Tried & True Blue works as a warm neutral anchor — pairs cleanly with most existing palettes and reads forgiving across lighting conditions. At LRV 8 it reads as a deep, enveloping shade — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. Skip it if you want a crisp, cool-modern look, or in rooms with heavy north light that can pull its warmth slightly muddy.
Ref. #494F62 · DET582
Tried & True Blue
8%LRV Value
Tried & True Blue Technical Profile
What color is Dunn-Edwards Tried & True Blue (DET582)? It's a dark warm gray — hex #494F62, LRV 8. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Tried & True Blue is Vista Paint China Aster — a near-identical match on the wall, with Kilz India Ink and Hirshfield's China Aster also close. With an LRV of 8, Tried & True Blue creates a dramatic, enveloping mood — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and intimate spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. As a warm neutral, Tried & True Blue pairs with off-whites for trim, white oak or walnut floors, and brass or warm brushed nickel hardware. Deep green, navy, or terra-cotta all read well as accent colors. As a deeper neutral, Tried & True Blue reads as a confident anchor — strongest on accent walls, cabinetry, and moody whole rooms that get enough natural light to keep it from going flat. Warm neutrals come alive under 2700K bulbs, where their underlying yellow or peach undertones add visible warmth. Under 4000K daylight they read cleaner and slightly cooler. Deeper neutrals can read close to black in low light, so preview Tried & True Blue in the room's actual evening lighting, not just at midday.
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Colors Similar to Tried & True Blue
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Tried & True Blue
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Tried & True Blue
#494F62
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#645985
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Tried & True Blue
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Tried & True Blue Room Palettes
Color schemes built around this color — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Warm & Inviting
Warm tones with cozy appeal — welcoming and comfortable
Cool & Calm
Cool hues with soft contrast — serene and restful
Bold Contrast
Complementary hues with punch — dynamic and striking
Similar Dunn-Edwards Colors
Other Dunn-Edwards colors close to Tried & True Blue.
More gray colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the gray family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Tried & True Blue — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Tried & True Blue from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Tried & True Blue are China Aster by Vista Paint (a near-identical match), India Ink by Kilz (a near-identical match), China Aster by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match). These are ranked with the CIEDE2000 color-difference formula, which scores how similar two colors actually look to the eye rather than matching them by name — so they're the best options for getting Tried & True Blue's look in a brand your local store carries. Always confirm with a physical sample, since sheen and lighting shift the final result.
What is the LRV of Tried & True Blue?
Tried & True Blue has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 7.9, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a deep, dramatic color best saved for accent walls, dining rooms, and cozy spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. LRV is the most reliable guide to how light or dark a paint will read in a real room — more dependable than the swatch on your screen, which varies by monitor.
Explore More with Tried & True Blue
Related Reading
How to Match Paint Colors Across Brands
The science behind Delta E and CIEDE2000 — find a Behr equivalent of any Sherwin-Williams shade, or a Benjamin Moore alternative when your store is out of stock.
Paint Sheen Guide
Flat, eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss — the right finish for Tried & True Blue depends on the room. Here's how to choose.