Charcoal Blue LRV 6: Planning a Deep Color

What 6 tells you about Charcoal Blue

The published LRV of Sherwin-Williams Charcoal Blue SW-2739 is 6. It describes light reflectance; it does not specify an undertone or predict the brightness of your room. Charcoal Blue's low reflectance places it among the nearly black navy choices, not among light or medium blues.

The choice beside white shelves and warm oak

White shelving can make the dark shape readable, while warm oak prevents the scheme from relying entirely on a blue-and-white contrast.

Draw the proposed dark area on a room photograph and compare it with a broad physical Charcoal Blue sample in shadow. The LRV describes the starting depth, while the size and location of that area determine its role. Check whether adjacent dark furniture remains legible.

What the comparison can—and cannot—settle

Charcoal Blue has an LRV of 6; Sherwin-Williams Sea Serpent SW-7615 is 7. The difference is 1 points, with Sea Serpent returning more light under the reference measurement. Charcoal Blue is a navy so deep that it approaches black. The value measures reflectance, so it cannot by itself identify an undertone, a coating finish or the amount of illumination needed in the room. The daylight and evening-light checks covers that related choice.

Decide whether black-like depth is welcome in the darkest corner; a navy name does not guarantee obvious blue everywhere. Do not read LRV 6 as a percentage improvement in perceived room brightness. Make the decision with the board upright at the actual wall or cabinet position, including the least illuminated portion. The north-facing room assessment covers that related choice. Before ordering samples, compare room-planning features in the paint color visualizer roundup.