Dustblu vs Searching Blue paint color comparison

Dustblu vs Searching Blue

Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. Hue-wise, Dustblu belongs to the blue-grey family and Searching Blue to the blue family. At LRV 32 vs 21, Dustblu will read as the brighter of the two — a 12-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Dustblu's neutral character against Searching Blue's cool — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 17.4, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Dustblu vs Searching Blue in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Dustblu and Searching Blue in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Dustblu will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Searching Blue would.

DustbluDustblu Bathroom

@mk_bean.design

Searching BlueSW Searching Blue bathroom paint

@meganhaller88

Front Door

Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. Dustblu returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

DustbluSw 9161 Door

@laela.diekmann

Searching BlueSW Searching Blue door paint

@renindoors

Color Details

Dustblu
Sherwin-Williams · 9161
LRV32.3
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9161
Undertone—
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Searching Blue
Sherwin-Williams · 6536
LRV20.6
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6536
Undertone—
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium

Dustblu vs Searching Blue Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Dustblu on one side and Searching Blue on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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.