Gustavian Blue vs Celestial
Gustavian Blue (Jotun) and Celestial (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Gustavian Blue reads as blue-grey, while Celestial reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 5-point LRV gap — 44 for Celestial vs 38 for Gustavian Blue — means Celestial will open up a space more effectively. Both share a cool character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 12.2 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Gustavian Blue vs Celestial in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Gustavian Blue and Celestial in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Celestial has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Celestial reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Celestial has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Gustavian Blue vs Celestial Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Gustavian Blue on one side and Celestial on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Gustavian Blue comparisons
See how Gustavian Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 38, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 38), opening up a space where Gustavian Blue encloses it.
Gustavian Blue reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 38, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (38 vs 30) makes Gustavian Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 38), opening up a space where Gustavian Blue encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 38, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 38), opening up a space where Gustavian Blue encloses it.
Gustavian Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 38 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 5-point LRV gap (43 vs 38) makes French Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 38 vs 4, Gustavian Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 38), opening up a space where Gustavian Blue encloses it.
Gustavian Blue reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Hardwick White reads slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 38), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 38, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 38 vs 21, Gustavian Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 38), opening up a space where Gustavian Blue encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 38), opening up a space where Gustavian Blue encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 38), opening up a space where Gustavian Blue encloses it.
At LRV 51 vs 38, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.
Gustavian Blue reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Gustavian Blue reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 38), opening up a space where Gustavian Blue encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 41 vs 38), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Gustavian Blue reflects far more light (LRV 38 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 38), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 7-point LRV gap (38 vs 31) makes Gustavian Blue the marginally brighter of the two.