Chimney vs Basically Black
Chimney (Behr) and Basically Black (Dulux) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the blue-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 8 vs 9 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Chimney leans blue, Basically Black reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 2.4 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Chimney vs Basically Black in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Chimney and Basically Black are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Living Room
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Basically Black brings more warmth to the space, while Chimney keeps things cooler and crisper.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Chimney reads more restrained here, while Basically Black adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Chimney vs Basically Black Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Chimney on one side and Basically Black 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 Chimney comparisons
See how Chimney stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
