ColorplanSloe Blue
No.87 · Farrow & Ball
LRV 18 · dark
0 black100 white
Farrow & Ball Sloe Blue (No.87) is a very dark blue with a cool blue-green undertone and an LRV of 18. Closest matches: Benjamin Moore Hamilton Blue (HC-191), Sherwin-Williams Smoky Blue (SW 7604) and Behr Blueprint (S470-5). For trim, try Sizing (No.314).
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 Farrow & Ball whites that share this color's undertone.
Color Details
| Family | Blue |
| LRV | 17.6 (dark; 0 = black, 100 = pure white) |
| HEX | #5B7984 |
| RGB | 91, 121, 132 |
| HSL | 196°, 18%, 44% |
About Sloe Blue
Sloe Blue (No.87) is a very dark, muted blue from Farrow & Ball that leans green. With an LRV of 18, Sloe Blue absorbs most light. It creates a dramatic, enveloping look and suits accent walls, cabinetry and well-lit rooms.
North-facing light makes Sloe Blue read cooler and slightly darker, while warm south-facing light softens it. It's a good fit for bedrooms, offices, kitchen islands and cabinets and accent walls. Next to De Nimes (No.299), it's darker and cooler.
How Sloe Blue changes with the light
Sloe 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
Sloe Blue has a cool undertone that north light will push cooler and grayer; warm white trim helps balance it.
East-facing rooms
Sloe 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 Sloe Blue close to its true color, slightly lighter and warmer.
West-facing rooms
Sloe Blue looks cool in the morning and warms up in the golden late-afternoon light.
See Sloe Blue in real homes
Photos people have shared of Sloe Blue in their own rooms. Opens Instagram or Pinterest in a new tab.
Sloe 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.
Benjamin Moore
Very close · ΔE 2.1
Also close: Schooner (ΔE 2.8)
Compare side by side →Similar Farrow & Ball colors
Compare and explore
Sloe Blue questions
What undertone does Sloe Blue have?
Sloe Blue has a cool blue-green undertone, so it reads as a cool color. North-facing light makes Sloe Blue read cooler and slightly darker, while warm south-facing light softens it.
Is Sloe Blue a light or dark color?
Sloe Blue has a light reflectance value (LRV) of 17.6 on a scale where 0 is black and 100 is pure white, which makes it a very dark color. With an LRV of 18, Sloe Blue absorbs most light. It creates a dramatic, enveloping look and suits accent walls, cabinetry and well-lit rooms.
What is the closest match to Sloe Blue in other paint brands?
Benjamin Moore: Hamilton Blue HC-191 (very close, ΔE 2.1); Sherwin-Williams: Smoky Blue SW 7604 (close, ΔE 4.7); Behr: Blueprint S470-5 (close, ΔE 3.2). Matches are calculated with the CIEDE2000 color difference formula; always check a physical sample before buying.
What trim and ceiling color goes with Sloe Blue?
Try Sizing (No.314) on trim and All White (No.2005) on the ceiling. Both are Farrow & Ball whites that share Sloe Blue's undertone.
Where does Sloe Blue work best?
Sloe Blue works well in bedrooms, offices, kitchen islands and cabinets and accent walls. With an LRV of 18, Sloe Blue absorbs most light. It creates a dramatic, enveloping look and suits accent walls, cabinetry and well-lit rooms.
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