Alaea vs Retiring Blue

Alaea and Retiring Blue come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Alaea belongs to the pink family and Retiring Blue to the blue family. The 66-point LRV gap — 79 for Retiring Blue vs 12 for Alaea — means Retiring Blue will open up a space more effectively. Where Alaea leans warm, Retiring Blue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 55.5 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.