Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Upward |
| SKU | SW 6239 |
| Hex | #A1B1BF |
| RGB | 161, 177, 191 |
| HSL | 208°, 19%, 69% |
| LRV | 39 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Sherwin-Williams Upward
Upward sits in the mid-range at LRV 39, 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.
Upward 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
17 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
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Annie Sloan
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Upward 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 #A1B1BF in HSL space. Pair Upward 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 Upward Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Upward 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 6239 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Upward
Behr's nearest match is Rainy Sidewalk (HDC-CT-24), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.94). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 42 vs 39) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Upward without repainting risk. See the full Rainy Sidewalk swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Upward
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Upward. The nearest is Slate Blue (1648) at ΔE 3.51 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 39). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Slate Blue swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Upward
Valspar's nearest match is Blue Echo (8004-44C), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.86). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 39) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Upward without repainting risk. See the full Blue Echo swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Upward
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Peace (PPG10-28), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.92). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 39) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Upward without repainting risk. See the full Peace swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Upward
Glidden's nearest match is Peace (PPG10-28), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.44). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 39) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Upward without repainting risk. See the full Peace swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Upward
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Alchemist Blue (339-3DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.49). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 42 vs 39) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Upward without repainting risk. See the full Alchemist Blue swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Upward
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Upward is Behind Blue Eyes (HGSW 3345) — very close at ΔE 2.8, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 39) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Behind Blue Eyes swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Upward
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Upward is Country Air (DET581) — very close at ΔE 2.48, though not an exact twin. It runs noticeably lighter (LRV 46 vs 39) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Country Air swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Upward
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Upward is Lulworth Blue (NO. 89) — very close at ΔE 2.8, though not an exact twin. It runs noticeably lighter (LRV 46 vs 39) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Lulworth Blue swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Upward
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Blue Pot (0624), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.38). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 39) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Upward without repainting risk. See the full Blue Pot swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Upward
Hirshfield's's nearest match is In the Blue (0504), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.95). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 39) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Upward without repainting risk. See the full In the Blue swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Upward
Rodda's nearest match is Sheer Clouds (R087), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.89). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 42 vs 39) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Upward without repainting risk. See the full Sheer Clouds swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Upward
The closest C2 Paint equivalent of Upward is Stockholm (C2-750). At ΔE 0.96 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and runs slightly lighter (LRV 41 vs 39). If C2 Paint is your counter, order Stockholm and you'll get the same color. See the full Stockholm swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Upward
Annie Sloan has no exact twin of Upward. The nearest is Louis Blue (LOUIS BLUE) at ΔE 3.55 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs noticeably lighter (LRV 50 vs 39). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Louis Blue swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Upward
Backdrop has no exact twin of Upward. The nearest is Underdog (BD-UD) at ΔE 4.14 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 41 vs 39). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Underdog swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Upward
Kompozit's nearest match is In the Blue (0504), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.95). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 42 vs 39) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Upward without repainting risk. See the full In the Blue swatch →