Esmeralda vs Kauai
Both from Behr's palette. Hue-wise, Esmeralda belongs to the blue family and Kauai to the blue-green family. Kauai (LRV 37) reflects noticeably more light than Esmeralda (LRV 18), a difference of 19 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Esmeralda runs green and blue while Kauai is decidedly green, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 18.4, 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.
Esmeralda vs Kauai in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Esmeralda and Kauai in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Kauai reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Esmeralda.
Color Details
Esmeralda vs Kauai Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Esmeralda on one side and Kauai 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.