Looking for the perfect blue-green paint color for your home? We've compared Tidewater vs Sea Salt to help you find your new favorite!
Blue-green paint colors are the way to go if you want a space that's calming, cozy, and totally relaxing.
These shades look amazing with coastal, farmhouse, modern, and traditional decor styles. No wonder they’re so popular!
But blue-green paint colors can lean in different directions—blue, green, turquoise, and even gray. So, let's get into the nitty-gritty of undertones and color depth.
Today, we're comparing two top contenders: Tidewater and Sea Salt.
Let's talk about the difference between these two popular shades.
Read my full review of Tidewater
Read my full review of Sea Salt
Tidewater vs Sea Salt
Both Tidewater and Sea Salt are light and bright blue-green paint colors that can work wonders in many homes.
They’re perfect if you love that breezy, coastal vibe.
What is similar about Tidewater vs Sea Salt?
Tidewater and Sea Salt are both mid-toned blue-green paint colors.
They're popular choices for many rooms in the home, especially bathrooms and bedrooms.
What is different about Tidewater vs Sea Salt?
Between the two, Sea Salt is more muted and a bit more neutral, and Tidewater is more of a pop of color.
Sea Salt leans more green, while Tidewater leans more blue.
Sea Salt is a green paint color with gray and blue undertones, and Tidewater is a blue paint color with warm green undertones.
Tidewater is a bit darker (LRV 65) and Sea Salt is a bit lighter (LRV 63).
| Tidewater | Sea Salt | |
| LRV | 65 | 63 |
| RGB | R: 195 G: 215 B: 211 | R: 205 G: 210 B: 202 |
| Undertones | blue paint color with warm green undertones | green paint color with gray and blue undertones |
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.
Though Tidewater and Sea Salt are both mid-toned paint colors, they aren't equal in color depth.
With an LRV of 65, Tidewater is a bit lighter compared to Sea Salt, which has an LRV of 63.
Undertones
Tidewater is a blue paint color with warm green undertones. Sea Salt is a green paint color with gray and blue undertones.
Overall, Tidewater tends to lean more blue, while Sea Salt leans more green.
In south-facing rooms with lots of natural light, both colors (especially Sea Salt) can look a bit more green.
In darker north-facing rooms, both colors (especially Tidewater) will lean cooler and more blue. Sea Salt might also look a bit gray in these settings.
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?
Want a more neutral or green-leaning color? Go with Sea Salt.
Prefer more blue or a bit more color? Tidewater's your pick.
Looking for something slightly lighter? Sea Salt is for you.
Want something a tad darker? Choose Tidewater.
No matter which one you choose, you can't go wrong with these beautiful blue-green hues!
Sherwin Williams Tidewater Paint 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!
Sherwin Williams Sea Salt Paint 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.
