Opal Waters vs Denim Drift

Opal WatersBehrvsDenim DriftDuluxΔE 21.2Distinct difference

Opal Waters (Behr) and Denim Drift (Dulux) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Opal Waters belongs to the blue family and Denim Drift to the blue-grey family. The 26-point LRV gap — 53 for Opal Waters vs 27 for Denim Drift — means Opal Waters will open up a space more effectively. Where Opal Waters leans blue, Denim Drift reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 21.2 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Opal Waters vs Denim Drift in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Opal Waters and Denim Drift 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. Opal Waters reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Denim Drift.

Opal WatersBehr Opal Waters living room interior

Visualization

Denim DriftDulux Denim Drift living room paint review

@melshousetohome

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. Opal Waters returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Opal WatersBehr Opal Waters bedroom

Visualization

Denim DriftDulux Denim Drift bedroom color review

@the_interior_lens

Bathroom

Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Opal Waters returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Opal WatersBehr Opal Waters bathroom

Visualization

Denim DriftDulux Denim Drift bathroom color review

@homefunkyhome

Color Details

Opal Waters
Behr · MQ5-50
Hex#b1c6d1
LRV53.3
BrandBehr
NumberMQ5-50
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium
Denim Drift
Dulux · 87BG 27/077
Hex#7c8d95
LRV27.0
BrandDulux
Number87BG 27/077
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium

Opal Waters vs Denim Drift Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Opal Waters on one side and Denim Drift on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Opal Waters comparisons

See how Opal Waters stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Opal Waters
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Opal Waters
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads noticeably lighter

Iron Ore
Opal Waters
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Opal Waters is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Opal Waters
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Nearly identical in tone

Evergreen Fog
Opal Waters
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Opal Waters reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Opal Waters
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Nearly identical in tone

Agreeable Gray
Opal Waters
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Opal Waters
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Nearly identical in tone

Balboa Mist
Opal Waters
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
Opal Waters
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Opal Waters is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Opal Waters
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Opal Waters reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Opal Waters
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Opal Waters is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Opal Waters
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Opal Waters is the lighter choice

Just Walnut
Opal Waters
Just Walnut
Dulux
Just Walnut
LRV 72

Just Walnut reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Opal Waters
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Opal Waters is the lighter choice

Piazza
Opal Waters
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads slightly lighter

Humble Yellow
Opal Waters
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads slightly lighter

Windmill Lane
Opal Waters
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Opal Waters reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Opal Waters
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Opal Waters reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Opal Waters
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Opal Waters is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Opal Waters
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Nearly identical in tone

Tea with Florence
Opal Waters
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Opal Waters is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Opal Waters
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Opal Waters is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
Opal Waters
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Opal Waters is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Opal Waters
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Opal Waters reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Opal Waters
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Opal Waters reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
Opal Waters
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-1
Opal Waters
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Opal Waters
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Opal Waters
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Opal Waters is the lighter choice