Boreal vs Denim Drift

BorealBehrvsDenim DriftDuluxΔE 12.6Distinct difference

Boreal (Behr) and Denim Drift (Dulux) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Boreal belongs to the green-grey family and Denim Drift to the blue-grey family. The 8-point LRV gap — 27 for Denim Drift vs 19 for Boreal — means Denim Drift will open up a space more effectively. Where Boreal leans green, Denim Drift reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 12.6 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Boreal vs Denim Drift in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Boreal and Denim Drift 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

Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The brightness difference is modest but present — Denim Drift gives the walls a little more lift.

BorealBehr Boreal dining room paint review

@victorian_on_woodburn

Denim DriftDenim Drift dining room review

@the_end_terrace

Home Office

Home office walls matter more than most — you're looking at them all day, and a color that reads fine at first can become tiring over time. Denim Drift has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

BorealBehr Boreal home office review

@kelvinsells.htx

Denim DriftDulux Denim Drift home office makeover

@haxton.dreamhome

Color Details

Boreal
Behr · N420-5
Hex#717e73
LRV19.2
BrandBehr
NumberN420-5
UndertoneGreen
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark
Denim Drift
Dulux · 87BG 27/077
Hex#7c8d95
LRV27.0
BrandDulux
Number87BG 27/077
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium

Boreal vs Denim Drift Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Boreal on one side and Denim Drift on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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.

White Dove
Boreal
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Boreal
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Boreal
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Boreal reads noticeably lighter

Purbeck Stone
Boreal
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Boreal
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
Boreal
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Boreal
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Boreal
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Boreal
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Boreal
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Boreal reads slightly lighter

Pale Green
Boreal
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Boreal
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Boreal reads noticeably lighter

Cement grey
Boreal
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Cement grey reads slightly lighter

Just Walnut
Boreal
Just Walnut
Dulux
Just Walnut
LRV 72

Just Walnut is the lighter choice

Black grey
Boreal
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Boreal reads noticeably lighter

Piazza
Boreal
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Boreal
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Boreal
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads slightly lighter

Senses
Boreal
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Boreal
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Boreal reads noticeably lighter

Washed Linen
Boreal
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Boreal
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Nearly identical in tone

Thames Fog
Boreal
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Thames Fog reads slightly lighter

Ocean Abyss
Boreal
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Boreal reads noticeably lighter

Classic Silver
Boreal
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Boreal
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-2
Boreal
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Boreal
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Boreal
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Boreal
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Boreal reads slightly lighter