Thermal vs Underwater
Both from Behr's palette. Both sit in the blue-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Underwater (LRV 11) reflects noticeably more light than Thermal (LRV 7), a difference of 3 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 7.0 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Thermal vs Underwater in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Thermal and Underwater are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Living Room
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The brightness difference is modest but present — Underwater gives the walls a little more lift.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Underwater reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Thermal vs Underwater Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Thermal on one side and Underwater 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 Thermal comparisons
See how Thermal stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 7, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 7), opening up a space where Thermal encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 7), opening up a space where Thermal encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 7), opening up a space where Thermal encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 7, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 7, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 7), opening up a space where Thermal encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 7, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 7, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 7), opening up a space where Thermal encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 7, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 7, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (12 vs 7) makes Pewter Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 7, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (12 vs 7) makes Vintage Vogue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 7, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 7), opening up a space where Thermal encloses it.
With LRVs of 7 and 7, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Cement grey reflects far more light (LRV 24 vs 7), opening up a space where Thermal encloses it.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 7), opening up a space where Thermal encloses it.