Cystern
0511 · #A9B0B6 · LRV 43 — cool blue tone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Kendall Charcoal15
- 2Retreat21
- 3Cystern43
- 4Upward57
- 5Sea Salt63
What Color Is Cystern, Really?
Cystern reads as a cool blue tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Kompozit 0511 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Cystern
Cystern is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
How Lighting Changes Cystern
Cystern sits in the mid-range at LRV 43, 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.
Most complaints about Cystern 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 Kompozit 0511 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 | StardewSW 9138 · Sherwin-Williams | 3.1 | 43 | Color page → |
| Behr | Tin FoilN500-3 · Behr | 3.1 | 43 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Pigeon Gray2133-50 · Benjamin Moore | 1.4 | 42 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Granite Fog8006-8C · Valspar | 1.7 | 43 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Mirror MirrorPPG1039-3 · PPG / Glidden | 2.3 | 43 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Gosling GrayPPG0993-3 · Glidden | 1.1 | 42 | Color page → |
Similar Kompozit Colors
The nearest shades to Cystern within Kompozit'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 #A9B0B6 in HSL space. Pair Cystern with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Cystern?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question