Reef Blue vs Dix Blue
Reef Blue (Behr) and Dix Blue (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. Reef Blue reads as blue, while Dix Blue reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 4-point LRV gap — 45 for Reef Blue vs 41 for Dix Blue — means Reef Blue will open up a space more effectively. Where Reef Blue leans blue, Dix Blue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 14.1 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Reef Blue vs Dix Blue in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Reef Blue and Dix 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. Reef Blue reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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. Reef Blue has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Reef Blue has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Reef Blue has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
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. Reef Blue has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Reef Blue vs Dix Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Reef Blue on one side and Dix 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 Reef Blue comparisons
See how Reef Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 45, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 45), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Reef Blue reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 45), opening up a space where Reef Blue encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 45, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 45 vs 27, Reef Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 45 and 43, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 10-point LRV gap (55 vs 45) makes Tranquil Dawn the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 45 vs 44), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 45), opening up a space where Reef Blue encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 45, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 45, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 45 vs 12, Reef Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 45, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 45 vs 12, Reef Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 45 vs 45), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Reef Blue reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Reef Blue reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Reef Blue reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 45), opening up a space where Reef Blue encloses it.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 45), opening up a space where Reef Blue encloses it.