Dutch Tile Blue vs Interesting Aqua paint color comparison

Dutch Tile Blue vs Interesting Aqua

Dutch Tile Blue and Interesting Aqua come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 39 vs 41 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Both share a cool character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 2.3 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Dutch Tile Blue vs Interesting Aqua in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Dutch Tile Blue and Interesting Aqua are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.

Living Room

A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.

Dutch Tile BlueDutch Tile Blue Living Room

@mybudgetrecipes

Interesting AquaSw Interesting Aqua Living Room

@penderandpeony

Bathroom

Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.

Dutch Tile BlueDutch Tile Blue Bathroom

@mybudgetrecipes

Interesting AquaSw Interesting Aqua Bathroom

@thatbitchaleea

House

A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.

Dutch Tile BlueDutch Tile Blue House

@mybudgetrecipes

Interesting AquaSherwin Williams Interesting Aqua Exterior

@nineddesign

Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.

Dutch Tile BlueSw 0031 kitchen

@thoresondesign

Interesting AquaInteresting Aqua Painted Cabinets

@masterstouchdesignbuild

Color Details

Dutch Tile Blue
Sherwin-Williams · 0031
LRV38.9
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number0031
Undertone—
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium
Interesting Aqua
Sherwin-Williams · 6220
LRV40.8
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6220
Undertone—
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium

Dutch Tile Blue vs Interesting Aqua Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Dutch Tile Blue on one side and Interesting Aqua 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.