Boreal vs Ocean Abyss
Both from Behr's palette. Boreal reads as green-grey, while Ocean Abyss reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Boreal (LRV 19) reflects noticeably more light than Ocean Abyss (LRV 7), a difference of 12 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Boreal runs green while Ocean Abyss is decidedly blue, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 22.3, 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 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Boreal vs Ocean Abyss in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Boreal and Ocean Abyss in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Dining Room
A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. Boreal returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Home Office
The test for a home office color isn't how it looks in a quick glance — it's whether it still feels right after a full day of work. Boreal reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Ocean Abyss.
Color Details
Boreal vs Ocean Abyss Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Boreal on one side and Ocean Abyss 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 Boreal comparisons
See how Boreal stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
