Reef Blue vs Denim Drift

Reef BlueBehrvsDenim DriftDuluxΔE 19.0Distinct difference

Reef Blue is a Behr color while Denim Drift comes from Dulux. Reef Blue reads as blue, while Denim Drift reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 45 vs 27, Reef Blue will read as the brighter of the two — a 18-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Reef Blue's blue character against Denim Drift's cool — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 19.0, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Reef Blue vs Denim Drift in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Reef Blue 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

Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Reef Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Reef BlueBehr Reef Blue living room interior

Visualization

Denim DriftDulux Denim Drift living room paint review

@melshousetohome

Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Reef Blue will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Denim Drift would.

Reef BlueBehr Reef Blue bedroom

Visualization

Denim DriftDulux Denim Drift bedroom color review

@the_interior_lens

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Reef Blue will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Denim Drift would.

Reef BlueBehr Reef Blue bathroom

Visualization

Denim DriftDulux Denim Drift bathroom color review

@homefunkyhome

Color Details

Reef Blue
Behr · S490-3
Hex#93bdcf
LRV44.9
BrandBehr
NumberS490-3
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium
Denim Drift
Dulux · 87BG 27/077
Hex#7c8d95
LRV27.0
BrandDulux
Number87BG 27/077
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium

Reef Blue vs Denim Drift Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Reef Blue 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 Reef Blue comparisons

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

White Dove
Reef Blue
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Reef Blue
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads noticeably lighter

Iron Ore
Reef Blue
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Reef Blue is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Reef Blue
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter

Evergreen Fog
Reef Blue
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Reef Blue reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Reef Blue
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
Reef Blue
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Reef Blue
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter

Balboa Mist
Reef Blue
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
Reef Blue
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Reef Blue is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Reef Blue
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Reef Blue reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Reef Blue
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Reef Blue is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Reef Blue
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Reef Blue reads noticeably lighter

Just Walnut
Reef Blue
Just Walnut
Dulux
Just Walnut
LRV 72

Just Walnut is the lighter choice

Black grey
Reef Blue
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Reef Blue is the lighter choice

Piazza
Reef Blue
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads noticeably lighter

Humble Yellow
Reef Blue
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads slightly lighter

Windmill Lane
Reef Blue
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Reef Blue reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Reef Blue
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Reef Blue reads slightly lighter

Lamp Black
Reef Blue
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Reef Blue is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Reef Blue
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen reads slightly lighter

Tea with Florence
Reef Blue
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Reef Blue is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Reef Blue
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Reef Blue reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Reef Blue
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Reef Blue is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Reef Blue
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Reef Blue
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Reef Blue reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
Reef Blue
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Reef Blue
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Reef Blue
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Reef Blue
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Reef Blue is the lighter choice