Essex Blue vs Blue Bayou
Essex Blue is a Behr color while Blue Bayou comes from Cloverdale Paint. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. At LRV 59 vs 56, Blue Bayou will read as the brighter of the two — a 3-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. With a ΔE of 1.8, the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side to reliably tell them apart. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Essex Blue vs Blue Bayou in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Essex Blue and Blue Bayou 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
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Blue Bayou has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The brightness difference is modest but present — Blue Bayou gives the walls a little more lift.
Kitchen
Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The brightness difference is modest but present — Blue Bayou gives the walls a little more lift.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The brightness difference is modest but present — Blue Bayou gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
Essex Blue vs Blue Bayou Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Essex Blue on one side and Blue Bayou 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 Essex Blue comparisons
See how Essex Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
