Smoky Blue Color Review

Feelin’ the Blues with Smoky Blue

And the blues have it! I’m not really feeling blue, but I am feeling the blue paint colors. Not to mention that Sherwin-Williams just announced the Color of the Year for 2020: Naval, a dark navy blue.

This month’s featured color is Smoky Blue, a gorgeous medium-dark toned blue that has a slight gray undertone to keep it from feeling too bright. Look no further for the perfect accent wall color or deeper shade for your unique spaces.

Even though we have completed the Color Wheel, that doesn’t mean I’m gonna stop highlighting colors! There are so many other colors that I haven’t written about that deserve some time in the spotlight. I hope to spotlight at least 1 Sherwin-Williams color each month. So reach out and let me know which color you want to see next! For now keep reading this post for my Smoky Blue review!

If you would like to view my past posts on the Color Wheel Featured Colors and reviews you can go HERE. But also be sure to check out the Color Wheel complete with my hand-picked color schemes for the entire Sherwin-Williams color deck! There are over 1700 colors and each color has 4 schemes for you to explore using in your space.

Smoky Blue SW 7604 Review

Smoky Blue is one of those colors that wasn’t on my radar, until it jumped out at me one day. I was looking for an accent wall for a client and it was the perfect shade of blue to coordinate with her color scheme. It was then that I realized how great this medium-dark “smoky” blue really was.

One of the reasons that it had not been on my “top blues” list was its sneaky location. Smoky Blue is on a paint strip in which the top 4 colors are coordinated by gradation (light to dark), but the last 3 colors are just 3 darker blue-gray colors.

Despite Smoky Blue’s hidden address in the SW paint color deck, it is quickly becoming one of my top dark blue-grays. I categorize it as a blue-gray since it does have some gray tones to it and is not glaringly bright blue. Smoky Blue has a low LRV (15), which is fancy paint color terms for “it’s a dark color that doesn’t reflect much light.” Even though I tend to reserve these darker hues for certain areas, dark paint colors are very “in” and “trending,” so I am throwing caution to the wind this time!

For convenience here are my hand picked color schemes for Smoky Blue SW 7604. Be sure to visit the Smoky Blue color scheme page and leave a question or a comment!

Now that you have a basis for Smoky Blue and have seen my color schemes, check out my Pinterest gallery for some inspiration. See below and let me know which one you like the most. If you have your own pictures, send them to me and I will post them!

Where to use Smoky Blue SW 7604

As I mentioned, I can be kind of shy about using darker colors in an entire room. However, darker shades are having a moment and I’m here for it! I have several different areas that I spied Smoky Blue being used in and I’m excited to share.

Smoky Blue in the Dining Room

One of the reasons that Smoky Blue works so well in this small dining room is the expansive sliding glass doors that allow more natural light to shine in. Also, the remainder of the home is a soft white, so it lets the blue be the star of the show and adds some great contrast. The light and warm wood floors, along with the mid century modern furniture compliment the cooler Smoky Blue wall color to a “T.”

The neutral rug and lighter wall art also help to contrast the darker wall color. I love the hanging plants in the corner that play into the nature feel of the entire room. Blues and greens remind me the most of the outdoors!

Smoky Blue in the Laundry Room

Once again, Smoky Blue is on all of the walls in this unique space. I love that you can add interesting colors to your laundry room to make it a bit more fun to do laundry, am I right? There is a window that helps the Smoky Blue from feeling too dark in this smaller area and I adore the wall decor to add some whimsy!

The reds in the rug are a perfect compliment to Smoky Blue. Truly, red and blue is one of my favorite interior color combos. It’s one of my mom’s favorite color schemes, so I think it comes from there! However, it is apparent visually that they are a good color pair, a warm and cool color marriage works well.

Smoky Blue in an Office

Speaking of blues in nature, I always think of the beach when I think of the color blue. That must’ve been part of the inspiration to paint this seaside office in Smoky Blue. The darker blue in the office feels both parts masculine and beachy. Again, there is plenty of natural light pouring in from the large windows.

Another option if you don’t want to paint your entire office in Smoky Blue, is to paint just one wall for an accent. It adds interest and a spot to display some unique artwork and allows the remaining walls to be light and neutral.

Smoky Blue on Exteriors

I love this exterior in Smoky Blue with bright white trim. The accents in a warmer wood tone along with the reds in the rug and wreath are a great way to add interest to Smoky Blue. I like that Smoky Blue isn’t too bright or dark on exteriors. Even in the shade of this porch, it looks perfect.

Smoky Blue would also be a lovely front door color against a more neutral main body color. Since it’s a darker shade, it works well to contrast against lighter trim and accents. I say it’s a winner for both interiors and exteriors!

Wrapping up

Smoky Blue is topping the Rugh Design fav blues chart, so jump on the wagon and test it out in your own home. If you are leaning towards Smoky Blue, give it a try with the low-commitment of Rugh Design’s Peel & Stick Paint Samples. See below for more info!

If you are considering Smoky Blue, the best way to find out if it is right for your space, is to grab a Peel & Stick Paint Sample and test it out. The paint samples are handed painted with 2 coats of the real Sherwin-Williams color and are perfect for sampling color before you take the dive into gallons of paint.

Our Peel and Stick Paint Samples make it easy to have confidence in your paint color choice and will save you time, effort and money while you test colors in your space. Get started now with Smoky Blue!

If you are still having trouble deciding, contact me for a Color Consult to nail down the best color for your interior or exterior. I have a passion for color and love being able to help clients find the right color to make their home beautiful!

Leave me a comment if you have Smoky Blue or would like to try it. I would love to hear from you! Also, stay tuned for the next featured color from the Color Wheel.

Hire me! Follow me!

If you are need of some color help check out my Interior and Exterior Color Consultation packages. I also have many different eDesign packages for all your interior needs. And for those DIYers check out my eBook on how to select paint colors for your home.