Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue vs Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt: Which Soft Blue-Green Paint Color Is Better?

When I first thought about considering blue paint for my space, I went through a lot of paints in the paint store and what caught my eyes were these two colors, Palladian Blue vs Sea Salt.

But before committing to either one, knowing the difference between palladian blue vs sea salt is really important, because they have different undertones, LRV, lighting behavior, and factors which matter before you commit to a full room.

I’ve worked with both colors across multiple projects and they appear as very colors on the walls. Sea Salt appears gray, muted and tries to blend with the surroundings while Palladian Blue looks blue and has more visual personality.

So, here is a complete breakdown of everything from the undertones, LRV, room-by-room performance and more factors for your space. Some of it from good decisions but a lot of it from mistakes.

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Color Summary of Palladian Blue (Benjamin Moore HC-144)

Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue (HC-144) is part of the Historic Collection, which shows it has been trusted and used by people for a long period. 

It’s a soft and muted blue-green that feels calm, airy and spa-like without trying very hard. The HEX code is #C3D1C9 and the LRV is 60.4, which classifies it as a medium-light color. It is neither dark nor washed out.

The undertones are a combination of blue, green, and some gray. The gray color softens the color without making it look heavy.Palladian Blue is able to naturally hold its color identity. It shifts with light, but stays recognizable as a beautiful blue-green. 

It works in both traditional and modern interiors like living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen cabinets and exteriors. Its versatility makes it one of Benjamin Moore’s most popular blue-green colors.

Color Summary of Sea Salt (Sherwin-Williams SW 6204)

Sherwin-Williams Sea Salt (SW 6204) is a color that people either love or struggle with once it is on walls.

It’s a soft blue-green with HEX code #CDD2CA and the LRV of 63,which makes it slightly lighter than other blues. Sea Salt has a stronger gray influence than Palladian Blue which provides a more neutral and coastal feel on the walls.

It is a unique color that works differently in different spaces. Under warm light, it pulls green tones while under cool light, it pulls blue. In certain rooms, it also appears gray. The first time I saw it under warm afternoon sunlight, I could barely recognize it as blue.

Sea Salt is flexible and unpredictable. Sample before committing on the walls.

Palladian Blue vs Sea Salt: Highlighting the Important Factors

Both Palladian Blue and Sea Salt belong to the blue-green color family. On a swatch, they look similar, but react differently on the wall, depending on the room size, lighting, trim and furniture. Understanding these major details before committing to either color helps in making the right paint decision for your space.

LRV

LRV stands for Light Reflectance Value, which shows how much light a color reflects back into the room.Sea Salt LRV  is 63 while Palladian Blue LRV is 60.4

The small difference is noticeable on the wall. Sea Salt reflects more light, which is why it feels softer and more diffused while Palladian Blue, with its lower LRV, appears richer and present.

The LRV gap won’t matter, if your room has a good amount of natural light. But in a darker space, Palladian Blue holds more color and resists washing out better than Sea Salt does.

Undertones

Both colors carry blue, green and gray undertones.

Sea Salt has heavy gray. It is known as a coastal neutral because the gray undertones keep it muted and make it flexible with almost any decor. Palladian Blue has moderate gray. The blue and green get more room to breathe, which gives it a clearer and more defined color identity.

I’ve seen Sea Salt look taupe in certain lighting conditions. Palladian Blue doesn’t appear taupe because it stays committed to its blue-green character. If you want real color presence on the wall, then prefer Palladian Blue but if you want something closer to a neutral, then go for Sea Salt.

Lighting Behavior

Both colors shift under different lightning conditions.

Under warm light, Sea Salt pulls distinctly green and Palladian Blue goes slightly  greener, but stays more balanced while under cool light, both shift towards blue. Sea Salt appears like a blue-gray while Palladian Blue stays crisp.

In north-facing rooms, Sea Salt looks gray-blue which is not expected by many people. Palladian Blue holds up noticeably better. In south-facing rooms, both work well. Sea Salt gets lively while Palladian Blue provides a beautiful spa-like blue-green.

 Use samples on the walls during different lighting conditions

Style and Uses

Sea Salt is modern and coastal-neutral. It works in open-concept spaces, contemporary interiors and spaces where you want a soft background that doesn’t clash for attention.

Palladian Blue is more classic and intentional. It is a part of Benjamin Moore’s Historic Collection that carries more visual weight and personality.

Sea Salt pairs well with white trim and natural wood while Palladian Blue loves crisp white trim like Chantilly Lace or White Dove but also works well with brass fixtures and medium wood tones. I use Sea Salt when clients want flexibility and safety and go for  Palladian Blue when they prefer a beautiful and deliberate feel .

Comparison Table: Palladian Blue vs Sea Salt

Comparison of Palladian Blue vs Sea Salt Across Different Rooms

Room context changes everything. I have used this color in different projects, rooms and have observed that a color which looks beautiful in a bathroom can appear flat in the kitchen. The room’s natural light, fixed elements like flooring, cabinets and countertops, all change how Palladian Blue and Sea Salt feels on the wall. Lets breakdown both palladian blue vs sea salt in each room:

Bathroom

In Bathrooms, Palladian Blue truly shines.

The spa-like quality, with clean and airy blue-green looks stunning in a bathroom, especially when paired with white fixtures and brass hardware. I’ve used it on vanities and it looks stunning every time.

Sea Salt also works in bathrooms, but the heavy gray undertones might feel more functional in your space than luxurious depending on the light source. If your bathroom has a window with decent natural light, then prefer Palladian Blue.

If it’s a small and dimmer bathroom, then Sea Salt’s  higher LRV (63) makes the space feel less heavy and more open. 

