Under the Sea
What Under the Sea Actually Looks Like
Under the Sea is a dark, earthy teal that sits somewhere between forest green and slate. It reads rich and grounded rather than bright or tropical. At full depth it has a quality closer to a shadowed forest floor than an ocean wave, which makes the name a bit misleading if you expect vivid aqua. The color is genuinely dark. In low or artificial light it can read almost black with a greenish cast. In good natural light the teal quality emerges more clearly, but it never becomes a light or airy color under any conditions.
Under the Sea Undertones
The color carries blue and green in roughly equal measure, with enough gray mixed in to keep it from feeling saturated or jewel-like. There is a slight earthy quality that prevents it from reading cold, but it is not a warm color. It lives in neutral-cool territory. On walls with warm incandescent lighting the green side tends to come forward. In cooler daylight the blue-gray character dominates.
Where Under the Sea Works Best
Because the LRV is very low, this color absorbs a lot of light. That makes it best suited to rooms where you want enclosure and atmosphere rather than brightness. A study, home office, bedroom, or dining room where drama is welcome will handle it well. It is a strong candidate for an accent wall or a single focal surface in a room that gets reasonable natural light. In a windowless room or a basement it will feel very heavy and cave-like, so approach those spaces with caution. Woodwork and trim painted in a crisp white or off-white will give the eye a place to rest and keep the room from closing in.
Where to put Under the Sea
The depth of this color creates a focused, cocooning feel that works well in a room meant for concentration. Pair it with warm wood furniture and brass or bronze hardware to keep the space from feeling cold. Keep the ceiling a light neutral to bounce some light back into the room.
Dark teal walls make candlelit dinners feel intentional and intimate. The color holds well against rich wood tables and linen textiles. Use a white or very light ceiling and trim to define the space cleanly.
In a bedroom that gets morning or afternoon sun, Under the Sea reads as a moody, restful backdrop. Keep bedding and soft furnishings in warm neutrals or natural tones to balance the cool depth of the wall color.
If a full room feels too committed, a single accent wall in Under the Sea behind a sofa or bed gives you the drama without the enclosure. The contrast against a lighter wall color on the remaining three sides lets the teal read more clearly.
What to Pair With Under the Sea
No specific Benjamin Moore coordinating colors were provided for Under the Sea 693. The pairing guidance below draws on how the color itself behaves.
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Colors that clash with Under the Sea
Orange-based furnishings or flooring can fight with the blue-green undertones in Under the Sea, creating a contrast that feels jarring rather than intentional.
Pairing a cool gray trim with this already cool, dark wall color can make the whole room feel flat and colorless, especially in low light.
At LRV 10.54 this color reflects very little light. In a room that depends entirely on artificial lighting it will read nearly black and feel oppressive.
Common questions
The Benjamin Moore color code is 693. The precise LRV is 10.54, which confirms this is a genuinely dark color that absorbs most of the light that hits it. Hex and RGB values render from our color fields above.
Yes, it is available in both interior and exterior lines, so you can use it on an exterior door, shutters, or siding as well as on interior walls.
It depends on your light source. In warm incandescent or Edison-style bulb light, the green quality comes forward. In cooler daylight or LED light it shifts toward blue-gray teal. Either way it reads dark, so sample it on your actual wall and look at it at different times of day before committing.
For walls, eggshell or matte will give the color its richest, most grounded appearance and hide imperfections. If you are using it on trim, cabinetry, or a door, a satin or semi-gloss finish adds durability and a slight depth that works well at this dark value.