Ocean Abyss vs Harlequin Blue
Ocean Abyss (Behr) and Harlequin Blue (Benjamin Moore) 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 31-point LRV gap — 38 for Harlequin Blue vs 7 for Ocean Abyss — means Harlequin Blue will open up a space more effectively. Both share a blue character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 36.5 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Ocean Abyss vs Harlequin Blue in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Ocean Abyss and Harlequin Blue in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Living Room
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Harlequin Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Ocean Abyss.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Harlequin Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Harlequin Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Harlequin 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
Ocean Abyss vs Harlequin Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Ocean Abyss on one side and Harlequin 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 Ocean Abyss comparisons
See how Ocean Abyss stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
