Blithe Blue
SW 9052 · #90BDBD · LRV 46 — cool blue-green tone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Adirondack Blue22
- 2Van Courtland Blue31
- 3Blithe Blue46
- 4Ocean Boulevard53
- 5Refresh59
What Color Is Blithe Blue, Really?
Blithe Blue reads as a cool blue-green tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 9052 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Blithe Blue
Blithe Blue 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 Blithe Blue
Blithe Blue sits in the mid-range at LRV 46, 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 Blithe Blue 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 Sherwin-Williams SW 9052 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behr | Lap Pool BluePPU12-06 · Behr | 2.4 | 46 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Spirit in the Sky676 · Benjamin Moore | 0.9 | 45 | Color page → |
| Valspar | AquamarineV066-3 · Valspar | 2.0 | 45.4 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Kingston AquaPPG1150-4 · PPG / Glidden | 3.6 | 46 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Kingston AquaPPG1150-4 · Glidden | 3.6 | 46 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Rockets233-4DB · Dutch Boy | 3.9 | 45 | Color page → |
Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Blithe Blue within 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 #90BDBD in HSL space. Pair Blithe Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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