Soothing Waves reads as crisp and architectural — strong in modern spaces, with natural fixed elements (chrome, stone, glass), or as a quiet anchor. At LRV 62 it sits in the comfortable mid-light range — bright enough for living areas, soft enough for bedrooms, and adaptable across most lighting conditions. Skip it if you want a cozy, warm room — cool neutrals can feel sterile under warm bulbs or in low light.
Ref. #BDD3CE · 333-2DB
Soothing Waves
62%LRV Value
Soothing Waves Technical Profile
What color is Dutch Boy Soothing Waves (333-2DB)? It's a light cool neutral — hex #BDD3CE, LRV 62. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Soothing Waves is Hirshfield's Déjà Vu — a near-identical match on the wall, with PPG Highest Mountain Mist and Sherwin-Williams Tidewater also close. At LRV 62, Soothing Waves sits in the comfortable mid-light range — bright enough for living areas yet soft enough for bedrooms, and adaptable across most lighting conditions. As a cool neutral, Soothing Waves pairs with cool whites for trim, gray-toned or rift-cut oak floors, and brushed nickel or polished chrome hardware. Black accents and natural greenery add contrast. As a lighter neutral, Soothing Waves works as a whole-room or trim color and keeps adjoining colors reading clean — pair it with crisper whites a step brighter than itself so the trim still separates. Cool neutrals hold their crisp quality under 4000K+ daylight bulbs. Under 2700K warm light they soften considerably — particularly true for any blue or green undertone. Lighter neutrals reveal their undertone most, so Soothing Waves can swing warmer under 2700K bulbs and cleaner under 4000K daylight — sample it against your trim before committing.
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Colors Similar to Soothing Waves
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Déjà Vu
Hirshfield's
Nearly identical
Highest Mountain Mist
PPG
Nearly identical
Tidewater
Sherwin-Williams
Nearly identical
Heavenly Blue
Benjamin Moore
Nearly identical
Déjà Vu
Vista Paint
Nearly identical
Zero Gravity
Behr
Nearly identical
Wool .01
Colorhouse
Nearly identical
Rolling Waves
Dunn-Edwards
Nearly identical
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Soothing Waves
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Soothing Waves
#BDD3CE
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#85A2AD
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Soothing Waves
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Soothing 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 Soothing Waves.
More neutral colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the neutral family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Soothing Waves — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Soothing Waves from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Soothing Waves are Déjà Vu by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match), Highest Mountain Mist by PPG (a near-identical match), Tidewater by Sherwin-Williams (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 Soothing 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 Soothing Waves?
Soothing Waves has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 61.9, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a mid-light color — bright enough for living areas yet soft enough for bedrooms, and adaptable across most lighting conditions. 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 Soothing 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 Soothing Waves depends on the room. Here's how to choose.