Blue Refrain vs Minor Blue
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Both sit in the blue family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Minor Blue (LRV 68) reflects noticeably more light than Blue Refrain (LRV 64), a difference of 4 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 4.0 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Blue Refrain vs Minor Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Blue Refrain on one side and Minor Blue 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 Blue Refrain comparisons
See how Blue Refrain stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reads slightly lighter (LRV 69 vs 64), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 83 vs 64, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 64 vs 6, Blue Refrain is decisively the brighter choice.
Blue Refrain reflects far more light (LRV 64 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
Blue Refrain reflects far more light (LRV 64 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
At LRV 64 vs 52, Blue Refrain is decisively the brighter choice.
Blue Refrain reads slightly lighter (LRV 64 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 7-point LRV gap (64 vs 58) makes Blue Refrain the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 64 vs 27, Blue Refrain is decisively the brighter choice.
Blue Refrain reflects far more light (LRV 64 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
Blue Refrain reflects far more light (LRV 64 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (64 vs 55) makes Blue Refrain the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 64 vs 13, Blue Refrain is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 64 vs 44, Blue Refrain is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 64), opening up a space where Blue Refrain encloses it.
Blue Refrain reflects far more light (LRV 64 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 66 vs 64), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 10-point LRV gap (74 vs 64) makes Shoji White the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 83 vs 64, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Blue Refrain reflects far more light (LRV 64 vs 51), opening up a space where Pigeon encloses it.
At LRV 64 vs 12, Blue Refrain is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 64 vs 8, Blue Refrain is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (68 vs 64) makes Skimming Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
Blue Refrain reflects far more light (LRV 64 vs 41), opening up a space where Dix Blue encloses it.
At LRV 64 vs 12, Blue Refrain is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 64 vs 45, Blue Refrain is decisively the brighter choice.
Blue Refrain reflects far more light (LRV 64 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.