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.
More Esmeralda comparisons
See how Esmeralda stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 18), opening up a space where Esmeralda encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 18, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 18, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 18, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 18), opening up a space where Esmeralda encloses it.
Denim Drift reads slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 18), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 18, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 18), opening up a space where Esmeralda encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 18), opening up a space where Esmeralda encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 18, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 18), opening up a space where Esmeralda encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 18), opening up a space where Esmeralda encloses it.
Esmeralda reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 18), opening up a space where Esmeralda encloses it.
Esmeralda reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 18), opening up a space where Esmeralda encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 18, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (18 vs 7) makes Esmeralda the marginally brighter of the two.
A 6-point LRV gap (24 vs 18) makes Cement grey the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 18, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.