Aurora Borealis
P037 · #536984 · LRV 13.5 — cool blue tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Anchors Aweigh3
- 2Hale Navy8
- 3Aurora Borealis13.5
- 4Charcoal Blue19
- 5Resolute Blue40
What Color Is Aurora Borealis, Really?
Aurora Borealis reads as a cool blue tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Valspar P037 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Aurora Borealis
Aurora Borealis works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Blues calm a room, which makes them popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.
How Lighting Changes Aurora Borealis
With an LRV of 13.5, Aurora Borealis is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Aurora Borealis 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 Valspar P037 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | DenimSW 6523 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.3 | 14 | Color page → |
| Behr | Dark RoomBNC-29 · Behr | 2.5 | 14 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Blue Heron832 · Benjamin Moore | 3.2 | 14 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Stained GlassPPG1165-6 · PPG / Glidden | 1.8 | 13 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Midship Blue30BB 14/173 · Glidden | 1.4 | 14 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Star Gazing238-6DB · Dutch Boy | 2.3 | 14 | Color page → |
Similar Valspar Colors
The nearest shades to Aurora Borealis within Valspar'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 #536984 in HSL space. Pair Aurora Borealis with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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