Stiffkey Blue (No.281)
A deep, complex navy blue named after the Norfolk village. More gray and muted than Hague Blue, with a calm, scholarly quality.
About Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue
Stiffkey Blue (No.281) is a navy from Farrow & Ball's collection with an LRV of 7 and blue-gray undertones. A deep, complex navy blue named after the Norfolk village. More gray and muted than Hague Blue, with a calm, scholarly quality.
At an LRV of just 7, Stiffkey Blue is a dark, dramatic color that absorbs most of the light that hits it. This makes it perfect for creating bold, moody statements on accent walls, front doors, shutters, and exterior trim. It commands attention and creates a striking contrast with white or light-colored trim. Use it where you want real visual impact. In full room applications, generous lighting and light-colored furnishings prevent the space from feeling oppressive.
Light Reflectance Value (LRV)
Stiffkey Blue has an LRV of 7, placing it in the dark range on the 0-to-100 scale. LRV measures the percentage of visible light a color reflects. A pure black has an LRV of 0 and a pure white has an LRV of 100. Understanding a color's LRV helps you predict how it will feel in your space: higher LRV means brighter and more spacious, lower LRV means cozier and more intimate.
Undertone Analysis
Stiffkey Blue has blue-gray undertones. Undertones are the subtle background colors that become visible in different lighting conditions. Even colors that look "neutral" in the store will reveal their undertones once they are on your walls and interacting with natural light, artificial light, and the colors around them.
A deep, complex navy blue named after the Norfolk village. More gray and muted than Hague Blue, with a calm, scholarly quality. Neutral undertones give you the most flexibility in decorating. This color should coordinate well with both warm elements (wood, brass, cream) and cool elements (chrome, marble, blue-gray), making it a versatile foundation for any design direction.
Lighting Behavior
In bright light, it reads as a deep blue-gray. In dim rooms, it approaches a sophisticated near-black with blue depth. More restrained than Hague Blue.
Every paint color looks different depending on the light source in your room. South-facing rooms get warm, direct sunlight that brings out yellow and warm undertones. North-facing rooms get cool, indirect light that emphasizes blue and gray undertones. East-facing rooms are bright and warm in the morning, cooler in the afternoon. West-facing rooms are the opposite: cool morning, warm afternoon. Incandescent and warm LED bulbs push colors warmer, while cool-white LEDs and fluorescent tubes push colors cooler. To avoid surprises, always test Stiffkey Blue with a physical sample on your actual wall, and observe it at different times of day before committing.
Best Rooms for Stiffkey Blue
Farrow & Ball recommends Stiffkey Blue for: accent wall, office, bedroom, powder room, front door.
On an accent wall, Stiffkey Blue creates a focal point that draws the eye and adds visual depth to the room. Pair it with a lighter color on the remaining walls for the best contrast. On a front door, Stiffkey Blue makes a strong first impression. Front door colors are seen in full outdoor light, so choose a finish with some sheen (satin or semi-gloss) for durability and visual impact.
Closest Matches in Other Brands
Find the closest equivalent to Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue from other paint brands. Matches are calculated using Delta E (CIE2000), the industry standard for measuring perceptual color difference.
Benjamin Moore Matches
Hale Navy is the closest BM match. Both are sophisticated gray-blue navies with similar depth and restraint.
View all Benjamin Moore matches →Sherwin Williams Matches
Naval is brighter and more saturated. Stiffkey Blue is more muted and gray.
View all Sherwin Williams matches →Coordinating Colors
These colors pair beautifully with Stiffkey Blue for a cohesive palette. Use them for trim, accents, adjacent rooms, or furniture to create a well-designed space.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue is Naval (SW 6244) with a Delta E of 5.4, which rates as a "good match" match. Naval is brighter and more saturated. Stiffkey Blue is more muted and gray. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart, while 2 to 4 means the difference is subtle.
Stiffkey Blue has blue-gray undertones. A deep, complex navy blue named after the Norfolk village. More gray and muted than Hague Blue, with a calm, scholarly quality. Undertones become most visible when the color is on a large surface like a wall, and they shift depending on the light source in your room. Always test with a physical sample in your specific space to see how the undertones interact with your lighting, flooring, and furnishings.
Stiffkey Blue (No.281) has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 7, which puts it in the dark range. LRV measures the percentage of light a color reflects on a scale from 0 (pure black) to 100 (pure white). At 7, this is a darker color that creates a cozy, intimate atmosphere. Pair it with bright white trim for the best contrast.
Stiffkey Blue leans neutral, with blue-gray undertones that do not strongly push warm or cool. This makes it one of the more versatile colors in its family, pairing well with both warm and cool accent colors and finishes. In bright light, it reads as a deep blue-gray. In dim rooms, it approaches a sophisticated near-black with blue depth. More restrained than Hague Blue.
Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.