Blue Steel

Technical Profile

What color is Blue Steel? It's a medium cool gray with the hex code #535A61. Colors similar to Blue Steel include Hirshfield's Thunderstorm, Benjamin Moore Deep Secretreg, Vista Paint Thunderstorm. Comparing swatches side by side is the best way to spot the subtle differences that distinguish these close color relatives. Blue Steel has a cool (blue) undertone, which affects how it pairs with trim, flooring, and adjacent wall colors. Understanding a color's undertone is key to avoiding combinations that clash — it often matters more than the surface color itself. Blue Steel (#535A61) by Dunn-Edwards is a medium gray paint color with a understated, nearly neutral quality. It delivers a versatile mid-tone depth that anchors a room without overwhelming it. On the temperature spectrum this shade carries a cool cast, lending calm and collected elegance. Its RGB channels are closely balanced, contributing to its neutral, even-keeled visual character. A Light Reflectance Value of 35 gives it moderate light reflection, striking a balance between brightness and depth. A mid-tone neutral at this depth adds sophisticated warmth or coolness to living rooms, bedrooms, and transitional hallways, grounding the space without closing it in. A satin or eggshell finish brings out the richness at this depth, and the slight sheen makes walls easier to maintain. The cool cast of Blue Steel pairs well with crisp whites, silvery grays, and blue-toned accents for a sleek, modern palette. Its cool (blue) undertone means trim and ceiling whites should lean neutral to avoid a jarring clash. If Dunn-Edwards is unavailable in your area, close cross-brand alternatives exist from Hirshfield's, Benjamin Moore, Vista Paint and others. In terms of mood and atmosphere, Blue Steel delivers a composed, professional calm often favored in contemporary and Scandinavian-inspired interiors. Designers often reach for shades like this when the goal is to shape how a room feels, not just how it looks. This shade is a natural fit for virtually every design style from minimalist Japandi to rustic farmhouse to sleek contemporary. As part of the Dunn-Edwards palette, Blue Steel benefits from a curated selection of coordinating colors that the brand recommends for trim, accent, and ceiling pairings. As with any paint color, Blue Steel can shift noticeably between natural daylight, warm incandescent, and cool LED lighting — testing a sample swatch on your wall under different conditions is always recommended. Mid-tone shades like this look best when balanced with a mix of textures — think leather seating, brushed brass hardware, woven wool, and raw-edge wood. You can order Blue Steel (DE6342) directly from Dunn-Edwards or through major paint retailers, and we recommend purchasing a peel-and-stick sample to preview it on your wall before buying gallons.