Carmine vs Retiring Blue
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Carmine belongs to the pink-red family and Retiring Blue to the blue family. Retiring Blue (LRV 79) reflects noticeably more light than Carmine (LRV 5), a difference of 74 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Carmine runs warm while Retiring Blue is decidedly cool, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 85.4, 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
Carmine vs Retiring Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Carmine 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 Carmine comparisons
See how Carmine stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
