Interesting Aqua vs Refuge
Interesting Aqua and Refuge come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Interesting Aqua reads as blue-grey, while Refuge reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 22-point LRV gap — 41 for Interesting Aqua vs 19 for Refuge — means Interesting Aqua 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 20.0 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Interesting Aqua vs Refuge in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Interesting Aqua and Refuge 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
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. Interesting Aqua reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Refuge.
Dining Room
Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The LRV gap is large enough that Interesting Aqua will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Refuge would.
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. Interesting Aqua returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Interesting Aqua returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Interesting Aqua vs Refuge Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Interesting Aqua on one side and Refuge 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.