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HGTV HOME BY SHERWIN-WILLIAMS · HGSW 9149

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Inky Blue#4E7287 · LRV 15

Inky Blue reads as a blue / cool — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover the spec, what HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 9149 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

HGTV HOME BY SHERWIN-WILLIAMS INKY BLUE
RGB 78, 114, 135 LRV 15

Color spec

Brand HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Name Inky Blue
SKU HGSW 9149
Hex #4E7287
RGB 78, 114, 135
HSL 202°, 27%, 42%
LRV 15
Undertone blue / cool
Family Blue

About HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Inky Blue

With an LRV of 15, Inky Blue is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.

Inky Blue works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Blues calm a room, which makes them popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.

Closest matches at every US brand

14 brands · top 5 each

5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all blue from that brand.

SW 9149 · #4E7287 · ΔE 0 · LRV 15
SW 6516 · #43718B · ΔE 2.13 · LRV 15
SW 7610 · #3E758A · ΔE 4 · LRV 16
SW 6523 · #506B84 · ΔE 4.44 · LRV 14
SW 9059 · #427584 · ΔE 5.32 · LRV 15

C2 Paint

580 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.37
All blue at C2 Paint →
C2-745 · #4D7288 · ΔE 0.37 · LRV 15
C2-729 · #5A737F · ΔE 3.8 · LRV 16
BD26 · #397286 · ΔE 4.63 · LRV 15
C2-746 · #536E89 · ΔE 4.71 · LRV 15
C2-776 · #646C8C · ΔE 12.43 · LRV 15

Benjamin Moore

3,934 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.29
All blue at Benjamin Moore →
1665 · #537284 · ΔE 1.29 · LRV 17
CC-782 · #537284 · ΔE 1.29 · LRV 16
1679 · #4E738C · ΔE 1.67 · LRV 17
AF-520 · #527687 · ΔE 2.35 · LRV 18
720 · #54747C · ΔE 5.81 · LRV 16

Dutch Boy

1,340 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.58
All blue at Dutch Boy →
336-5DB · #4A7184 · ΔE 1.58 · LRV 15
236-6DB · #416D83 · ΔE 2.76 · LRV 14
238-6DB · #506B84 · ΔE 4.44 · LRV 14
433-5DB · #5C6E7C · ΔE 4.77 · LRV 15
239-6DB · #5A738F · ΔE 5.62 · LRV 16

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.81
All blue at Valspar →
4007-6B · #517689 · ΔE 1.81 · LRV 16.6
4004-6B · #4F718A · ΔE 2.13 · LRV 15.3
V107-5 · #4E6D7F · ΔE 2.13 · LRV 14.1
4006-4B · #587487 · ΔE 2.21 · LRV 16.4
4005-4B · #576F85 · ΔE 3.86 · LRV 15

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.33
All blue at Kompozit →
0633 · #557080 · ΔE 2.33 · LRV 15
0626 · #5A7187 · ΔE 4.18 · LRV 16
0507 · #5E6C76 · ΔE 6.43 · LRV 14
0500 · #587176 · ΔE 6.86 · LRV 15
0591 · #597193 · ΔE 7.68 · LRV 16

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.36
All blue at Behr →
N480-6 · #4A7081 · ΔE 2.36 · LRV 15
560F-6 · #4B788E · ΔE 2.7 · LRV 17
PPU14-01 · #57728B · ΔE 3.91 · LRV 16
PPU14-1 · #57728B · ΔE 3.91 · LRV 16
PPF-47 · #566F8C · ΔE 5.88 · LRV 15

Dunn-Edwards

2,298 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.45
All blue at Dunn-Edwards →
DET569 · #527585 · ΔE 2.45 · LRV 17
DET564 · #466B82 · ΔE 2.77 · LRV 14
DE5810 · #3E6F87 · ΔE 2.85 · LRV 13
DESS33 · #587380 · ΔE 3.29 · LRV 16
DE5789 · #3C768A · ΔE 4.78 · LRV 15

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.82
All blue at PPG / Glidden →
PPG1156-5 · #547790 · ΔE 2.82 · LRV 17
PPG10-10 · #5C717E · ΔE 4.05 · LRV 16
PPG1151-6 · #35788D · ΔE 5.86 · LRV 16
PPG1164-6 · #627189 · ΔE 7.83 · LRV 16
PPG1148-6 · #4B7478 · ΔE 8.82 · LRV 15

Magnolia Home

160 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.28
All blue at Magnolia Home →
JG-85 · #4E7280 · ΔE 3.28 · LRV 15
JG-163 · #3B6279 · ΔE 6.06 · LRV 11
JG-86 · #616F74 · ΔE 7.62 · LRV 15
JG-79 · #607577 · ΔE 8.5 · LRV 17
JG-03 · #617373 · ΔE 9.54 · LRV 16

