Aquatint is the most flexible accent family in residential paint — works as both a whole-room neutral when desaturated and a confident statement when saturated. At LRV 73 it reflects plenty of light, which makes it well-suited for north-facing rooms and smaller spaces that benefit from extra brightness. Skip it only if your fixed finishes (flooring, stone, tile) already lean hard warm or cool enough to clash — otherwise it's one of the most forgiving families.
Ref. #B8E7DE · 6936
Aquatint
73%LRV Value
Aquatint Technical Profile
What color is Sherwin-Williams Aquatint (6936)? It's a light cool green — hex #B8E7DE, LRV 73. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Aquatint is Hirshfield's Barely Aqua — a near-identical match on the wall, with Vista Paint Barely Aqua and Benjamin Moore Ocean Spray also close. With a Light Reflectance Value of 73, Aquatint reflects a generous amount of light, making it well-suited for north-facing rooms or smaller spaces that benefit from extra brightness. Pair it with off-whites like Simply White, walnut or rift-cut oak floors, and mixed metals — brass for warmth, matte black for grounding. Terracotta and rust accents add warm contrast. At mid saturation, this color sits at a flexible mid-point — bold enough to anchor a room without dominating, and pairs cleanly with both crisp and creamy whites. Greens shift the most under different light. 2700K warms them toward olive or yellow-green; 4000K daylight reveals their true tone. Bluer greens especially benefit from north-facing daylight. At mid saturation the lighting shift is moderate but real — sample under both warm-bulb evening light and cool-daylight morning light before committing.
Use this color
Get this color
Some sample and supply links are affiliate links — if you buy through them, Paint Color HQ may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep the site free.
Colors Similar to Aquatint
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Aquatint
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Aquatint
#B8E7DE
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#7BA5B7
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Aquatint
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Aquatint 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 Sherwin-Williams Colors
Other Sherwin-Williams colors close to Aquatint.
More green colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the green family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Aquatint — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Aquatint from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Aquatint are Barely Aqua by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match), Barely Aqua by Vista Paint (a near-identical match), Ocean Spray by Benjamin Moore (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 Aquatint'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 Aquatint?
Aquatint has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 72.6, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a light, reflective color that bounces plenty of light back into a room — well-suited to north-facing spaces, hallways, and smaller rooms that need to feel brighter. 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 Aquatint
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 Aquatint depends on the room. Here's how to choose.