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Athens Blue

Benjamin Moore · 797

The Analysis

Athens Blue is a deep, saturated mid-tone that pulls a room inward, making spaces feel cozy rather than expansive. With an LRV of 16.46, it absorbs significant light, meaning it will darken a room significantly if you don't have ample artificial or natural lighting.

Due to its high pigment density, this works best as a bold accent wall or a dramatic choice for a powder room or study. Avoid using it on all four walls in small, dim spaces unless you want the room to feel like a high-contrast, moody sanctuary.

LRV 16

History & Origin

This shade leans toward a classic, tailored aesthetic often found in traditional library or study designs. It moves away from trendy pastels and sits firmly in the realm of timeless, rich architectural color palettes.

Undertonecool
FamilyBlue

How to Use It

Pair this with warm wood tones like walnut or teak to balance the coolness of the blue. For hardware, matte black provides a sharp, modern edge, while unlacquered brass adds a necessary pop of warmth against the dark base.

The Mood

This is a serious, steady colour that encourages focus and calm. It feels grounded and reliable, making it an excellent choice for rooms where you want to eliminate visual clutter and feel settled.

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.

  • Mega Blue

    Behr · P520-6

  • Royal Regatta 3

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  • Flying Fish

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  • Deepest Periwinkle

    Valspar · V074-1

  • Cerulean

    Behr · 560B-7

  • Caribbean Current 0598

    Colourtrend

Lighting

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

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