 1344 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 | NautilusSW 6780 · Sherwin-Williams | 0.0 | 42 | Color page → |
| Behr | Below ZeroM480-4 · Behr | 2.6 | 43 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Madison Avenue759 · Benjamin Moore | 2.7 | 47 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Water Fountain5001-10A · Valspar | 4.3 | 42.3 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Timberlake Teal90GG 45/254 · Glidden | 4.5 | 45 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Wet Surfboard233-5DB · Dutch Boy | 2.4 | 41 | Color page → |
Similar HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Above the Waves within HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams'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 #71B8C7 in HSL space. Pair Above the Waves with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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