Blue Dusk
M318 · #233E51 · LRV 4.4 — cool blue tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Blue Dusk4.4
- 2Waterloo13
- 3Charcoal Blue19
What Color Is Blue Dusk, Really?
Blue Dusk reads as a cool blue tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Valspar M318 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Blue Dusk
Blue Dusk earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Blues calm a room, which makes them popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.
How Lighting Changes Blue Dusk
At LRV 4.4, Blue Dusk 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 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Blue Dusk 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 M318 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 | Salty DogSW 9177 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.3 | 5 | Color page → |
| Behr | New Navy BlueBXC-26 · Behr | 1.4 | 5 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | North SeaCC-932 · Benjamin Moore | 3.3 | 6 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Deep Sky335-7DB · Dutch Boy | 2.7 | 4 | Color page → |
| HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | Salty DogHGSW 9177 · HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams | 2.3 | 4 | Color page → |
| Portola Paints | Ghost TreeGHOST TREE · Portola Paints | 4.9 | 4 | Color page → |
Similar Valspar Colors
The nearest shades to Blue Dusk 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 #233E51 in HSL space. Pair Blue Dusk with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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