Alfresco vs Desert Shadows
Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. Hue-wise, Alfresco belongs to the blue family and Desert Shadows to the grey family. Alfresco (LRV 22) reflects noticeably more light than Desert Shadows (LRV 12), a difference of 10 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Alfresco runs blue while Desert Shadows is decidedly red, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 24.6, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Alfresco vs Desert Shadows Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Alfresco on one side and Desert Shadows 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 Alfresco comparisons
See how Alfresco stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 22), opening up a space where Alfresco encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 22, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (30 vs 22) makes Evergreen Fog the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 22, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 22), opening up a space where Alfresco encloses it.
Denim Drift reads slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 22), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 22, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 22), opening up a space where Alfresco encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 22), opening up a space where Alfresco encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 22, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 22), opening up a space where Alfresco encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 22), opening up a space where Alfresco encloses it.
Alfresco reads slightly lighter (LRV 22 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 22), opening up a space where Alfresco encloses it.
Alfresco reads slightly lighter (LRV 22 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 22), opening up a space where Alfresco encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (31 vs 22) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 22 vs 7, Alfresco is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 24 vs 22), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 57 vs 22, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.