Blue Sky vs Retiring Blue
Blue Sky and Retiring Blue come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. The 20-point LRV gap — 79 for Retiring Blue vs 58 for Blue Sky — means Retiring Blue will open up a space more effectively. Both share a cool character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 12.3 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.
Color Details
Blue Sky vs Retiring Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Blue Sky on one side and Retiring 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 Sky comparisons
See how Blue Sky stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 58, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Blue Sky reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Blue Sky reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
With LRVs of 60 and 58, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 58 vs 58), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 58 vs 27, Blue Sky is decisively the brighter choice.
Blue Sky reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
A 3-point LRV gap (58 vs 55) makes Blue Sky the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 58 vs 44, Blue Sky is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 58), opening up a space where Blue Sky encloses it.
A 7-point LRV gap (66 vs 58) makes Balboa Mist the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 74 vs 58, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 58 vs 12, Blue Sky is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 58 vs 8, Blue Sky is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (68 vs 58) makes Skimming Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 58 vs 12, Blue Sky is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 58 vs 45, Blue Sky is decisively the brighter choice.
Blue Sky reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.