Reef Blue vs Northern Air paint color comparison

Reef Blue vs Northern Air

Reef BlueBehrvsNorthern AirBenjamin MooreΔE 4.0Noticeable difference

Where Reef Blue belongs to Behr's range, Northern Air is a Benjamin Moore color. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. Northern Air (LRV 49) reflects noticeably more light than Reef Blue (LRV 45), 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 4.0 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.

Color Details

Reef Blue
Behr · S490-3
Hex#93bdcf
LRV44.9
BrandBehr
NumberS490-3
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium
Northern Air
Benjamin Moore · 1676
Hex#A0BECE
LRV49.3
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number1676
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium

Reef Blue vs Northern Air Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Reef Blue on one side and Northern Air 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 Reef Blue comparisons

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

Reef Blue
White Dove
Reef Blue vs White Dove
Reef Blue
White Dove
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

At LRV 83 vs 45, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.

Reef Blue
Ammonite
Reef Blue vs Ammonite
Reef Blue
Ammonite
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 45), opening up a space where Reef Blue encloses it.

Reef Blue
Iron Ore
Reef Blue vs Iron Ore
Reef Blue
Iron Ore
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

At LRV 45 vs 6, Reef Blue is decisively the brighter choice.

Reef Blue
Purbeck Stone
Reef Blue vs Purbeck Stone
Reef Blue
Purbeck Stone
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 45), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Reef Blue
Evergreen Fog
Reef Blue vs Evergreen Fog
Reef Blue
Evergreen Fog
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

Reef Blue reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.

Reef Blue
Mizzle
Reef Blue vs Mizzle
Reef Blue
Mizzle
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

A 7-point LRV gap (52 vs 45) makes Mizzle the marginally brighter of the two.

Reef Blue
Agreeable Gray
Reef Blue vs Agreeable Gray
Reef Blue
Agreeable Gray
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 45), opening up a space where Reef Blue encloses it.

Reef Blue
Accessible Beige
Reef Blue vs Accessible Beige
Reef Blue
Accessible Beige
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

At LRV 58 vs 45, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.

Reef Blue
Denim Drift
Reef Blue vs Denim Drift
Reef Blue
Denim Drift
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

At LRV 45 vs 27, Reef Blue is decisively the brighter choice.

Reef Blue
French Gray
Reef Blue vs French Gray
Reef Blue
French Gray
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

With LRVs of 45 and 43, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.

Reef Blue
Naval
Reef Blue vs Naval
Reef Blue
Naval
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

Reef Blue reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.

Reef Blue
Tranquil Dawn
Reef Blue vs Tranquil Dawn
Reef Blue
Tranquil Dawn
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

A 10-point LRV gap (55 vs 45) makes Tranquil Dawn the marginally brighter of the two.

Reef Blue
Bancha
Reef Blue vs Bancha
Reef Blue
Bancha
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

At LRV 45 vs 13, Reef Blue is decisively the brighter choice.

Reef Blue
Hardwick White
Reef Blue vs Hardwick White
Reef Blue
Hardwick White
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 45 vs 44), so neither reads brighter in a room.

Reef Blue
Pure White
Reef Blue vs Pure White
Reef Blue
Pure White
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 45), opening up a space where Reef Blue encloses it.

Reef Blue
Artichoke
Reef Blue vs Artichoke
Reef Blue
Artichoke
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

Reef Blue reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.

Reef Blue
Balboa Mist
Reef Blue vs Balboa Mist
Reef Blue
Balboa Mist
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

At LRV 66 vs 45, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.

Reef Blue
Shoji White
Reef Blue vs Shoji White
Reef Blue
Shoji White
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

At LRV 74 vs 45, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.

Reef Blue
Snowbound
Reef Blue vs Snowbound
Reef Blue
Snowbound
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

At LRV 83 vs 45, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.

Reef Blue
Pewter Green
Reef Blue vs Pewter Green
Reef Blue
Pewter Green
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

At LRV 45 vs 12, Reef Blue is decisively the brighter choice.

Reef Blue
Skimming Stone
Reef Blue vs Skimming Stone
Reef Blue
Skimming Stone
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

At LRV 68 vs 45, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.

Reef Blue
Dix Blue
Reef Blue vs Dix Blue
Reef Blue
Dix Blue
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

Reef Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 41), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Reef Blue
Calamine
Reef Blue vs Calamine
Reef Blue
Calamine
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

Calamine reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 45), opening up a space where Reef Blue encloses it.

Reef Blue
Treron
Reef Blue vs Treron
Reef Blue
Treron
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

Reef Blue reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 25), opening up a space where Treron encloses it.

Reef Blue
Vintage Vogue
Reef Blue vs Vintage Vogue
Reef Blue
Vintage Vogue
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

At LRV 45 vs 12, Reef Blue is decisively the brighter choice.

Reef Blue
Saybrook Sage
Reef Blue vs Saybrook Sage
Reef Blue
Saybrook Sage
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 45 vs 45), so neither reads brighter in a room.

Reef Blue
Pale Green
Reef Blue vs Pale Green
Reef Blue
Pale Green
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Reef Blue reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.

Reef Blue
Pine Needle
Reef Blue vs Pine Needle
Reef Blue
Pine Needle
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

Reef Blue reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.

Reef Blue
Cement grey
Reef Blue vs Cement grey
Reef Blue
Cement grey
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Reef Blue reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.

Reef Blue
Guilford Green
Reef Blue vs Guilford Green
Reef Blue
Guilford Green
Behr
Reef Blue
S490-3 · LRV 45

Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 45), opening up a space where Reef Blue encloses it.