Embellished Blue vs Refresh
Embellished Blue and Refresh come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Embellished Blue reads as blue-green, while Refresh reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 20-point LRV gap — 79 for Embellished Blue vs 59 for Refresh — means Embellished 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. A ΔE of 14.9 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Embellished Blue vs Refresh in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Embellished Blue and Refresh in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
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. Embellished Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Embellished Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Embellished Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Refresh.
Color Details
Embellished Blue vs Refresh Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Embellished Blue on one side and Refresh 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 Embellished Blue comparisons
See how Embellished Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
A 10-point LRV gap (79 vs 69) makes Embellished Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
White Dove reads slightly lighter (LRV 83 vs 79), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Embellished Blue reflects far more light (LRV 79 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 79 vs 52, Embellished Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 79 vs 30, Embellished Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Embellished Blue reflects far more light (LRV 79 vs 52), opening up a space where Mizzle encloses it.
At LRV 79 vs 60, Embellished Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Embellished Blue reflects far more light (LRV 79 vs 58), opening up a space where Accessible Beige encloses it.
Embellished Blue reflects far more light (LRV 79 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 79 vs 43, Embellished Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 79 vs 4, Embellished Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Embellished Blue reflects far more light (LRV 79 vs 55), opening up a space where Tranquil Dawn encloses it.
Embellished Blue reflects far more light (LRV 79 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Embellished Blue reflects far more light (LRV 79 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
A 5-point LRV gap (84 vs 79) makes Pure White the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 79 vs 21, Embellished Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Embellished Blue reflects far more light (LRV 79 vs 66), opening up a space where Balboa Mist encloses it.
Embellished Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 79 vs 74), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Snowbound reads slightly lighter (LRV 83 vs 79), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 79 vs 51, Embellished Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Embellished Blue reflects far more light (LRV 79 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Embellished Blue reflects far more light (LRV 79 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Embellished Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 79 vs 68), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 79 vs 41, Embellished Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Embellished Blue reflects far more light (LRV 79 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Embellished Blue reflects far more light (LRV 79 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 79 vs 31, Embellished Blue is decisively the brighter choice.