Candid Blue
SW 6953 · #6CC3E0 · LRV 48 — cool blue-green tone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Adirondack Blue22
- 2Van Courtland Blue31
- 3Candid Blue48
- 4Ocean Boulevard53
- 5Refresh59
What Color Is Candid Blue, Really?
Candid Blue reads as a cool blue-green tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Sherwin-Williams SW 6953 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Candid Blue
Candid 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 Candid Blue
Candid Blue sits in the mid-range at LRV 48, 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 Candid 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 6953 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 | Rushing StreamP480-4 · Behr | 3.9 | 47 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Pool Party2059-50 · Benjamin Moore | 1.4 | 49 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Billow4008-9C · Valspar | 2.4 | 48 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Horizon HazePPG1237-4 · PPG / Glidden | 3.8 | 48 | Color page → |
| Glidden | By The Sea50BG 50/265 · Glidden | 2.1 | 50 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Perfect Day137-5DB · Dutch Boy | 3.9 | 45 | Color page → |
Similar Sherwin-Williams Colors
The nearest shades to Candid 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 #6CC3E0 in HSL space. Pair Candid Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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