Beneath the Clouds vs Naval
Beneath the Clouds (Benjamin Moore) and Naval (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Beneath the Clouds reads as blue-grey, while Naval reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 37-point LRV gap — 42 for Beneath the Clouds vs 4 for Naval — means Beneath the Clouds will open up a space more effectively. Where Beneath the Clouds leans blue, Naval reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 46.3 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Beneath the Clouds vs Naval in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Seeing Beneath the Clouds and Naval 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. Beneath the Clouds reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Naval.
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. Beneath the Clouds returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Dining Room
Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The LRV gap is large enough that Beneath the Clouds will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Naval would.
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. Beneath the Clouds returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Beneath the Clouds returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Beneath the Clouds reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Naval.
Color Details
Beneath the Clouds vs Naval Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Beneath the Clouds on one side and Naval 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 Beneath the Clouds comparisons
See how Beneath the Clouds stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 42), opening up a space where Beneath the Clouds encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 42, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Beneath the Clouds reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (52 vs 42) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
A 11-point LRV gap (42 vs 30) makes Beneath the Clouds the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 42), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 60 vs 42, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 42), opening up a space where Beneath the Clouds encloses it.
Beneath the Clouds reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 43 vs 42), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 42), opening up a space where Beneath the Clouds encloses it.
Beneath the Clouds reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
With LRVs of 44 and 42, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 84 vs 42, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 42 vs 21, Beneath the Clouds is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 42), opening up a space where Beneath the Clouds encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 42), opening up a space where Beneath the Clouds encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 42), opening up a space where Beneath the Clouds encloses it.
Beneath the Clouds reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 42), opening up a space where Beneath the Clouds encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 42 vs 41), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 68 vs 42, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 42 vs 25, Beneath the Clouds is decisively the brighter choice.
Beneath the Clouds reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 42), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 11-point LRV gap (42 vs 31) makes Beneath the Clouds the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 42 vs 7, Beneath the Clouds is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 42 vs 24, Beneath the Clouds is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 42, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 72 vs 42, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.