Aquatint vs Refresh
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. Aquatint (LRV 73) reflects noticeably more light than Refresh (LRV 59), a difference of 14 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean cool, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 7.5 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Aquatint vs Refresh in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Aquatint and Refresh are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Aquatint reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Refresh.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Aquatint reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Refresh.
Color Details
Aquatint vs Refresh Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Aquatint on one side and Refresh on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Aquatint comparisons
See how Aquatint stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reads slightly lighter (LRV 83 vs 73), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 73 vs 52, Aquatint is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 73 vs 30, Aquatint is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 73 vs 60, Aquatint is decisively the brighter choice.
Aquatint reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 58), opening up a space where Accessible Beige encloses it.
Aquatint reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 73 vs 43, Aquatint is decisively the brighter choice.
Aquatint reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 55), opening up a space where Tranquil Dawn encloses it.
Aquatint reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (84 vs 73) makes Pure White the marginally brighter of the two.
Aquatint reads slightly lighter (LRV 73 vs 66), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
With LRVs of 74 and 73, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Aquatint reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Aquatint reads slightly lighter (LRV 73 vs 68), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Aquatint reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Aquatint reflects far more light (LRV 73 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 73 vs 31, Aquatint is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 73 vs 7, Aquatint is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 73 vs 24, Aquatint is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 73 vs 57, Aquatint is decisively the brighter choice.