Essex Blue vs Wondrous Blue
Essex Blue (Behr) and Wondrous Blue (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. The 3-point LRV gap — 59 for Wondrous Blue vs 56 for Essex Blue — means Wondrous Blue will open up a space more effectively. Where Essex Blue leans blue, Wondrous Blue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 2.8 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.
Essex Blue vs Wondrous Blue in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Essex Blue and Wondrous Blue 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.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Wondrous Blue has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Wondrous Blue has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Essex Blue vs Wondrous Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Essex Blue on one side and Wondrous Blue 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.
