Boothbay Gray vs Upward
Boothbay Gray (Benjamin Moore) and Upward (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Boothbay Gray reads as blue-green, while Upward reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 14-point LRV gap — 57 for Upward vs 43 for Boothbay Gray — means Upward will open up a space more effectively. Where Boothbay Gray leans green, Upward reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. ΔE 9.8 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 8 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Boothbay Gray vs Upward in Real Spaces
8 real rooms side by side. Boothbay Gray and Upward 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
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. Upward reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Boothbay Gray.
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. Upward returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Upward returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Home Office
Home office walls matter more than most — you're looking at them all day, and a color that reads fine at first can become tiring over time. Upward returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Mudroom
In a hardworking space like a mudroom, the depth and warmth of a color reads differently than in a quieter room. The LRV gap is large enough that Upward will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Boothbay Gray would.
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. Upward 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. Upward reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Boothbay Gray.
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. Upward returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Boothbay Gray vs Upward Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Boothbay Gray on one side and Upward 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 Boothbay Gray comparisons
See how Boothbay Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
