Take Five
What Take Five Actually Looks Like
Take Five is a soft, mid-light blue that reads like a quiet lake on an overcast day. It has enough color to clearly register as blue on the wall, but it never shouts. In person, the teal undertone gives it a slightly aquatic quality that separates it from the dustier, grayer blues in the same LRV range. Under warm incandescent light it can soften toward a muted seafoam, while cool north-facing light brings out the blue more fully. It sits at an LRV of 56.2, which means it reflects a healthy amount of light without washing out. Expect it to feel calming and collected rather than dramatic.
Take Five Undertones
The primary undertone here is blue, but there is a real teal lean that multiple reviewers pick up on. Some designers see it as a straightforward cool blue, while others insist the green-blue teal thread is what makes Take Five distinct from its neighbors. In rooms with warm wood tones or warm lighting, the teal can become more apparent. In a room flooded with cool daylight, the color leans closer to a clean, traditional blue. If you are sensitive to green undertones, swatch it in your actual room first, because the teal can catch you off guard in certain conditions.
Where Take Five Works Best
Take Five works well as a main wall color in bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, and kitchens. Its LRV of 56.2 makes it flexible enough for rooms with moderate natural light without feeling dark or heavy. In a bathroom, it picks up on the watery teal note and feels spa-like. In a bedroom it reads restful and quiet. In a kitchen or living room, it adds just enough color to feel intentional while still letting furniture and art do the talking. It is also a solid choice for a home office where you want calm focus without sterile white walls. On exteriors, it can work as a body color on coastal or cottage-style homes, especially paired with crisp white trim.
Where to put Take Five
Take Five turns a bedroom into a genuinely calming retreat. Paint all four walls and let white bedding and warm wood furniture do the rest. The teal undertone keeps the room from feeling cold the way a pure gray-blue might. It pairs well with linen, natural rattan, and soft gold accents.
This is one of those colors that was practically made for bathrooms. The aquatic, teal-kissed blue plays off white tile and chrome fixtures beautifully. With an LRV of 56.2, it still reflects enough light to keep a smaller bathroom from feeling closed in. Use Nebulous White on the trim and ceiling for a clean, cohesive look.
In a living room, Take Five acts as a composed, quiet backdrop. It has enough personality to carry a room without feeling bold. It works especially well with warm neutrals in upholstery, a cream or ivory rug, and dark wood or black metal accent pieces. Avoid pairing it with too many cool grays, or the room can skew chilly.
On kitchen walls or even lower cabinets, Take Five adds a subtle coastal vibe without going full beach house. White upper cabinets and a warm countertop like butcher block or a cream quartz balance the cool blue nicely. Brushed brass or unlacquered brass hardware brings out the warmth hiding in the teal undertone.
What to Pair With Take Five
Nebulous White is the go-to coordinating trim color. It is a warm, softly tinted white that prevents the pairing from feeling too icy. For a richer accent, look to a deep navy or charcoal. Muted warm metallics like brushed brass or aged gold hardware complement the cool teal undertone nicely without competing.
Take Five vs similar colors
All comparisons are matched against Take Five at LRV 56.2.
Colors that clash with Take Five
If you pair Take Five with cool gray floors, silver hardware, and blue-white trim, the room can feel sterile and washed out.
In rooms with green-heavy views or lots of warm artificial light, the teal undertone can push stronger than expected, making the color look more green-blue than you planned.
Common questions
Take Five has an LRV of 56.2. That puts it in the mid-light range, meaning it reflects a good amount of light and works in rooms with moderate to strong natural light without feeling dark.
It reads primarily as a soft blue, but it carries a teal undertone that can push slightly toward blue-green in warm light or next to warm-toned surfaces. In cool daylight it stays firmly blue.
Nebulous White (SW 7063) is the coordinating trim pick. It is a warm-leaning white that softens the coolness of Take Five and prevents the pairing from feeling icy.
It can, but it will look cooler and bluer in north-facing light. If that appeals to you, go for it. If you want more warmth, consider adding warm lighting and warm-toned furnishings to balance the cool cast.