Making Waves is a calming choice — works as both a whole-house neutral when lightened and a dramatic anchor when deepened to navy. At LRV 18 it reads as a deep, enveloping shade — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. Because it's a fully saturated example, it lands strongest as a single accent wall or large architectural feature rather than the dominant whole-room color. Skip it in low-light north-facing rooms unless you want a deliberately cool, cocooning effect, since blue can read chilly there.
Ref. #017CB2 · 138-7DB
Making Waves
18%LRV Value
Making Waves Technical Profile
What color is Dutch Boy Making Waves (138-7DB)? It's a deep cool blue — hex #017CB2, LRV 18. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Making Waves is Behr Glacier Lake — a near-identical match on the wall, with PPG North Sea and Behr Living Stream also close. With an LRV of 18, Making Waves creates a dramatic, enveloping mood — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and intimate spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. Pair it with cool whites like Chantilly Lace, walnut or rift-cut oak floors, and brushed nickel or polished chrome hardware. Brass accents add warmth for a layered look. As a fully saturated example, it reads as a confident statement color — best deployed as a single accent wall or large architectural feature rather than a whole-room dominant. Blues stay crisp under 4000K+ cool LEDs. Under 2700K warm bulbs they can read grayer or shift slightly purple — particularly true for mid-tone and saturated blues. Saturated colors amplify lighting effects more than muted ones: warm bulbs deepen and enrich, cool daylight sharpens and slightly cools the same hex.
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Colors Similar to Making Waves
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Making Waves
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Making Waves
#017CB2
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#2F49B7
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Making Waves
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Making Waves 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 Dutch Boy Colors
Other Dutch Boy colors close to Making Waves.
More blue colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the blue family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Making Waves — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Making Waves from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Making Waves are Glacier Lake by Behr (a near-identical match), North Sea by PPG (a near-identical match), Living Stream by Behr (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 Making Waves'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 Making Waves?
Making Waves has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 17.6, 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 Making Waves
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 Making Waves depends on the room. Here's how to choose.