Oarsman Blue vs Dix Blue
Oarsman Blue (Behr) and Dix Blue (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Oarsman Blue belongs to the blue family and Dix Blue to the blue-grey family. The 19-point LRV gap — 41 for Dix Blue vs 22 for Oarsman Blue — means Dix Blue will open up a space more effectively. Where Oarsman Blue leans blue, Dix Blue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 16.7 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Oarsman Blue vs Dix Blue in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Oarsman Blue and Dix Blue in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
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. Dix Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Oarsman Blue vs Dix Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Oarsman Blue on one side and Dix 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 Oarsman Blue comparisons
See how Oarsman Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 22), opening up a space where Oarsman Blue encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 22, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Oarsman Blue reflects far more light (LRV 22 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 22, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (30 vs 22) makes Evergreen Fog the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 22), opening up a space where Oarsman Blue encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 22, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 22), opening up a space where Oarsman Blue encloses it.
Denim Drift reads slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 22), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 22, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 22 vs 4, Oarsman Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 22), opening up a space where Oarsman Blue encloses it.
Oarsman Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 22 vs 13), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 22), opening up a space where Oarsman Blue encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 22, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 22 vs 21), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 22), opening up a space where Oarsman Blue encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 22), opening up a space where Oarsman Blue encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 22), opening up a space where Oarsman Blue encloses it.
Oarsman Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 22 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 22), opening up a space where Oarsman Blue encloses it.
At LRV 68 vs 22, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 25 vs 22), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Oarsman Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 22 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 22), opening up a space where Oarsman Blue encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (31 vs 22) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 22 vs 7, Oarsman Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 24 vs 22), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 57 vs 22, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 72 vs 22, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.