CP

PPG / Glidden Always BluePPG1156-3 · #A2B9CB · LRV 47

Always Blue reads as a cool blue tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover the color's details, what PPG / Glidden PPG1156-3 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

PPG / GLIDDEN ALWAYS BLUE
RGB 162, 185, 203LRV 47

Color spec

BrandPPG / Glidden
NameAlways Blue
SKUPPG1156-3
Hex#A2B9CB
RGB162, 185, 203
HSL206°, 28%, 72%
LRV47
Undertonecool blue tone
FamilyBlue
See PPG / Glidden Always Blue on your own walls — upload a room photo.SEE IT IN YOUR ROOM →

About PPG / Glidden Always Blue

Always Blue sits in the mid-range at LRV 47, 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.

Always 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

17 brands within ΔE 5

The 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

1,947 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.74
All blue at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 6240 · #AABAC6 · ΔE 2.74 · LRV 48

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.86
All blue at Behr →
610F-5 · #A1BAD1 · ΔE 1.86 · LRV 47
PPU15-16 · #ADBBCB · ΔE 3.17 · LRV 49
HDC-SP14-10 · #A9B8CB · ΔE 3.22 · LRV 47
ICC-45 · #AAB7C1 · ΔE 3.81 · LRV 46

Benjamin Moore

4,068 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.94
All blue at Benjamin Moore →
1676 · #A0BECE · ΔE 2.94 · LRV 49
CC-760 · #A0BECE · ΔE 2.94 · LRV 49
829 · #A5B7CD · ΔE 3.07 · LRV 48
CC-908 · #A5B7CD · ΔE 3.07 · LRV 48

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.45
All blue at Valspar →
4005-3B · #A7BAC9 · ΔE 1.45 · LRV 47.7
T682 · #A1B7C3 · ΔE 2.62 · LRV 45.4
4007-5C · #9DBCC9 · ΔE 4.09 · LRV 47.2
8004-39C · #A2B9C1 · ΔE 4.57 · LRV 46

Glidden

3,101 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.59
All blue at Glidden →
PPG1159-3 · #A3BBCD · ΔE 0.59 · LRV 48
PPG1156-3 · #A2BACB · ΔE 0.71 · LRV 47
PPG1042-4 · #ABB5C4 · ΔE 4.6 · LRV 46

Dutch Boy

1,340 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.54
All blue at Dutch Boy →
337-3DB · #A1B7C1 · ΔE 3.54 · LRV 45
340-3DB · #AEB7C4 · ΔE 4.84 · LRV 47
HGSW 3356 · #AABAC6 · ΔE 2.74 · LRV 48
HGSW 6240 · #AABAC6 · ΔE 2.74 · LRV 48

Dunn-Edwards

2,298 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.09
All blue at Dunn-Edwards →
DE5870 · #A3B9CD · ΔE 1.09 · LRV 43
DET581 · #9FB6C6 · ΔE 1.22 · LRV 46
DE5814 · #9EBBCD · ΔE 1.95 · LRV 44
DE5884 · #A2B7CF · ΔE 2.97 · LRV 43

Farrow & Ball

302 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.93
All blue at Farrow & Ball →
NO. 89 · #9EB6C8 · ΔE 0.93 · LRV 45
NO. 27 · #B0BEC6 · ΔE 4.59 · LRV 50

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.89
All blue at Diamond Vogel →
0616 · #A4BFD8 · ΔE 2.89 · LRV 50
0504 · #A1B3BE · ΔE 3.18 · LRV 43
0652 · #95BBD2 · ΔE 3.82 · LRV 47
0588 · #ABBBD4 · ΔE 4.87 · LRV 49

Hirshfield's

1,469 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.15
All blue at Hirshfield's →
0616 · #9EBED8 · ΔE 3.15 · LRV 50
0588 · #A7BAD3 · ΔE 3.89 · LRV 50

C2 Paint

580 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.07
All blue at C2 Paint →
C2-768 · #A6BFDB · ΔE 4.07 · LRV 50
BD18 · #A4B5BD · ΔE 4.2 · LRV 45
BD19 · #9BB7C2 · ΔE 4.26 · LRV 45

