Honorable Blue
Often used for its genuinely dark qualities, Honorable Blue remains a staple for Sherwin-Williams designers. It is widely considered one of the best colors in its class to anchor a room without demanding the spotlight. We've gathered 18 real-home scenarios to help you visualize this color alongside our expert data.
Hex
#164576
LRV
5.68
Honorable Blue's Color Strip
Honorable Blue is the seventh shade on this 7-color strip, the deepest shade in this coordinated family. Browsing strip 179 alongside this color helps you gauge whether to go lighter, darker, or stay right here.
Honorable Blue in Real Rooms
Honorable Blue has a low LRV of 5.68 — it absorbs light and reads as a genuinely dark, enveloping color. It's neutral in temperature and , making it adaptable across different lighting conditions and room orientations. Grouped in the Purple family, the photos below show it applied in a misc, front door, house, bathroom, kitchen, kitchen cabinets and living room.
5 Misc Photos
These photos show Honorable Blue in spaces that don't fit neatly into a single category: transitional spaces, accent applications, and rooms where the color becomes a fine detail rather than a broad backdrop.
Bold Honorable Blue accent wall commands attention in this modern space.
@embrealtor
Feature wall painted in Honorable Blue anchors this hallway with sophisticated depth.
@freshcoatofschertz
Hallway walls wrapped in Honorable Blue create dramatic visual interest and movement.
@cassygreenawalt
Deep blue walls transform this narrow hallway into a striking passage.
@cassygreenawalt
Painted furniture in moody Honorable Blue adds personality and refined style.
@hibiscus.house
3 Front Door Photos
Choosing Honorable Blue for your entry is an exercise in restraint and elegance. It suggests a home that is well-cared for and curated, setting a high bar for the interior design before the door is even opened.
Welcoming front door finished in Honorable Blue makes a bold architectural statement.
@kelly_d_31
Deep blue entry door in Honorable Blue greets visitors with timeless sophistication.
@jcsmithllc1
Entry door in deep Honorable Blue creates an impressive focal point.
@balltownbits
2 House Photos
In suburban environments, Honorable Blue provides a sophisticated point of difference. It stands out from the sea of beige and grey without being "that house" that's too loud. It's the subtle, high-end choice that improves the curb appeal of the entire block.
Home exterior painted in rich Honorable Blue exudes understated elegance and charm.
@scottycf
Striking Honorable Blue exterior paint transforms this house's curb appeal dramatically.
@textbookpainting
2 Bathroom Photos
The interaction between Honorable Blue and steam or humidity creates a beautiful, diffused atmosphere in a bathroom. It's a color that feels "alive," shifting slightly in character as the environment changes during a hot shower or a long soak.
Bathroom walls in sophisticated Honorable Blue elevate the spa-like atmosphere.
@ellenfrancesdesigns
Rich Honorable Blue bathroom walls provide moody elegance and visual interest.
@ellenfrancesdesigns
1 Kitchen Photo
For smaller kitchens, Honorable Blue can be used to create a "jewel box" effect. By painting the walls and trim in this same shade, you eliminate visual breaks, making the room feel more expansive and sophisticated despite its modest footprint.
Kitchen island painted in Honorable Blue serves as a striking design centerpiece.
@szekesdecor
4 Kitchen Cabinets Photos
The way Honorable Blue interacts with under-cabinet lighting is transformative. It catches the glow and reflects a softer, more diffused light onto the countertops, making the workspace feel more inviting and less utilitarian.
Cabinetry finished in Honorable Blue brings refined color to this kitchen space.
@colorsoncabinetskona
Deep blue kitchen cabinets in Honorable Blue add character and visual depth.
@colorsoncabinetskona
Kitchen cabinets painted in sophisticated Honorable Blue anchor this culinary space.
@colorsoncabinetskona
Cabinets dressed in Honorable Blue create a striking focal point in this kitchen.
@colorsoncabinetskona
1 Living Room Photo
There is a specific "glow" that Honorable Blue takes on during the golden hour in a living room. As the sun sets, the pigments react with the low-angled light to create a hazy, ethereal atmosphere that feels incredibly high-end. It's a color that rewards those who use the room during the transition of the day.
Living room walls in Honorable Blue establish a sophisticated, moody atmosphere.
@popoandviking
Coordinating Colors
Rarified Air reflects far more light (LRV 78 vs 6), opening up a space where Honorable Blue encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 6, Shell White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 6, Celestial is decisively the brighter choice.
Trim Color
Rarified Air reflects far more light (LRV 78 vs 6), opening up a space where Honorable Blue encloses it.
Similar Colors
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 6 vs 6), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 6 and 6, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 8 and 6, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 7 vs 6), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 6 and 6, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 6 and 5, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 6 vs 5), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 8 vs 6), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Complementary Colors
Burnished Brandy reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 6), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 10-point LRV gap (16 vs 6) makes Baked Cookie the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 39 vs 6, Oak Barrel is decisively the brighter choice.
Cowboy Boots reads slightly lighter (LRV 9 vs 6), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Nomadic Desert reflects far more light (LRV 46 vs 6), opening up a space where Honorable Blue encloses it.
Rookwood Antique Gold reflects far more light (LRV 25 vs 6), opening up a space where Honorable Blue encloses it.
Basket Beige reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 6), opening up a space where Honorable Blue encloses it.