Bedroom

Both colors create a calm and restful bedroom atmosphere.

Sea Salt has a muted quality that works well for people who prefer peace and calm in space without using strong color. 

Palladian Blue brings more personality and presence. If your bedroom has east-facing windows, then the warm morning light makes Palladian Blue look glowing which can’t be matched by Sea Salt. If you want character and calm together, then use Palladian Blue but if you want pure and quiet stillness without competing for attention, then Sea Salt is the more suitable color.

Kitchen

In the kitchen, Palladian Blue on cabinets looks stunning. It pairs beautifully with brass pulls, white countertops and medium wood open shelves. The color easily holds its integrity even under warm artificial kitchen lighting which is preferred by most people.

Under warm kitchen lighting, Sea Salt shifts towards green, which works, but you need to test it with real fixtures before committing.

For kitchen walls in a bright south-facing kitchen, Sea Salt looks fresh and light, but for cabinets. Palladian Blue is the considered choice. It has enough depth to look intentional, rich and not washed out or flat.

Living Room

In the living room, Sea Salt’s flexibility earns its reputation. 

Living rooms include elements like furniture, rugs and art which need a neutral color that  coexist with everything without competing for attention while Palladian Blue in a living room makes a statement. It works beautifully in traditional or transitional spaces with darker wood furniture and white trim.

If your living room gets good natural light and you want it to feel fresh and put-together, then consider Palladian Blue and if it’s a larger and mixed-style space with a lot of decor, then Sea Salt provides more breathing room.

Comparing Palladian Blue vs Sea Salt and Other Famous Alternatives

palladian blue and sea salt don’t exist in isolation and are often compared with other blue-green paints. Knowing where they place in comparison with other alternatives helps you choose the right depth,saturation and proper feel for your specific space. These comparisons will help you understand the blue-green spectrum and select the right paint for your space.

Rainwashed

Rainwashed (SW 6211) is Sherwin-Williams’ closest equivalent to Palladian Blue. It is a strong alternative if you need to stay within the SW lineup.

It shares similar blue-green energy but feels slightly softer and more sage-like. It is less crisp than Palladian Blue.

I’ve used Rainwashed in spaces where clients preferred something like palladian blue without committing to the full blue-green richness. It has a quieter and earthy quality while Palladian Blue is cleaner and more defined.When compared side by side, the differences are visible clearly. Sample before committing to your space.

Quiet Moments

Quiet Moments (Benjamin Moore AF-650) is a soft blue-green-gray with lower saturation than Palladian Blue. It has the same muted quality like Sea Salt’s but with a more restrained look.

It’s a beautiful color that leans grayer than both Sea Salt and Palladian Blue, which makes it neutral and easier to blend in the background. Quiet Moments is the suitable choice for spaces where you prefer a soft and subtle color. But compared to Palladian Blue the difference in color presence is quite noticeable. 

Wythe Blue

Wythe Blue (Benjamin Moore HC-143) comes from the Historic Collection as Palladian Blue, but has a deeper look with the LRV of 48. Palladian Blue is soft and airy while Wythe Blue is rich and grounded with more depth, drama and presence on the wall.

In a bright, well-lit south-facing room, Wythe Blue looks incredible but in a darker room, it feels heavier. Sea Salt doesn’t compete at Wythe Blue’s depth because they come in different weight categories.

If you prefer Palladian Blue but want more color and saturation, then Wythe Blue is the preferred option. Sample in room before committing.

Comparison Table: Palladian Blue vs Sea Salt vs Alternatives

Comparing Pros and Cons of Palladian Blue vs Sea Salt

No color is perfect for every space. I’ve worked with both colors many times to understand where they shine and where they look terrible. The right paint choice depends on the room size, style and what you want the color to achieve. Below is a complete breakdown of the strengths and limitations of both the colors:

Tips to Consider When Choosing Between Palladian Blue vs Sea Salt

I wish someone had given me these tips earlier before starting my paint journey because picking the wrong color without testing properly results in wastage of money, time and frustration of a repaint. So below are the tips I use now before committing to any color for a space.

• Test real paint samples on your actual wall: Do not depend on store swatches. Use peel-and-stick samples which you can move around and observe throughout the day.
• Check both colors at three different times of day: Check from morning, midday and evening lightning because Sea Salt shifts quite a bit. This step is non-negotiable.
• Know your room’s orientation first. In north-facing rooms, use Palladian Blue  while in South-facing rooms, both work beautifully.
• Look at your fixed elements before anything else: flooring, countertops, trim color, cabinetry all matter. Sea Salt works well with more combinations while Palladian Blue is slightly selective.
• For painted cabinets, Palladian Blue is the stronger choice: It has enough depth to look rich, intentional and doesn’t flatten under warm artificial lighting.
• Avoid pairing either color with purple-undertone colors: It clashes noticeably on the walls.
• For trim alongside Palladian Blue: Use Chantilly Lace or White Dove and for Sea Salt, prefer a clean and crisp white.
• Still undecided, then start small: try the color on an accent wall or a piece of furniture before committing to the whole room.

Conclusion

palladian blue vs sea salt, comes down to the color preference in your space.

If you want something that blends with everything and appears like a modern coastal, then Sea Salt is the preferred color. It’s flexible, neutral and easy to live with long-term.

If you want a color  that gives a spa-like, fresh and beautiful blue-green that feels timeless and intentional, then Palladian Blue is the considered choice.

I keep coming back to Palladian Blue more often, especially for bathrooms, cabinets and exteriors. It just has more character and presence which makes a room feel chosen and considered.

But Sea Salt absolutely earns its place when a space needs flexibility over personality. Sample both palladian blue vs sea salt on walls before committing to either color. Don’t skip that step.

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