Regatta
What Regatta Actually Looks Like
Regatta reads like a bold, saturated deep blue that lands somewhere between a classic navy and a moody teal. In person it has a richness that photos rarely capture, especially under warm incandescent lighting where the teal side shows up more. Under cool daylight, it leans closer to a traditional nautical blue. With an LRV of 8.3, this is a genuinely dark color. It absorbs a lot of light, so expect it to feel heavier and more dramatic than it looks on a small chip.
Regatta Undertones
The dominant undertone is blue, but what makes Regatta interesting is the teal that runs underneath. Some designers read it as a deep ocean blue, while others insist it has enough green to qualify as a dark teal. Both readings are fair. The teal quality becomes more obvious in warm, south-facing light, and in cooler north-facing rooms the color skews closer to a straight navy. You will not see much gray or purple in this color. It stays clean and saturated across most lighting conditions, which is part of what makes it so bold.
Where Regatta Works Best
Regatta works best in spots where you want serious impact without going full black or charcoal. It is a natural fit for an accent wall in a living room or bedroom, a bold front door, or kitchen cabinets where you want a dramatic alternative to black or dark gray. On exteriors, it reads as a confident, classic blue, particularly on front doors, shutters, or a full exterior body if you have enough natural light hitting the facade. Bathrooms and powder rooms also benefit from its depth since smaller spaces can handle saturated color without feeling overwhelming. Just make sure any room where you use it has decent lighting, whether natural or layered artificial, because at LRV 8.3 it will drink up light fast.
Where to put Regatta
Regatta is one of the best deep blues for a front door. It reads as classic and confident without veering into black territory. Pair it with warm brass or oil-rubbed bronze hardware to play up the teal undertone. On a sunny porch it will glow. In shade it will look darker and moodier, so test your swatch in the actual light your door receives.
On lower cabinets especially, Regatta brings a bold, grounding weight to the kitchen. Keep uppers in a bright white or light warm neutral so the room does not feel closed in. Brass pulls and a light countertop, marble or butcher block, create strong contrast. Under-cabinet lighting will help you actually see inside drawers at this depth.
A single Regatta accent wall in a bedroom or living room adds serious drama. The surrounding walls should be significantly lighter, a soft white or pale warm neutral, to keep the room balanced. Layer in warm-toned textiles and lighting so the wall feels inviting rather than cold.
On a full exterior body, Regatta demands commitment. It works best on homes with strong architectural lines, classic colonials, craftsman bungalows, or cottages near water. Use a clean white or soft cream trim to frame it. In direct sun it will read brighter and bluer. In overcast regions it can read almost black from a distance, so keep that in mind.
What to Pair With Regatta
Because Regatta is so deep and saturated, it needs deliberate contrast. Pair it with a crisp, bright white for trim and moldings to give the eye a clean break. Warm wood tones, brass hardware, and creamy off-whites all bring out the teal side and keep it from feeling cold. For a layered palette, add a warm neutral or sandy tone on surrounding walls and let Regatta anchor a single surface.
Regatta vs similar colors
All comparisons are matched against Regatta at LRV 8.3.
Colors that clash with Regatta
At LRV 8.3, Regatta absorbs most of the light in a room. If you use it on more than one wall in a space with small windows, it can feel oppressive quickly.
Warm incandescent bulbs or south-facing light will pull the teal undertone forward, making Regatta look noticeably greener than it appears on the chip under store fluorescents.
Because Regatta is so saturated, any yellowish or grayish white trim will look dirty by comparison. The contrast highlights every flaw in the white.
Common questions
Regatta has an LRV of 8.3, which puts it firmly in the deep, dark range. It will absorb most of the light in a room, so plan your lighting accordingly.
It sits right on the boundary. Most people see it as a deep blue with a noticeable teal undertone. Under warm light the teal comes forward, and under cool daylight it reads closer to a straight blue. The debate is genuine, so always test it in your specific lighting.
A clean, bright white is the safest and most popular trim choice. It creates sharp contrast and keeps the blue looking crisp. If you want a warmer feel, a very light cream can work, but avoid anything with strong yellow or gray undertones.
Yes. Regatta is available in exterior formulas and works well on siding, front doors, and shutters. Keep in mind it will look lighter and brighter in direct sunlight and much darker in shade. Test a large sample on the actual surface before committing.
Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue HC-155 is widely considered the closest match. It shares Regatta's deep blue base with a similar teal quality, though side by side it may appear slightly more muted. Always compare large swatches in your own lighting to confirm.