Refreshing Pool → Farrow & Ball
The closest Farrow & Ball matches for Behr Refreshing Pool (PPU13-07), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Farrow & Ball Equivalent for Refreshing Pool
If you love Behr Refreshing Pool but need a Farrow & Ball alternative, you are not alone. This is one of the most common cross-brand paint matching searches, whether you are working with a painter who prefers Farrow & Ball, your local store does not carry Behr, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Refreshing Pool (PPU13-07) is a medium-dark blue with cool pool blue undertones. A cool, medium blue-gray with a refreshing aquatic quality. More saturated than Reflecting Pool, less dark than a navy. The color of a clean swimming pool in shade. To find a good Farrow & Ball match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 35) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Refreshing Pool and every Farrow & Ball color using the CIE2000 Delta E formula, which measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart. Between 2 and 4, you might notice a difference in certain lighting. Above 5, the difference is clearly visible side by side.
The good news: there is a strong Farrow & Ball match for Refreshing Pool. Blue Ground (No.210) comes in with a Delta E of 2, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Blue Ground is the closest F&B option. Very close match.
Farrow & Ball Matches for Refreshing Pool
Blue Ground is the closest F&B option. Very close match.
| Refreshing Pool | Blue Ground | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 35 | 35 |
| Hex | #A3B6B8 | #A9B9B9 |
| Undertone | Cool Pool Blue | Historic Blue-Gray |
| Family | Blue | Blue |
Undertone Comparison
Refreshing Pool has cool pool blue undertones. A cool, medium blue-gray with a refreshing aquatic quality. More saturated than Reflecting Pool, less dark than a navy. The color of a clean swimming pool in shade.
Blue Ground has historic blue-gray undertones. A historic blue-gray named for the blue ground used in gilding. More blue than Pigeon, lighter than De Nimes. Refined and versatile.
These two colors share the same undertone family, which is a good sign for a cross-brand swap. The undertone similarity means they will behave similarly as lighting changes throughout the day, and they should coordinate well with the same accent colors, trim, and furnishings.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Refreshing Pool in Your Room
The blue is definite and refreshing. In bright rooms, a soft medium blue. In dim rooms, a sophisticated gray-blue. Cool and clean.
Blue Ground in Your Room
In bright rooms, the blue is soft and present. In dim rooms, a sophisticated cool gray. Under warm light, the blue calms.
LRV and Brightness
Refreshing Pool has an LRV of 35, while Blue Ground has an LRV of 35. These two colors reflect a very similar amount of light, so you should not notice a significant difference in room brightness when switching between them. The room will feel approximately the same in terms of light and space, which makes this a smoother transition.
Best Rooms for Refreshing Pool
Behr recommends Refreshing Pool for: bathroom, bedroom, office, accent wall, living room. With an LRV of 35, this is a medium-dark color that is in the medium range, adding real depth and presence to a room. It works best in rooms with good natural light or as an accent wall color. In smaller or darker rooms, pair it with bright white trim to keep the space from feeling closed in.
Blue Ground is recommended for: bedroom, living room, bathroom, hallway, dining room. The recommended applications differ slightly between brands, but the color's properties should work in the same rooms regardless of which brand you choose. Trust the LRV and undertone data more than the specific room suggestions, and always test in your actual space.
Refreshing Pool in Other Brands
Looking for Refreshing Pool equivalents in other brands besides Farrow & Ball? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Farrow & Ball match for Refreshing Pool (PPU13-07) is Blue Ground (No.210) with a Delta E of 2, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Blue Ground is the closest F&B option. Very close match. Delta E measures perceptual color distance on a scale where under 2 means nearly identical, 2 to 4 means close with subtle differences, and over 5 means clearly noticeable.
No, they are not identical. Refreshing Pool is a Behr color with cool pool blue undertones and an LRV of 35. Blue Ground is a Farrow & Ball color with historic blue-gray undertones and an LRV of 35. With a Delta E of 2, these are extremely close and most people will not spot the difference on a wall. Paint formulations differ between brands, so even colors with similar values can look slightly different due to pigment concentration, binders, and finish.
With a Delta E of 2, these colors are close enough to use in separate rooms of the same house without a jarring difference. However, avoid painting them on adjacent walls in the same room, as even subtle differences become apparent at a hard edge where two paints meet. For the smoothest result, use one brand consistently within each connected space and reserve the other brand for rooms that are visually separated.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Farrow & Ball equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Farrow & Ball. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Farrow & Ball work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.
Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.