ColorplanBenjamin Moore Nelson Blue (CW-635) is a light cool gray with a green undertone and an LRV of 66. Closest matches: Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt (SW 6204), Farrow & Ball Pale Powder (No.204) and Behr Breezeway (MQ3-21). For trim, try Ultra White (CC-10).
Room Preview
This photo shows walls only. Photos show the color in a real room's light; your own light will change it.
Suggested trim and ceiling are Benjamin Moore whites that share this color's undertone.
Color Details
| Family | Gray |
| LRV | 65.8 (light; 0 = black, 100 = pure white) |
| HEX | #CED6D0 |
| RGB | 206, 214, 208 |
| HSL | 135°, 9%, 82% |
About Nelson Blue
Nelson Blue (CW-635) is a light cool gray from Benjamin Moore with a green undertone. With an LRV of 66, Nelson Blue has visible color without darkening a room much.
North-facing light makes Nelson Blue read cooler and slightly darker, while warm south-facing light softens it. It's a good fit for open-plan living areas, hallways, living rooms and bedrooms. It's very close to Cool Breeze (CSP-665); you'd mostly see the difference side by side.
How Nelson Blue changes with the light
Nelson Blue has a cool undertone. North light will push it cooler and grayer, while south and west light warm it up. If your room faces north, look at it next to a warm white trim.
North-facing rooms
Nelson Blue has a cool undertone that north light will push cooler and grayer; warm white trim helps balance it.
East-facing rooms
Nelson Blue will look warmer and brighter in the morning and cooler and grayer by afternoon; check a sample at both times.
South-facing rooms
Bright south light shows Nelson Blue close to its true color, slightly lighter and warmer.
West-facing rooms
Nelson Blue looks cool in the morning and warms up in the golden late-afternoon light.
See Nelson Blue in real homes
Photos people have shared of Nelson Blue in their own rooms. Opens Instagram or Pinterest in a new tab.
Nelson Blue equivalents in other brands
The closest color from each brand. ΔE (“delta E”) scores how different two colors look: under 2.5 is very hard to tell apart on a wall, over 5 is clearly different.
Sherwin-Williams
Very close · ΔE 1.7
Also close: Rainwashed (ΔE 2.9)
Compare side by side →Farrow & Ball
Very close · ΔE 2.0
Also close: Skylight (ΔE 2.7)
Compare side by side →Similar Benjamin Moore colors
Nelson Blue questions
What undertone does Nelson Blue have?
Nelson Blue has a green undertone, so it reads as a cool color. North-facing light makes Nelson Blue read cooler and slightly darker, while warm south-facing light softens it.
Is Nelson Blue a light or dark color?
Nelson Blue has a light reflectance value (LRV) of 65.8 on a scale where 0 is black and 100 is pure white, which makes it a light color. With an LRV of 66, Nelson Blue has visible color without darkening a room much.
What is the closest match to Nelson Blue in other paint brands?
Sherwin-Williams: Sea Salt SW 6204 (very close, ΔE 1.7); Farrow & Ball: Pale Powder No.204 (very close, ΔE 2.0); Behr: Breezeway MQ3-21 (very close, ΔE 2.3). Matches are calculated with the CIEDE2000 color difference formula; always check a physical sample before buying.
What trim and ceiling color goes with Nelson Blue?
Try Ultra White (CC-10) on trim and Wedding Veil (2125-70) on the ceiling. Both are Benjamin Moore whites that share Nelson Blue's undertone.
Where does Nelson Blue work best?
Nelson Blue works well in open-plan living areas, hallways, living rooms and bedrooms. With an LRV of 66, Nelson Blue has visible color without darkening a room much.
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