Bedford Blue vs Black grey

Bedford BlueBenjamin MoorevsBlack greyRAL ClassicΔE 31.1Very different colors

Where Bedford Blue belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Black grey is a RAL Classic color. Hue-wise, Bedford Blue belongs to the blue family and Black grey to the blue-grey family. Bedford Blue (LRV 17) reflects noticeably more light than Black grey (LRV 6), a difference of 11 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 31.1, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Bedford Blue vs Black grey in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Bedford Blue and Black grey 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

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 LRV gap is large enough that Bedford Blue will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Black grey would.

Bedford BlueBm Bedford Blue Living Room With Leather Couch

@maddierose_home

Black greyRAL Classic Black grey 7021 living room

@dorfstadtvilla

Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Bedford Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black grey.

Bedford BlueBm Bedford Blue Kitchen Cabinets

@beckallencabinetry

Black greyRAL Classic 7021 kitchen cabinets paint review

@a.jak.agata

Color Details

Bedford Blue
Benjamin Moore · 1679
Hex#4E738C
LRV17.4
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number1679
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark
Black grey
RAL Classic · RAL 7021
Hex#2F3234
LRV6.5
BrandRAL Classic
NumberRAL 7021
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark

Bedford Blue vs Black grey Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Bedford Blue on one side and Black grey 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 Bedford Blue comparisons

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

White Dove
Bedford Blue
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Bedford Blue
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

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

Bedford Blue reads slightly lighter

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

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

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

Evergreen Fog reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Bedford Blue
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

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

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Bedford Blue
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads slightly lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Bedford Blue
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Bedford Blue
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Bedford Blue
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Bedford Blue reads slightly lighter

Pale Green
Bedford Blue
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Bedford Blue
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Bedford Blue reads slightly lighter

Cement grey
Bedford Blue
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Cement grey reads slightly lighter

Piazza
Bedford Blue
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Bedford Blue
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Grey Blue
Bedford Blue
Grey Blue
RAL ClassicClassic
Grey Blue
LRV 7

Bedford Blue reads slightly lighter

Windmill Lane
Bedford Blue
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Bedford Blue
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Bedford Blue
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Bedford Blue reads noticeably lighter

Washed Linen
Bedford Blue
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

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

Nearly identical in tone

Thames Fog
Bedford Blue
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Thames Fog reads slightly lighter

Ocean Abyss
Bedford Blue
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Bedford Blue reads slightly lighter

Classic Silver
Bedford Blue
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Bedford Blue
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads noticeably lighter

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

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

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

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Bedford Blue
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Bedford Blue
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Bedford Blue reads slightly lighter