Home / Color / Color names / Blues
Blues
Shallow Sea
Shallow Sea is a mid-tone, cool neutral color with a blue or violet undertone. Its estimated light reflectance value (LRV) is about 45, so it reflects roughly 45% of the light that hits it.
Color facts
| Hex | #9AB8C2 |
|---|---|
| RGB | 154, 184, 194 |
| HSL | 195°, 25%, 68% |
| Estimated LRV | 45 |
| Temperature | cool neutral |
| Text on it | Black text, contrast 10.0:1 |
LRV here is estimated from the screen color (relative luminance). Paint brands publish measured LRVs on their own chips, which can differ.
How it reads on a wall
Reads as a clear color on the wall. Good for bedrooms, dining rooms, accent walls and rooms with good daylight. Pair with a lighter trim or ceiling to keep it from closing in.
North-facing rooms get cool, indirect light that can push this color cooler and grayer. Test it there before committing, or pick a slightly warmer cousin.
South- and west-facing rooms get warm, strong light, which this cooler color can calm.
Rooms it suits
- Living rooms with good daylight
- Bedrooms
- Home offices
- Kitchen walls and islands
A 60-30-10 palette built on Shallow Sea
Anti-Flash White
Shallow Sea
Coca Mocha
The 60-30-10 rule splits a room into a main color, a secondary color and an accent. Swap in real paint and fabric samples before you buy.
Harmonies
Complementary
Coca Mocha#BD9D95Analogous
High Tide#85A6C8Analogous
Pastel Turquoise#99C5C4Triadic
Dripping Wisteria#BB99BBTriadic
Beige and Sage#BBC199Split complementary
Classy Mauve#BB99AATints and shades
Lighter tints work as a ceiling or adjoining-room color; deeper shades suit trim, doors or cabinets.
Similar named colors
Closest Colors of the Year
Getting Shallow Sea in real paint
Shallow Sea is a name from the open color-names list (MIT license), not a specific paint product. Most paint counters can mix a close match: bring a printed or physical sample, or use a brand color-match tool, then buy a sample pot and paint a 2 by 2 foot swatch on two walls. Screens and printers shift color.
On-screen colors are approximations. Pantone, Color of the Year and brand color names are trademarks of their owners.