Notable Hue vs Rarified Air
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Notable Hue reads as blue, while Rarified Air reads as blue-white — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Rarified Air (LRV 78) reflects noticeably more light than Notable Hue (LRV 37), a difference of 41 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 27.3, 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.
Notable Hue vs Rarified Air in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Notable Hue and Rarified Air in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Rarified Air reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Notable Hue.
Color Details
Notable Hue vs Rarified Air Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Notable Hue on one side and Rarified Air 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.