Black Sapphire vs Mortar
Both from Behr's palette. Hue-wise, Black Sapphire belongs to the blue-grey family and Mortar to the grey family. Mortar (LRV 67) reflects noticeably more light than Black Sapphire (LRV 7), a difference of 60 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Black Sapphire runs blue while Mortar is decidedly yellow, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 57.9, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Black Sapphire vs Mortar in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Black Sapphire and Mortar in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Mortar reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black Sapphire.
Color Details
Black Sapphire vs Mortar Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black Sapphire on one side and Mortar 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.