Blue to the Bone
V031-3 · #0189AC · LRV 20.1 — cool blue-green tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Hale Navy8
- 2Waterloo13
- 3Blue to the Bone20.1
- 4Williamsburg Wedgwood Blue28
- 5Resolute Blue40
What Color Is Blue to the Bone, Really?
Blue to the Bone reads as a cool blue-green tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Valspar V031-3 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Blue to the Bone
Blue to the Bone 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 Blue to the Bone
With an LRV of 20.1, Blue to the Bone is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Blue to the Bone 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 V031-3 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 | Blue MosqueSW 6789 · Sherwin-Williams | 3.5 | 17 | Color page → |
| Behr | Hacienda BlueP490-6 · Behr | 1.0 | 20 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Randolph BlueCW-615 · Benjamin Moore | 3.8 | 22 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Blue PaisleyPPG1238-6 · PPG / Glidden | 2.8 | 19 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Caribbean Sea56BG 23/355 · Glidden | 2.0 | 23 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Estuary235-6DB · Dutch Boy | 4.1 | 22 | Color page → |
Similar Valspar Colors
The nearest shades to Blue to the Bone 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 #0189AC in HSL space. Pair Blue to the Bone with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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