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Portsmouth Bay

Behr · QE-52

The Analysis

Portsmouth Bay is a muted, grey-leaning blue-green that acts as a neutral anchor in a room. With an LRV of 40.48, it absorbs a moderate amount of light, which prevents the space from feeling overly bright or stark while providing a grounded, solid appearance.

This shade works best as a main wall colour in rooms where you want to add character without overwhelming the architecture. It is subtle enough to serve as a backdrop for artwork or bold furniture, rather than acting as a dramatic, high-contrast accent.

LRV 40

History & Origin

This is a versatile, modern interpretation of classic harbour-town colours. It moves away from the rigid, saturated palettes of the past, offering a clean, contemporary feel that fits well in updated residential designs.

Undertoneneutral
FamilyNeutral

How to Use It

It pairs exceptionally well with warm, medium-toned woods like walnut or oak and crisp white trim. For hardware, choose matte black for a modern edge or unlacquered brass to lean into a more sophisticated, traditional look.

The Mood

Living with this colour creates a restful, stable environment because it lacks the intense saturation of primary blues. It feels professional and composed, making it an excellent choice for areas where you want to minimize visual clutter and encourage focus.

Colour harmonies

Complementary

Opposite on the colour wheel — bold, high-contrast pairings. Use for a feature wall or furniture you want to command attention.

Analogous

Neighbouring hues — cohesive and calm, great for layered schemes that feel collected rather than matched.

Split complementary

Near-opposites for strong contrast with a little less tension than a pure complement. A favourite of interior designers.

Triadic

Three evenly spaced hues — balanced, vibrant, and versatile. Keep one dominant and use the others sparingly.

Tetradic (square)

Four hues in a square on the wheel — rich, dynamic palettes. Best when one colour leads and the others accent.

Monochromatic

Dark, mid, and light steps on the same hue — a failsafe gradient for trim, walls, and accents without shifting colour family.

Brand Matches

Perceptually similar colours from across all brands in our database.

  • Breezy

    Sherwin-Williams · SW7616

  • Beacon Fog 0490

    Colourtrend

  • Kentucky Haze

    Benjamin Moore · AC-16

  • Mount Saint Anne

    Benjamin Moore · CC-710

  • Dream Weaver

    Valspar · 8004-33D

  • Blue Arrow

    Valspar · 5001-3C

Lighting

See how this colour shifts across natural and artificial light conditions.

  • Natural
  • Morning
  • Afternoon
  • Evening
  • Overcast
  • 2700K
  • 3500K
  • 4000K
  • 5500K