Light Reflective Value In Paint – What Does It Mean?
In your quest to find that perfect paint color, sooner or later you'll run into a term called Light Reflective Value or LRV for short. Maybe a paint professional mentions it, or perhaps you notice the acronym "LRV" + a number on the paint strip, and you wonder what does light reflectance value mean in paint.
If the thought of deciphering the color science behind every shade of paint makes your eyes glaze over, don't worry. I'm going to break down what Light Reflective Value means in a simple, non-jargon-y way that will bolster your confidence to make a great paint choice for your home.
Let's get started.
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What Is Light Reflective Value (LRV)?
LRV is an attribute of color that measures how much light a paint color reflects and how much it absorbs.
As a consumer you should have a general understanding of LRV but you don't need to over-complicate your paint decision by focusing on it too much. For you to make a good paint decision, it's enough to know what Lighting Reflectance Values mean and how it can impact the appearance of any given color on your walls.
Note: Light Reflective Value is also called Light Reflectance Value in the land of the internet. The terms are used interchangeably and both are correct.
Why is LRV important?
Have you ever taken the same can of paint and applied it in two rooms, only to discover the same paint color looks darker or lighter from one room to the next?
Or perhaps you picked out a color you saw on the paint chip at the store but once you got the room painted, were disappointed that the color looks lighter than you thought it would.
That's Light Reflectance Value in action. It impacts how you perceive color both outside and indoors based on the lighting conditions and the surrounding colors. Knowing the paint LRV values can help you narrow down your color selection more accurately which reduces the chance of unpleasant paint surprises.
The light reflectance issue is one reason I always recommend Samplize peel and stick paint samples so you can easily test any paint color on the wall in your own unique lighting conditions and avoid costly paint mistakes.
Looking to test paint colors but don't want to paint? Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples from all major paint brands delivered to your door so you can put them up on the wall with no mess.
How To Understand The LRV Scale
The LRV scale values range from 0 (the blackest black, absorbing all light) to 100 (the brightest white, reflecting all light). Since nothing in life is perfect, including LRV, there are no paint colors sitting exactly at zero or 100%.
What is a low LRV?
A lower Light Reflective Value in the 0-40 range can make a room feel cozy and add visual depth and drama. On the flip side, dark and moody paints can be overwhelming or turn a small windowless room into a cave.
You'll want to be careful choosing paints at the low end of the LRV scale for the primary exterior color as well. That's because low LRV paint colors absorb heat; in cool climates that's great news for your heating bill, but in hot climates, your AC won't thank you. Low LRV paint colors may also fade faster under direct sunlight and require additional exterior lighting to avoid the cavernous look.
Generally, low LRV paints, especially those below 20, make for stunning accent walls in well-lit rooms, cabinetry, and exterior trim applications like shutters and front doors. Here are a few examples of these paints in action.
More on these shades of paint:
What is a medium LRV?
Medium LRV paint colors sit in the 40-60 range and basically cover your mid-toned shades like green gray, blue gray and greige. These colors strike a nice balance by reflecting more light than the lower LRV range, but still adding color and providing pleasing depth on your walls. This makes them more versatile and not just limited to accent walls and trim; colors above 50 LRV can even be used as a primary shade in your whole house color palette.
See my paint reviews for photo examples of medium LRV paint colors:
- SW Oyster Bay 6206 - LRV 44
- SW Requisite Gray 7023 - LRV 45
- SW Krypton 6247 - LRV 54
More on these shades of paint:
What is a high LRV?
Whites, off-whites and light grays are in the highest LRV range of 60-96. The higher the LRV, the more likely the paint is to reflect light and pick up the colors around them.
A high LRV on the inside can make a small room feel more spacious and inviting and can even cut down on the amount of artificial light needed to brighten the room. On the exterior, a high LRV under direct sunlight can end up looking washed out or be too glaring. That said, a higher LRV is generally more desirable in a hot climate or a home without surrounding shade.
LRVs in the 80-90s range are crisp and clean whites, but they might be too bright to be desirable as a wall color depending on your personal tastes and goals for your room. This range is popularly used on baseboards, around windows, stairways, cabinetry and exterior trim.
More on these shades:
What is the perfect LRV number?
There is no perfect number. 😊 For the primary paint color of a typical interior living space, an LRV between 50-70 is a good starting point to begin your search.
Where to find a paint color’s LRV?
The easiest way is to Google it. Sherwin Williams, for example, has information about the paint color on their website. Search by color name and click "details" to see the LRV number. For Benjamin Moore paints, click on the paint color name to open a window which shows the LRV.
Most major paint brands put the LRV on the back of each color of the paint chip or fan deck.
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P.S. There's no better way to create a cohesive feel than with color, but in order to avoid mistakes and get an updated look you've got to understand color like a designer.
Inside my online course, Color Made Clear, I will teach you exactly what you need to know about selecting colors for your home in everything from paint colors, to flooring and carpet, to fabrics so you can make confident color decisions and get the exact look and feel you're going for. - Even if there are finishes in your home you can't change, I'll show you how to use color to distract from them for an updated look!
