Black Bean vs Blue Refrain
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Black Bean belongs to the grey family and Blue Refrain to the blue family. Blue Refrain (LRV 64) reflects noticeably more light than Black Bean (LRV 4), a difference of 61 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Black Bean runs warm while Blue Refrain is decidedly cool, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 65.2, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Black Bean vs Blue Refrain Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black Bean on one side and Blue Refrain 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 Black Bean comparisons
See how Black Bean stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
