Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Bracing Blue |
| SKU | SW 6242 |
| Hex | #768B9A |
| RGB | 118, 139, 154 |
| HSL | 205°, 15%, 53% |
| LRV | 25 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Sherwin-Williams Bracing Blue
Bracing Blue sits in the mid-range at LRV 25, 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.
Bracing Blue 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.
Closest matches by brand
15 brands within ΔE 5The 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 gray from that brand.
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Annie Sloan
Backdrop
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Bracing 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.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #768B9A in HSL space. Pair Bracing Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Sherwin-Williams Bracing Blue Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Bracing 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 Sherwin-Williams SW 6242 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Bracing Blue
At Behr, the closest color to Bracing Blue is Milestone (760F-5) — very close at ΔE 2.72, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 25 vs 25) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Milestone swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Bracing Blue
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Bracing Blue is Wild Blue Yonder (CSP-620) — very close at ΔE 2.17, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 25) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Wild Blue Yonder swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Bracing Blue
Valspar's nearest match is Steele Blue (V137-5), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.43). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 25.3 vs 25) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Bracing Blue without repainting risk. See the full Steele Blue swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Bracing Blue
The closest Glidden equivalent of Bracing Blue is Stormy Sky Blue (70BG 25/100). At ΔE 0.85 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 25 vs 25). If Glidden is your counter, order Stormy Sky Blue and you'll get the same color. See the full Stormy Sky Blue swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Bracing Blue
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Bracing Blue is Americana (238-5DB) — very close at ΔE 2.16, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 25 vs 25) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Americana swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Bracing Blue
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Bracing Blue is Bracing Blue (HGSW 3353). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 25 vs 25). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Bracing Blue and you'll get the same color. See the full Bracing Blue swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Bracing Blue
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is China Clay (DE5802), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.73). It runs slightly darker (LRV 23 vs 25) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Bracing Blue without repainting risk. See the full China Clay swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Bracing Blue
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Bracing Blue is Selvedge (NO. 306) — very close at ΔE 3.29, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 25) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Selvedge swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Bracing Blue
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Bracing Blue is Ocean Storms (0506) — very close at ΔE 2.5, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 23 vs 25) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ocean Storms swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Bracing Blue
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Bracing Blue is Eiger (C2-747) — very close at ΔE 2.66, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 25) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Eiger swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Bracing Blue
At Portola Paints, the closest color to Bracing Blue is Blue Heron (BLUE HERON) — very close at ΔE 2.9, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 25) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blue Heron swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Bracing Blue
Annie Sloan has no exact twin of Bracing Blue. The nearest is Greek Blue (GREEK BLUE) at ΔE 4.32 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 23 vs 25). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Greek Blue swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Bracing Blue
At Backdrop, the closest color to Bracing Blue is Polly Wants (BD-PW) — very close at ΔE 2.85, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 25) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Polly Wants swatch →