Ocean Abyss vs Hay
Ocean Abyss (Behr) and Hay (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. Ocean Abyss reads as blue, while Hay reads as beige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 51-point LRV gap — 58 for Hay vs 7 for Ocean Abyss — means Hay will open up a space more effectively. Where Ocean Abyss leans blue, Hay reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 61.2 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Ocean Abyss vs Hay in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Ocean Abyss and Hay 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. Hay 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. Hay 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 Hay Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Ocean Abyss on one side and Hay 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.
