Waterloo
Waterloo is a genuinely dark Blue from Sherwin-Williams. 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 52 examples of this shade in actual homes along with suggested color relationships.
Hex
#536872
LRV
12.97
Waterloo's Color Strip
Waterloo is the sixth shade on this 7-color strip, sitting between Blustery Sky and Moscow Midnight. The strip spans from Lullaby at the lightest end to Moscow Midnight at the deepest. Browsing strip 221 alongside this color helps you gauge whether to go lighter, darker, or stay right here.
Waterloo in Real Rooms
Waterloo has a low LRV of 12.97 — 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 Blue family, the photos below show it applied in a living room, bedroom, kitchen cabinets, bathroom, house, front door, home office and misc.
11 Living Room Photos
Waterloo provides a subtle architectural "lift" to a living room, especially those with high ceilings or intricate crown molding. The way shadows settle into the corners with this particular shade adds a layer of history and gravity to the space, making even a new build feel like it has stories to tell.
Living room walls in Waterloo establish a serene, sophisticated blue backdrop.
@mybudgetrecipes
5 Bedroom Photos
Pairing Waterloo with tonal textures—like a silk rug or a bouclé chair—creates a layered, monochromatic look that is the height of sophistication for a bedroom. It proves that you don't need high-contrast colors to create a room that feels high-design and deeply personal.
Bedroom walls painted Waterloo promote restful sleep with cool, calming tones.
@mybudgetrecipes
Soft bedroom walls in Waterloo create a serene, restful retreat with natural light.
@westhollar
Accent wall painted in Waterloo adds depth and sophistication to this tranquil bedroom.
@shane.l.jones
Waterloo on the bedroom walls establishes a calm, sophisticated atmosphere throughout the space.
@allthethingsadams
This bedroom's Waterloo walls provide a peaceful backdrop for modern furnishings and decor.
@allthethingsadams
6 Kitchen Cabinets Photos
On traditional shaker-style cabinets, Waterloo brings out the clean lines and shadow gaps of the woodwork. It's a color that highlights quality craftsmanship, making it an ideal choice for a high-end renovation or a custom kitchen build.
Kitchen cabinets in Waterloo add unexpected depth and contemporary style.
@mybudgetrecipes
4 Bathroom Photos
The psychology of Waterloo in a bathroom is all about the "slow down." It's a visual cue to breathe, relax, and take your time, turning a utilitarian room into a true retreat from the frantic pace of the rest of the world.
Bathroom walls in Waterloo create a spa-inspired sanctuary within the home.
@mybudgetrecipes
Shiplap bathroom walls painted in Waterloo add texture and architectural interest to this spa-like retreat.
@taggeboxlane
Waterloo on the bathroom walls creates a clean, spa-inspired atmosphere with subtle sophistication.
@taggeboxlane
Soft bathroom walls in Waterloo pair perfectly with marble accents and natural light throughout.
@showandtellmeg
6 House Photos
On the exterior, Waterloo holds up across all lighting conditions — crisp in full sun, rich and dimensional on overcast days. It pairs especially well with white trim, black window frames, and natural stone, giving the home a timeless, curated presence.
House exterior in Waterloo makes a bold, cohesive statement on the streetscape.
@mybudgetrecipes
1 Front Door Photo
A front door in Waterloo changes the entire read of a facade without requiring a renovation. The color is strong enough to register from the street but refined enough not to feel like a statement for its own sake. It's the "handshake" of the home.
Front door in Waterloo commands attention as a striking architectural focal point.
@mybudgetrecipes
4 Home Office Photos
Waterloo in a home office signals that the space was thought about. The color holds up under the scrutiny of video calls without feeling staged, and it stays comfortable across the full working day in a way that brighter colors often don't.
Home office walls in Waterloo foster focus and creative productivity daily.
@mybudgetrecipes
Desk workspace benefits from calming Waterloo walls and natural light.
@westhollar
Home office features Waterloo walls paired with warm wood furniture.
@orangeandorange_atl
Office walls wrapped in Waterloo create a focused work environment.
@weber.interiors
15 Misc Photos
See how Waterloo is used in narrow hallways to create a "gallery" feel. The color provides a steady, rhythmic background that allows a series of framed photos or art pieces to feel like a cohesive, professional installation.
Hallway walls glow in soft Waterloo, creating an inviting passage.
@theblackbirdcreative
Expert Perspectives
In-depth articles and real-home features from across our network of home and design sites.
Coordinating Colors
At LRV 73 vs 13, Mountain Air is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 13, Kestrel White is decisively the brighter choice.
Coral Clay reflects far more light (LRV 26 vs 13), opening up a space where Waterloo encloses it.
Trim Color
At LRV 73 vs 13, Mountain Air is decisively the brighter choice.
Similar Colors
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 13), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 15 vs 13), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 11), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 11), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 15 vs 13), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 11), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 13 and 12, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 14 vs 13), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 13 and 12, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Complementary Colors
Studio Mauve reflects far more light (LRV 50 vs 13), opening up a space where Waterloo encloses it.
At LRV 35 vs 13, Truly Taupe is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 81 vs 13, Heavenly White is decisively the brighter choice.
Original White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 13), opening up a space where Waterloo encloses it.
Warm Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 20 vs 13), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Lighter Colors
A 9-point LRV gap (22 vs 13) makes Blustery Sky the marginally brighter of the two.
Labradorite reads slightly lighter (LRV 19 vs 13), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Darker Colors
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 13), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Waterloo reads slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 6), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 11), so neither reads brighter in a room.