Chicago Blues
Chicago Blues is a genuinely dark Blue from Benjamin Moore. Our real-world data shows it is a primary choice when homeowners need to anchor a room without demanding the spotlight. Below, you'll find 2 examples of this shade in actual homes along with suggested color relationships.
Hex
#40729C
LRV
17.60
Chicago Blues in Real Rooms
Chicago Blues has a low LRV of 17.6 — it absorbs light and reads as a genuinely dark, enveloping color. It's neutral in temperature, making it adaptable across different lighting conditions and room orientations. Grouped in the Blue family, the photos below show it applied in a house and misc.
1 House Photo
Chicago Blues is particularly effective on modern-style homes with flat planes and large windows. The color emphasizes the geometry of the house, using shadows and light to create a dynamic, ever-changing facade throughout the day.
Home exterior finished in Chicago Blues presents timeless architectural appeal.
@surfbelowzero
1 Misc Photo
These examples of Chicago Blues in transitional spaces—like entryways or landings—show how the color can act as a "thread" that ties the upper and lower floors of a house together into one cohesive story.
Painted furniture in Chicago Blues adds moody elegance to any room.
@itsashabbylifepaint
Coordinating Colors
At LRV 53 vs 18, Paris Rain is decisively the brighter choice.
Serenata reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.
Brilliant White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.
White Diamond reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.
Similar Colors
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 19 vs 18), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 18 vs 16), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 18 and 17, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 18 vs 18), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Complementary Colors
At LRV 72 vs 18, Antique Pearl is decisively the brighter choice.
Chicago Blues reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 6), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
With LRVs of 18 and 17, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Silver Fox reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.
Upper West Side reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.
At LRV 47 vs 18, Himalayan Trek is decisively the brighter choice.
Briarwood reflects far more light (LRV 32 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.
Lighter Colors
Lazy Sunday reads slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 18), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 5-point LRV gap (22 vs 18) makes Finley Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
A 10-point LRV gap (28 vs 18) makes Waterloo the marginally brighter of the two.
Darker Colors
Chicago Blues reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Chicago Blues reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 8), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 18 vs 15), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 18 and 16, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 18 vs 16), so neither reads brighter in a room.