Refuge vs Waterloo paint color comparison

Refuge vs Waterloo

RefugeSherwin-WilliamsvsWaterlooSherwin-WilliamsΔE 8.5 — Noticeable difference

Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. At LRV 19 vs 13, Refuge will read as the brighter of the two — a 6-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. They share a cool quality — useful to know if you're layering them in the same space. At ΔE 8.5, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Refuge vs Waterloo in Real Spaces

5 real rooms side by side. Refuge and Waterloo are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.

Living Room

Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Refuge has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

RefugeSherwin Williams Refuge Living Room

@arkitito

WaterlooWaterloo SW 9141 living room

@mybudgetrecipes

Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The brightness difference is modest but present — Refuge gives the walls a little more lift.

RefugeSherwin Williams Refuge Bedroom

@binamarie_interiors

WaterlooBedroom painted in Sherwin-Williams Waterloo

@mybudgetrecipes

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The brightness difference is modest but present — Refuge gives the walls a little more lift.

RefugeSw 6228 Bathroom

@whiteoak.designstudio

WaterlooSherwin Williams Waterloo bathroom

@mybudgetrecipes

Front Door

Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. Refuge has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

RefugeSw 6228 Front Door

@casa.serna

WaterlooSW 9141 front door inspiration

@mybudgetrecipes

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The brightness difference is modest but present — Refuge gives the walls a little more lift.

RefugeSw Refuge Kitchen Cabinets

@beyondpaintersllc

WaterlooWaterloo SW 9141 kitchen cabinets

@mybudgetrecipes

Color Details

Refuge
Sherwin-Williams · 6228
LRV18.8
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6228
Undertone—
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium
Waterloo
Sherwin-Williams · 9141
LRV13.0
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9141
Undertone—
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark

Refuge vs Waterloo Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Refuge on one side and Waterloo on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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.