Buoyant Blue vs Waterfall
Buoyant Blue and Waterfall come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Both sit in the blue-green family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 9-point LRV gap — 80 for Buoyant Blue vs 71 for Waterfall — means Buoyant 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. ΔE 7.2 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Buoyant Blue vs Waterfall Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Buoyant Blue on one side and Waterfall 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 Buoyant Blue comparisons
See how Buoyant Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
A 11-point LRV gap (80 vs 69) makes Buoyant Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
White Dove reads slightly lighter (LRV 83 vs 80), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Buoyant Blue reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 80 vs 52, Buoyant Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 80 vs 30, Buoyant Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Buoyant Blue reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 52), opening up a space where Mizzle encloses it.
At LRV 80 vs 60, Buoyant Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Buoyant Blue reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 58), opening up a space where Accessible Beige encloses it.
Buoyant Blue reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 80 vs 43, Buoyant Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 80 vs 4, Buoyant Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Buoyant Blue reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 55), opening up a space where Tranquil Dawn encloses it.
Buoyant Blue reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Buoyant Blue reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (84 vs 80) makes Pure White the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 80 vs 21, Buoyant Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Buoyant Blue reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 66), opening up a space where Balboa Mist encloses it.
Buoyant Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 80 vs 74), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
With LRVs of 83 and 80, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 80 vs 51, Buoyant Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Buoyant Blue reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Buoyant Blue reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Buoyant Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 80 vs 68), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 80 vs 41, Buoyant Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Buoyant Blue reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Buoyant Blue reflects far more light (LRV 80 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 80 vs 31, Buoyant Blue is decisively the brighter choice.