If you want to use a blue paint color in your home but you don’t want it too dark or so light that it’s almost white, medium blues have you covered. Medium paint colors fall in the Light Reflectance Value (LRV) range of roughly 40–60, meaning that they reflect roughly half of the light that hits the surface of the paint.
In this list, I share my five favorite Sherwin-Williams medium blue paint colors, including two that I’ve personally used, but be aware that my definition of medium blue extends into the darker LRV spectrum as well. If you want to see what I truly classify as a dark paint color, check out my favorite dark blues from Sherwin-Williams.
Sherwin-Williams Daphne
First, let’s start with this beautiful blue gray, SW Daphne. This is a true cool blue with a strong gray undertone that is a perfect French blue. This shade has an LRV of 32, so it sits right on the border of a dark and medium paint color, meaning that it will lean dark and moody in the shade but vibrant and light in direct sun. Sherwin-Williams describes Daphne as a “denim gray” and I think that fits perfectly. It’s like the perfect pair of faded vintage jeans, and it works perfectly in traditional spaces, especially on paneling like in the bathroom above. Keep in mind that it may appear gray in low light or to visitors with poor color perception.
Sherwin-Williams Languid Blue
SW Languid Blue falls solidly in the middle of the LRV spectrum at 46, making it a true medium tone. It has a gray undertone that softens it along with a slight green cast that keeps it from feeling chalky, but it always reads as a true blue no matter the light. In a higher sheen like satin like I used here in my parents’ guest bathroom, it appears as a soft light blue in direct sunlight. I think this is a perfect bathroom color.
Sherwin-Williams French Moire
For a paint color with a similar LRV (47) as SW Languid Blue but more saturation, look no further than SW French Moire. This is a cheerful but elegant blue with a cool undertone and a touch of green, but it always looks blue no matter the light. If you love blue that doesn’t look gray and want a vibrant color that still looks soft and sophisticated, SW French Moire is a great option for you. This is another beautiful bathroom paint color.
Sherwin-Williams Respite
If you like SW French Moire but want a color with a little more depth and more blue, look to SW Respite. This medium blue has an LRV of 43 and a slight violet undertone that leads Sherwin-Williams to classify it as a purple paint color. Make it make sense. Regardless, this is a beautiful rich medium blue that would be very calming and soft in a bedroom.
Sherwin-Williams Morning at Sea
And last, we have one of my favorites, SW Morning at Sea. This is a special color created as part of a Sherwin-Williams Designer Color Collection called Rustic + Refined. The name is the perfect descriptor—it’s like the color of the sea on a foggy morning, with just enough gray and green to provide softness and interest. This color is technically the darkest on the list with an LRV of 29, but you can see that with a higher sheen like the satin I used on these built-ins in my parents’ guest bedroom, it appears very light and vibrant in direct sunlight but more of a moody blue gray in the shade. Keep in mind that because this is a designer color, Sherwin-Williams may only carry it in their more expensive paint lines. I had to buy this in their Emerald interior paint, which is what I would suggest for durability anyway.
I hope this guide was helpful to you as you search for your perfect medium blue paint color! For more free color suggestions, check out the rest of my favorite paint colors.
