Crystal Clear vs Retiring Blue
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Crystal Clear belongs to the green family and Retiring Blue to the blue family. Crystal Clear (LRV 81) reflects noticeably more light than Retiring Blue (LRV 79), a difference of 3 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. At ΔE 2.7, these are close — the kind of difference that matters when choosing between them, but doesn't read strongly in a finished 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
Crystal Clear vs Retiring Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Crystal Clear 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 Crystal Clear comparisons
See how Crystal Clear stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 83 vs 81), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Crystal Clear reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 69), opening up a space where Ammonite encloses it.
At LRV 81 vs 6, Crystal Clear is decisively the brighter choice.
Crystal Clear reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
Crystal Clear reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
At LRV 81 vs 52, Crystal Clear is decisively the brighter choice.
Crystal Clear reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 60), opening up a space where Agreeable Gray encloses it.
At LRV 81 vs 58, Crystal Clear is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 81 vs 27, Crystal Clear is decisively the brighter choice.
Crystal Clear reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
Crystal Clear reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
At LRV 81 vs 55, Crystal Clear is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 81 vs 13, Crystal Clear is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 81 vs 44, Crystal Clear is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 84 and 81, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Crystal Clear reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
At LRV 81 vs 66, Crystal Clear is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (81 vs 74) makes Crystal Clear the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 83 vs 81), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 81 vs 12, Crystal Clear is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 81 vs 68, Crystal Clear is decisively the brighter choice.
Crystal Clear reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 41), opening up a space where Dix Blue encloses it.
Crystal Clear reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 68), opening up a space where Calamine encloses it.
Crystal Clear reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 25), opening up a space where Treron encloses it.
At LRV 81 vs 12, Crystal Clear is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 81 vs 45, Crystal Clear is decisively the brighter choice.
Crystal Clear reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Crystal Clear reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Crystal Clear reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
Crystal Clear reflects far more light (LRV 81 vs 57), opening up a space where Guilford Green encloses it.