Inky Blue vs Resolute Blue
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Both sit in the blue family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Resolute Blue (LRV 40) reflects noticeably more light than Inky Blue (LRV 15), a difference of 25 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. With a ΔE of 23.5, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Inky Blue vs Resolute Blue in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Inky Blue and Resolute Blue in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Living Room
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Resolute Blue will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Inky Blue would.
Color Details
Inky Blue vs Resolute Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Inky Blue on one side and Resolute 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.