Bosporus
SW 6503 · #015D75 · LRV 9 — cool blue-green tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Dark Night4
- 2Bosporus9
- 3Hidden Gem14
- 4Van Courtland Blue31
What Color Is Bosporus, Really?
Bosporus reads as a cool blue-green tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 6503 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Bosporus
Bosporus earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Teals add character without shouting — good for a vanity, an island or a feature wall.
How Lighting Changes Bosporus
At LRV 9, Bosporus is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Bosporus 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 6503 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 | Deep Blue Sea540D-7 · Behr | 3.0 | 9 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Pacific Ocean Blue2055-20 · Benjamin Moore | 3.8 | 9 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Blue Jay CrestP031 · Valspar | 1.0 | 8.6 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Jamaican DreamPPG1151-7 · PPG / Glidden | 1.7 | 10 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Jamaican DreamPPG1151-7 · Glidden | 1.7 | 10 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Petrol Blue234-7DB · Dutch Boy | 4.3 | 9 | Color page → |
Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Bosporus 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 #015D75 in HSL space. Pair Bosporus with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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