Chicago Blues
What Chicago Blues Actually Looks Like
Chicago Blues reads as a rich, true blue, sitting firmly between navy and a classic lake blue. It carries real depth and weight on a wall, not a whisper of blue but a full statement. In bright daylight it shows its clearest blue character. In dim or artificial light it darkens considerably, pulling toward a near-navy that feels close and enveloping.
Chicago Blues Undertones
The color lands in solidly blue territory. At its LRV it does not have much room to shift dramatically warm, but depending on the light source it can pick up a slight cool, almost steely quality in north-facing rooms or under LED lighting, and read as a warmer, more vibrant medium blue in south or west light with warm incandescent or warm-white LEDs.
Where Chicago Blues Works Best
Chicago Blues is suited to spaces where you want the walls to do real work. Dining rooms, studies, libraries, and bedrooms are natural fits because the depth creates a contained, focused feeling. It also performs well on exterior shutters and front doors, where its saturation holds up against daylight and landscape. Avoid very small, windowless rooms unless you are deliberately going for a cocoon effect.
Where to put Chicago Blues
The depth of Chicago Blues makes a dining room feel intentional and set apart from the rest of the house. Warm lighting, a wood table, and brass or matte black fixtures let it breathe without going cold.
On all four walls of a study it creates a focused, settled atmosphere. Pair with warm wood shelving and a cream or warm-white ceiling to keep the room from feeling heavy.
In a bedroom Chicago Blues delivers a calm, enveloping quality that holds up well at night under warm lighting. Keep bedding and trim light so the walls carry the color without overwhelming the space.
The saturation and LRV are low enough that this blue reads boldly and cleanly on an exterior, holding its character across changing daylight without graying out the way softer blues can.
What to Pair With Chicago Blues
No coordinating colors are listed in our database for this color, so pair from principle: Chicago Blues anchors well against crisp whites, warm off-whites, natural wood tones, brass and aged brass hardware, and soft warm grays. It also works alongside other saturated colors when you want a layered, jewel-toned interior.
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Colors that clash with Chicago Blues
A very cool, blue-leaning gray next to Chicago Blues can make the transition feel flat and one-note, removing contrast and making both colors look duller.
Cool chrome fixtures and daylight or cool-white LED bulbs push Chicago Blues toward a harder, icier tone that can feel clinical rather than rich.
At LRV 17.6 this color absorbs a lot of light. In a tight space with no windows it can feel oppressive rather than cozy.
Common questions
The Benjamin Moore code is 804. The precise LRV is 17.6, which places it firmly in the dark range, meaning it absorbs significantly more light than it reflects. Hex and RGB values render in the color swatch above.
It can, but go in with clear expectations. North light is cool and indirect, and at this depth of blue the color will read darker and cooler than it does on a sun-drenched south wall. If you love the enveloping quality, a north-facing study or dining room works well. If you need brightness, this is not the right pick for that room.
Yes, it is available in both interior and exterior lines. For walls, an eggshell or matte finish will soften any light reflection and let the depth of the color show cleanly. A semi-gloss is practical for trim or a front door and will make the color appear slightly lighter and more vibrant.
Almost certainly. Deep, saturated colors like this one intensify dramatically when scaled up to a full wall. A small chip will give you the hue direction but will underestimate how dark and present the color becomes. Always sample on a large board or directly on the wall before committing.