Clare

78 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.64
All blue at Clare →
PNT100-MD-41 · #427494 · ΔE 3.64 · LRV 16
PNT100-DP-45 · #357285 · ΔE 5.52 · LRV 14
PNT100-DP-65 · #4D6A70 · ΔE 7.24 · LRV 13
PNT100-MD-57 · #5B6682 · ΔE 10.93 · LRV 13
PNT100-DP-51 · #5A6964 · ΔE 12.79 · LRV 13

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.68
All blue at Diamond Vogel →
0633 · #5E7585 · ΔE 3.68 · LRV 17
H056 · #34708F · ΔE 4.21 · LRV 15
H051 · #60737D · ΔE 5.26 · LRV 16
0619 · #506F91 · ΔE 6.11 · LRV 15
0500 · #61767B · ΔE 7.17 · LRV 17

Backdrop

30 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.16
All blue at Backdrop →
BD-MJ · #5A6E7E · ΔE 4.16 · LRV 18
BD-WK · #3F546B · ΔE 11.44 · LRV 8
BD-PW · #7C8E97 · ΔE 12.95 · LRV 27
BD-HF · #7C8478 · ΔE 18.68 · LRV 22
BD-OS · #7E7C5C · ΔE 26.46 · LRV 18

Farrow & Ball

209 colors in deck · best ΔE 8.81
All blue at Farrow & Ball →
NO. 299 · #6A7C80 · ΔE 8.81 · LRV 19
NO. 289 · #586768 · ΔE 9.83 · LRV 13
NO. 288 · #427E83 · ΔE 10.97 · LRV 18
NO. 220 · #636E8F · ΔE 11.47 · LRV 16
NO. 26 · #626664 · ΔE 13.1 · LRV 13

Similar HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams colors

closest in the HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams deck

The nearest shades to Inky Blue 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.

HGSW 3342 · LRV 15
HGSW 2372 · LRV 15
HGSW 6516 · LRV 15
HGSW 2342 · LRV 15
HGSW 9059 · LRV 15
HGSW 2382 · LRV 14

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #4E7287 in HSL space. Pair Inky Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#4E7287 + #87634E
TRIADIC
#4E7287 · #874E72 · #72874E
ANALOGOUS
#4E8780 · #4E7287 · #4E5587

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
5.15:1 AA
Sample text on black
4.08:1 AA Large

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

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Inky Blue Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Inky 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 HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 9149 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Inky Blue

The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Inky Blue is Inky Blue (SW 9149). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 15). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Inky Blue and you'll get the same color. See the full Inky Blue swatch →

C2 Paint Equivalent of Inky Blue

The closest C2 Paint equivalent of Inky Blue is Salish Sea (C2-745). At ΔE 0.37 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 15). If C2 Paint is your counter, order Salish Sea and you'll get the same color. See the full Salish Sea swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Inky Blue

Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Mozart Blue (1665), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.29). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 17 vs 15) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Inky Blue without repainting risk. See the full Mozart Blue swatch →

Dutch Boy Equivalent of Inky Blue

Dutch Boy's nearest match is Ahoy Blue (336-5DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.58). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 15) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Inky Blue without repainting risk. See the full Ahoy Blue swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of Inky Blue

At Valspar, the closest color to Inky Blue is Veranda Blue (4004-6B) — very close at ΔE 2.13, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15.3 vs 15) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Veranda Blue swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Inky Blue

At Kompozit, the closest color to Inky Blue is Cape Cod Bay (0633) — very close at ΔE 2.33, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 15) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cape Cod Bay swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Inky Blue

At Behr, the closest color to Inky Blue is Nypd (N480-6) — very close at ΔE 2.36, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 15) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Nypd swatch →

Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Inky Blue

At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Inky Blue is San Miguel Blue (DET569) — very close at ΔE 2.45, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 17 vs 15) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full San Miguel Blue swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Inky Blue

At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Inky Blue is Smoke Blue (PPG1156-5) — very close at ΔE 2.82, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 17 vs 15) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Smoke Blue swatch →

Magnolia Home Equivalent of Inky Blue

At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Inky Blue is Blue Skies (JG-85) — very close at ΔE 3.28, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 15) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blue Skies swatch →

Clare Equivalent of Inky Blue

Clare has no exact twin of Inky Blue. The nearest is Hyperlink (PNT100-MD-41) at ΔE 3.64 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 15). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Hyperlink swatch →

Backdrop Equivalent of Inky Blue

Backdrop has no exact twin of Inky Blue. The nearest is Mom Jeans (BD-MJ) at ΔE 4.16 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 15). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Mom Jeans swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Inky Blue

Diamond Vogel doesn't make a true equivalent of Inky Blue — the nearest deck color, Honky Tonk Blue (0619), is clearly different (ΔE 6.11). For an exact match, any Diamond Vogel retailer can custom-tint HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 9149 instead. See the full Honky Tonk Blue swatch →

Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Inky Blue

Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Inky Blue — the nearest deck color, Pitch Blue (NO. 220), is clearly different (ΔE 11.47). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 9149 instead. See the full Pitch Blue swatch →

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