Ocean Abyss vs Underwater
Both from Behr's palette. Hue-wise, Ocean Abyss belongs to the blue family and Underwater to the blue-grey family. Underwater (LRV 11) reflects noticeably more light than Ocean Abyss (LRV 7), a difference of 4 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean blue, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 9.7 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Ocean Abyss vs Underwater in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Ocean Abyss and Underwater 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The brightness difference is modest but present — Underwater gives the walls a little more lift.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Underwater reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Dining Room
A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. Underwater has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The brightness difference is modest but present — Underwater gives the walls a little more lift.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Underwater reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Ocean Abyss vs Underwater Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Ocean Abyss on one side and Underwater 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 Ocean Abyss comparisons
See how Ocean Abyss stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