Clare

78 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.74
All blue at Clare →
PNT100-MD-73 · #ADBECB · ΔE 2.74 · LRV 50

Portola Paints

69 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.19
All blue at Portola Paints →
ILLUSION · #ADC7DF · ΔE 4.19 · LRV 55

Annie Sloan

31 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.94
All blue at Annie Sloan →
LOUIS BLUE · #AEBECB · ΔE 2.94 · LRV 50

Backdrop

30 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.43
All blue at Backdrop →
BD-LO · #A4C2D2 · ΔE 3.43 · LRV 51

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.15
All blue at Kompozit →
0616 · #9EBED8 · ΔE 3.15 · LRV 49
0588 · #A7BAD3 · ΔE 3.89 · LRV 48

Similar PPG / Glidden colors

closest in the PPG / Glidden deck

The nearest shades to Always Blue within PPG / Glidden's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.

PPG1159-3 · LRV 48
PPG1042-4 · LRV 46
PPG1164-4 · LRV 49
PPG1160-3 · LRV 50
PPG1152-3 · LRV 50
1164-4 · LRV 49

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #A2B9CB in HSL space. Pair Always Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#A2B9CB + #CBB4A2
TRIADIC
#A2B9CB · #CBA2B9 · #B9CBA2
ANALOGOUS
#A2CBC8 · #A2B9CB · #A2A4CB

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
2.03:1fail
Sample text on black
10.34:1AAA

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

PPG / Glidden Always Blue Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Always 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 PPG / Glidden PPG1156-3 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Always Blue

At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Always Blue is Windy Blue (SW 6240) — very close at ΔE 2.74, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 47) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Windy Blue swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Always Blue

Behr's nearest match is Ridge View (610F-5), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.86). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 47) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Always Blue without repainting risk. See the full Ridge View swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Always Blue

At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Always Blue is Sunrise (829) — very close at ΔE 3.07, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 47) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sunrise swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of Always Blue

Valspar's nearest match is Glacier Mist (4005-3B), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.45). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47.7 vs 47) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Always Blue without repainting risk. See the full Glacier Mist swatch →

Glidden Equivalent of Always Blue

The closest Glidden equivalent of Always Blue is Always Blue (PPG1156-3). At ΔE 0.71 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 47). If Glidden is your counter, order Always Blue and you'll get the same color. See the full Always Blue swatch →

Dutch Boy Equivalent of Always Blue

Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Always Blue. The nearest is Valor (337-3DB) at ΔE 3.54 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 45 vs 47). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Valor swatch →

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Always Blue

At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Always Blue is Ocean's Side (HGSW 3356) — very close at ΔE 2.74, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 47) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ocean's Side swatch →

Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Always Blue

Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Northern Pond (DE5870), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.09). It runs slightly darker (LRV 43 vs 47) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Always Blue without repainting risk. See the full Northern Pond swatch →

Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Always Blue

The closest Farrow & Ball equivalent of Always Blue is Lulworth Blue (NO. 89). At ΔE 0.93 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 45 vs 47). If Farrow & Ball is your counter, order Lulworth Blue and you'll get the same color. See the full Lulworth Blue swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Always Blue

Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Always Blue. The nearest is Mountain Main (0652) at ΔE 3.82 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 47). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Mountain Main swatch →

Hirshfield's Equivalent of Always Blue

Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Always Blue. The nearest is Babbling Creek (0588) at ΔE 3.89 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 50 vs 47). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Babbling Creek swatch →

C2 Paint Equivalent of Always Blue

C2 Paint has no exact twin of Always Blue. The nearest is Fauquier Spring (BD19) at ΔE 4.26 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 45 vs 47). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Fauquier Spring swatch →

Clare Equivalent of Always Blue

At Clare, the closest color to Always Blue is Cloud Watching (PNT100-MD-73) — very close at ΔE 2.74, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 50 vs 47) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cloud Watching swatch →

Annie Sloan Equivalent of Always Blue

At Annie Sloan, the closest color to Always Blue is Louis Blue (LOUIS BLUE) — very close at ΔE 2.94, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 50 vs 47) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Louis Blue swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Always Blue

Kompozit has no exact twin of Always Blue. The nearest is Babbling Creek (0588) at ΔE 3.89 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 47). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Babbling Creek swatch →

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