Balmy vs Sleepy Blue

BalmySherwin-WilliamsvsSleepy BlueSherwin-WilliamsΔE 4.9Noticeable difference

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. Balmy (LRV 66) reflects noticeably more light than Sleepy Blue (LRV 58), a difference of 8 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 4.9 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Balmy vs Sleepy Blue in Real Spaces

1 real room side by side. Balmy and Sleepy Blue 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. Balmy reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Sleepy Blue.

BalmySherwin Williams Balmy bathroom paint

@itshowieroll

Sleepy BlueSw 6225 Bathroom

@cottonwood_grove

Color Details

Balmy
Sherwin-Williams · 6512
Hex#C5D8DE
LRV66.2
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6512
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessLight
Sleepy Blue
Sherwin-Williams · 6225
Hex#BCCBCE
LRV57.9
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6225
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessLight

Balmy vs Sleepy Blue Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Balmy on one side and Sleepy Blue on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Balmy comparisons

See how Balmy stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Balmy
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove reads noticeably lighter

Ammonite
Balmy
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Nearly identical in tone

Iron Ore
Balmy
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Balmy is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Balmy
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Balmy reads noticeably lighter

Evergreen Fog
Balmy
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Balmy is the lighter choice

Mizzle
Balmy
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Balmy reads noticeably lighter

Agreeable Gray
Balmy
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Balmy reads slightly lighter

Denim Drift
Balmy
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Balmy is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Balmy
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Balmy reads slightly lighter

Balboa Mist
Balmy
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Nearly identical in tone

Vintage Vogue
Balmy
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Balmy is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Balmy
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Balmy is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
Balmy
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Balmy is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Balmy
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Balmy is the lighter choice

Black grey
Balmy
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Balmy is the lighter choice

Piazza
Balmy
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Nearly identical in tone

Humble Yellow
Balmy
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Balmy reads slightly lighter

Windmill Lane
Balmy
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Balmy is the lighter choice

Senses
Balmy
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Balmy reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Balmy
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Balmy is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Balmy
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Balmy reads slightly lighter

Tea with Florence
Balmy
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Balmy is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Balmy
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Balmy is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
Balmy
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Balmy is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Balmy
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Balmy reads noticeably lighter

Teton Blue
Balmy
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Balmy is the lighter choice

RAL 110-2
Balmy
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-1
Balmy
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 reads noticeably lighter

Paper
Balmy
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper reads noticeably lighter

Passageway
Balmy
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Balmy is the lighter choice