Explorer Blue vs Freshwater
Explorer Blue (Behr) and Freshwater (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the blue family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 5-point LRV gap — 32 for Freshwater vs 27 for Explorer Blue — means Freshwater will open up a space more effectively. Where Explorer Blue leans blue, Freshwater reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. ΔE 4.2 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Explorer Blue vs Freshwater in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Explorer Blue and Freshwater 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.
Dining Room
Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The brightness difference is modest but present — Freshwater gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
Explorer Blue vs Freshwater Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Explorer Blue on one side and Freshwater 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 Explorer Blue comparisons
See how Explorer Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 27), opening up a space where Explorer Blue encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 27, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Explorer Blue reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 27, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 3-point LRV gap (30 vs 27) makes Evergreen Fog the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 27), opening up a space where Explorer Blue encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 27, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 27), opening up a space where Explorer Blue encloses it.
With LRVs of 27 and 27, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 43 vs 27, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 4, Explorer Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 27), opening up a space where Explorer Blue encloses it.
Explorer Blue reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 27), opening up a space where Explorer Blue encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 27, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (27 vs 21) makes Explorer Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 27), opening up a space where Explorer Blue encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 27), opening up a space where Explorer Blue encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 27), opening up a space where Explorer Blue encloses it.
Explorer Blue reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 27), opening up a space where Explorer Blue encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 27, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 27, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 27 vs 25), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Explorer Blue reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 27), opening up a space where Explorer Blue encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (31 vs 27) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 27 vs 7, Explorer Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
A 3-point LRV gap (27 vs 24) makes Explorer Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 27, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.