Little Blue Box vs Retiring 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. Retiring Blue (LRV 79) reflects noticeably more light than Little Blue Box (LRV 49), a difference of 30 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 21.1, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Little Blue Box vs Retiring Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Little Blue Box on one side and Retiring 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.
More Little Blue Box comparisons
See how Little Blue Box stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 49), opening up a space where Little Blue Box encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 49, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Little Blue Box reflects far more light (LRV 49 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
A 3-point LRV gap (52 vs 49) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 49 vs 30, Little Blue Box is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 52 and 49, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 12-point LRV gap (60 vs 49) makes Agreeable Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 49), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Little Blue Box reflects far more light (LRV 49 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
A 6-point LRV gap (49 vs 43) makes Little Blue Box the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 49 vs 4, Little Blue Box is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter (LRV 55 vs 49), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Little Blue Box reflects far more light (LRV 49 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Little Blue Box reads slightly lighter (LRV 49 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 49, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 49 vs 21, Little Blue Box is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 49), opening up a space where Little Blue Box encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 49), opening up a space where Little Blue Box encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 49), opening up a space where Little Blue Box encloses it.
Little Blue Box reflects far more light (LRV 49 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 49), opening up a space where Little Blue Box encloses it.
A 8-point LRV gap (49 vs 41) makes Little Blue Box the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 49, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 49 vs 25, Little Blue Box is decisively the brighter choice.
Little Blue Box reflects far more light (LRV 49 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Little Blue Box reads slightly lighter (LRV 49 vs 45), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 49 vs 31, Little Blue Box is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 49 vs 7, Little Blue Box is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 49 vs 24, Little Blue Box is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (57 vs 49) makes Guilford Green the marginally brighter of the two.