Blue is a classic paint color, but it can easily look too vibrant, too light, or too gray when used on exteriors. So how do you tell what’s going to look good in all lights without spending thousands of dollars on a color you don’t love? I’ve got you covered. I’ve gathered together my top five Sherwin-Williams blue exterior paint colors for you, based on real homes and real paint colors that I can confirm are beautiful in person.
Sherwin-Williams Blustery Sky
We’re starting off strong with SW Blustery Sky, a beautiful blue gray with a Light Reflective Value (LRV) of 22 that sits solidly in the middle of the dark paint color spectrum of 0–40 LRV. That means that in bright sunlight, SW Blustery Sky will appear more like a vibrant, rich blue, and in the shade it will appear more like a dark, muted blue that borders on charcoal. Be aware that because this color is cooler and grayer, it may appear gray on overcast days or to friends with poor color perception.
Sherwin-Williams Moody Blue
If you’re worried about your home looking too gray with SW Blustery Sky, try SW Moody Blue instead. With an LRV of 27, it’s slightly lighter than the former, and it also has a healthy dose of green undertone that keeps the color from looking gray. In direct sunlight, it will appear as more of a vibrant but not too vibrant teal that is cheerful but sophisticated.
Sherwin-Williams Riverway
Speaking of teal, let’s talk about one of my favorite darker teals for exteriors, SW Riverway. With an LRV of 16, it’s a solidly dark blue paint color. The gray undertone keeps the teal feeling more muted and sophisticated, even in bright light, and the green keeps it from feeling chalky and lifeless. I think this is the perfect color for a midcentury home exterior because it strikes a nice balance of traditional but modern. It also looks striking with a dark contrast trim color like black.
Sherwin-Williams Languid Blue
It’s soft, it’s sweet, it’s SW Languid Blue. This is a calming medium blue with an LRV sitting at 46, meaning that in bright sunlight or when using paints with a higher sheen, SW Languid Blue may even appear like a light blue, but never washed out or white. In the shade, it will appear darker and more subdued. Be aware that because of this paint color’s cooler undertone, it may appear like a light gray in some lights and to some eyes.
Sherwin-Williams Naval
And finally, we have one of the most popular blues in Sherwin-Williams’ collection, SW Naval. This is a true navy with a slight green undertone that keeps it from appearing as cool and charcoal-like as its rival Benjamin Moore Hale Navy can be. While SW Naval has an even darker LRV of 4 to BM Hale Navy’s 8.36, the former is also more saturated and less gray. So if you like a more pigmented dark navy blue, this color is the way to go. If you want a Sherwin-Williams color that is more comparable to BM Hale Navy, try SW Charcoal Blue.
I hope this guide was helpful to you as you search for your perfect exterior paint color! For more free color suggestions, check out the rest of my favorite paint colors.
