Halcyon Green SW 6213 is the deeper, softer blue-green, with an LRV of 41 and a serene, grounded quality.
Sea Salt SW 6204 is the lighter, airier coastal green-blue-gray, with an LRV of 63 that shifts with the light.
Both are Sherwin-Williams blue-greens, so the tiebreaker is depth and how much light your room gets, not undertone. Test both on a photo of your space before you commit.
Halcyon Green and Sea Salt are two Sherwin-Williams blue-greens that shoppers cross-shop when they want a soft, watery color but cannot decide how present it should be. They share a blue-green family, but the depth gap between them is large: Halcyon Green sits at LRV 41, Sea Salt at LRV 63, a 22-point swing. Halcyon Green reads serene and grounded; Sea Salt reads breezy and barely-there. This is our side-by-side method for comparing paint colors applied to two soft SW blue-greens one depth step apart.
The numbers side by side
| Attribute | Halcyon Green SW 6213 | Sea Salt SW 6204 |
|---|---|---|
| Family | Soft blue-green | Pale green-blue-gray, coastal |
| LRV | 41 | 63 |
| Approximate hex | #AFBAA3 | #CDD2CA |
| Undertone | Blue-green, gentle, serene | Green-blue that shifts with the light |
| Loves | Serene rooms, bedrooms, spa feel | Small baths, airy coastal palettes |
| Watch out for | Shifting more blue in cool light | Fading toward off-white in strong sun |
| Overall vibe | Soft, serene, grounded | Light, breezy, barely-there |
Try it on your house
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LRV figures are the published values from Sherwin-Williams. Hex values are approximate digital renderings only, and screens vary; the authoritative reference is always a physical paint chip from the retailer.
Upload one photo, get a photorealistic render, then swap to Sea Salt in one click. Free, no signup.
Room by room, exposure by exposure
| Situation | Usual winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| North-facing room | Sea Salt | The higher LRV (63) keeps the room from closing in; Halcyon Green can shift more blue in cool light. |
| Bright south room | Halcyon Green | Strong sun can wash Sea Salt out; Halcyon Green holds its depth and reads richer. |
| Kitchen with white cabinets | Sea Salt | The breezy green-blue reads cleanly against white and keeps the kitchen feeling open. |
| Bedroom | Halcyon Green | The serene LRV 41 reads calm and grounded, which suits a bedroom. |
| Small or dim room | Sea Salt | The LRV 63 bounces what little light exists; Halcyon Green can feel heavy here. |
| Whole main floor, open plan | Sea Salt | Airier LRV 63 flows better across connected spaces and different exposures. |
The pattern is consistent: Sea Salt, with its higher LRV of 63, wins wherever light is scarce or you want the room to feel open. Halcyon Green, with its LRV of 41, wins wherever you want a serene, grounded blue-green with presence. The 22-point LRV gap between them is not a rounding error, it is a visible difference you can check on your own wall.
When to choose Halcyon Green
- You want a serene, grounded blue-green with more presence than a barely-there coastal color.
- Your room gets strong natural light, so the LRV 41 reads rich instead of flat.
- You like a soft blue-green that reads as a clear color in a bedroom or spa bath.
- You are pairing it with warm wood or cream trim and you want depth as the contrast. For the full breakdown, see our Halcyon Green undertones and best rooms guide.
When to choose Sea Salt
- Your room is small, dim, or north-facing, and you need the LRV 63 to keep the space from feeling heavy.
- You want a breezy, coastal green-blue that reads as a color but never weighs the room down.
- You are painting a kitchen with white cabinets, or any space where an airy, open feel matters more than presence.
- You are doing an open-plan main floor where one color has to flow across several rooms and exposures. For more on this lighter sage, see our Sea Salt undertones and best rooms guide, and for a related lighter-vs-deeper matchup, our Sea Salt vs Comfort Gray duel.
Same wall, both blue-greens, your actual light. Free render in about 30 seconds.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Halcyon Green and Sea Salt?
The main difference is depth. Halcyon Green SW 6213 has an LRV of 41 and a serene blue-green cast, so it reads grounded with presence. Sea Salt SW 6204 has an LRV of 63 and a green-blue that shifts with the light, so it reads lighter, airier, and more coastal. Both are Sherwin-Williams blue-greens, so the choice comes down to how much light your room gets and how much presence you want, not undertone.
Which is lighter, Halcyon Green or Sea Salt?
Sea Salt is lighter. Its LRV is 63, compared with 41 for Halcyon Green. That 22-point gap is real and visible on the wall: Sea Salt bounces more light and feels airy, while Halcyon Green reads serene and grounded with more presence. If your room is dim or small, Sea Salt is usually the safer pick.
Do Halcyon Green and Sea Salt have the same undertones?
They are in the same blue-green family, but they lean differently. Halcyon Green reads serene and grounded, and can shift more blue in cool light. Sea Salt has a green-blue quality that reads coastal and shifty. Calling them identical is the common mistake; the depth and the grounded-vs-coastal lean are what separate them.
Can I see both colors on my own wall before I buy paint?
Yes. Upload one photo of your room to FacadeColorizer, get a photorealistic render in Halcyon Green, then swap to Sea Salt in one click. You will see the 22-point LRV gap on your actual wall, in your actual light, which is the only honest way to settle this duel. The first HD render and three color variations are free.
1 HD render plus 3 free color variations. Start with Halcyon Green, swap to Sea Salt in one click.
Trademark notice. Sherwin-Williams, Halcyon Green and Sea Salt are trademarks of The Sherwin-Williams Company. FacadeColorizer is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Sherwin-Williams. Brand and color names are used descriptively (nominative fair use). Hex and RGB values are approximate digital renderings; the only authoritative reference is a physical paint sample.
Trademarks mentioned (Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Behr, Caparol, Brillux, Sto, Alpina, Valspar, PPG, Glidden, Dulux, Crown Trade, Sandtex, Farrow & Ball, Johnstone's, Leyland) are property of their respective owners. FacadeColorizer is independent and not affiliated with any of them. Nominative fair use under Lanham Act §1125.
