Looking for the perfect navy paint color for your home? Let's compare In the Navy vs Naval to see if one might be perfect for your space!
Navy is a popular paint color. It goes with virtually any decor style, and it pairs well with other paint colors and finishes.
Navy is a great choice if you're looking for a neutral with the slightest hint of color.
Navy paint can make a room feel cozy and calming or moody and sophisticated. It's a great choice! But there are a lot of navy paints out there.
Today I want to compare two super popular shades of navy paint – In the Navy and Naval.
Let's talk about the difference between these two popular shades.
Read my full review of In the Navy
In the Navy vs Naval
Naval and In the Navy are very similar navy paint colors. They have the same LRV number, meaning they absorb and reflect the same amount of light back into a room
Naval and In the Navy have similar undertones, although the slight difference means they do appear differently on the wall.
What is similar about In the Navy vs Naval?
Naval and In the Navy are similar navy paint colors. Both are considered cool paint colors.
They both have an LRV of 4, which means they are equally dark.
Naval and In the Navy both have green undertones, but Naval had additional undertones as noted below.
Both Naval and In the Navy are great to use for built-ins, doors, shutters, an accent wall, furniture, or the walls of a room you want to feel cozier.
What is different about In the Navy vs Naval?
Naval has gray-green undertones, and In the Navy has green undertones. The undertones mean Naval is a bit more muted and In the Navy is a bit more saturated.
Some would even say In the Navy is ever so slightly warmer and brighter, and Naval is slightly cooler and duller. These differences are subtle though and not apparent in all lighting situations.
| In the Navy | Naval | |
| LRV | 4 | 4 |
| RBG | R: 40 G: 56 B: 73 | R: 47 G: 61 B: 76 |
| Undertones | green | gray-green |
Light Reflectance Value
Light Reflective Value is the measurement of how much light a color bounces around. This is on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 being pure black and 100 being pure white.
With an LRV of 4, In the Navy and Naval are both extremely dark navy paint colors.
If In the Navy or Naval are used in a bathroom or closet without any natural light, they may even look slightly black-ish.
Undertones
In the Navy features green undertones, and Naval features gray-green undertones. This means Naval will appear more muted and In the Navy more saturated.
With such a low LRV, neither color will change much depending on the lighting. Both In the Navy and Naval will look quite dark in almost all spaces.
It's very important to swatch colors on your wall to make sure they look good – day and night – in your actual space before committing.
Click here to get removable peel & stick paint samples to easily swatch with!
How do I decide between these two colors?
In the Navy and Naval are very similar paint colors. They have the same LRV and similar undertones.
The biggest difference is if you want a more saturated (In the Navy) or muted (Naval) look.
In the Navy can appear very slightly warmer, and Naval can appear very slightly cooler. It's always best to swatch colors in your individual space, especially with two colors that are so similar.
In the Navy color palette
Want to use this paint color in your home? Instantly upgrade your home’s aesthetic with our exclusive paint color palette. Unlock the perfect trim color and six stunning accent colors, a combination of neutrals and bold hues for an instantly harmonious space!
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Sherwin Williams Naval color palette
Want to use this paint color in your home? Instantly upgrade your home’s aesthetic with our exclusive paint color palette. Unlock the perfect trim color and six stunning accent colors, a combination of neutrals and bold hues for an instantly harmonious space!
Get your perfect paint color palette by clicking here!
Still unsure which paint color is right for your space?
Choosing paint doesn’t have to be stressful! My free Paint Color Planning Quick Start Guide walks you through the exact steps to confidently choose the perfect color — without the overwhelm, second-guessing, or endless swatch testing.
👉 Click here to download the free guide!
My Paint Color Formula course walks you through the painless process of expertly testing paint swatches to ensure you have the perfect color for your home.
The best way to sample paint? Samplize!
Get peel-and-stick removable and reusable paint samples here!
Thanks for reading!
Meg Hemmelgarn is a freelance writer and home decor + DIY blogger who loves to talk about paint colors. She and her husband are currently renovating their third fixer upper. You can see their projects on her blog, Green With Decor.
