Carolina Gull vs Denim Drift

Carolina GullBenjamin MoorevsDenim DriftDuluxΔE 11.7Distinct difference

Carolina Gull (Benjamin Moore) and Denim Drift (Dulux) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Carolina Gull belongs to the green-grey family and Denim Drift to the blue-grey family. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 27 vs 27 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Carolina Gull leans green, Denim Drift reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 11.7 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Carolina Gull vs Denim Drift in Real Spaces

5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Carolina Gull and Denim Drift 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. Denim Drift brings more warmth to the space, while Carolina Gull keeps things cooler and crisper.

Carolina Gull2138-40 Hallway

@homemadefoodjunkie

Denim DriftDulux Denim Drift living room paint review

@melshousetohome

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. Carolina Gull reads more restrained here, while Denim Drift adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.

Carolina GullCarolina Gull Bedroom

@paintcoloursuk

Denim DriftDulux Denim Drift bedroom color review

@the_interior_lens

Dining Room

Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The temperature contrast between Denim Drift and Carolina Gull is what sets these apart most in this context.

Carolina GullBm Carolina Gull Dining Room

@thdesignandremodeling

Denim DriftDenim Drift dining room review

@the_end_terrace

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. Carolina Gull reads more restrained here, while Denim Drift adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.

Carolina GullCarolina Gull Bathroom Vanity

@blue.sliver.design

Denim DriftDulux Denim Drift bathroom color review

@homefunkyhome

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. Carolina Gull reads more restrained here, while Denim Drift adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.

Carolina GullBenjamin Moore Carolina Gull Home Office

@mandymilks_creative

Denim DriftDulux Denim Drift home office makeover

@haxton.dreamhome

Color Details

Carolina Gull
Benjamin Moore · 2138-40
Hex#858D81
LRV27.4
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number2138-40
UndertoneGreen
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Denim Drift
Dulux · 87BG 27/077
Hex#7c8d95
LRV27.0
BrandDulux
Number87BG 27/077
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium

Carolina Gull vs Denim Drift Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Carolina Gull on one side and Denim Drift 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 Carolina Gull comparisons

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

White Dove
Carolina Gull
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Carolina Gull
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Carolina Gull
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Carolina Gull reads noticeably lighter

Purbeck Stone
Carolina Gull
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads noticeably lighter

Evergreen Fog
Carolina Gull
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Nearly identical in tone

Mizzle
Carolina Gull
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads noticeably lighter

Agreeable Gray
Carolina Gull
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Carolina Gull
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Carolina Gull
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Carolina Gull
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Carolina Gull reads noticeably lighter

Pale Green
Carolina Gull
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
Carolina Gull
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Carolina Gull reads noticeably lighter

Cement grey
Carolina Gull
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Carolina Gull reads slightly lighter

Just Walnut
Carolina Gull
Just Walnut
Dulux
Just Walnut
LRV 72

Just Walnut is the lighter choice

Black grey
Carolina Gull
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Carolina Gull reads noticeably lighter

Piazza
Carolina Gull
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Carolina Gull
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Carolina Gull
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads slightly lighter

Senses
Carolina Gull
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Carolina Gull
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Carolina Gull reads noticeably lighter

Washed Linen
Carolina Gull
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Carolina Gull
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Carolina Gull reads slightly lighter

Thames Fog
Carolina Gull
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Nearly identical in tone

Ocean Abyss
Carolina Gull
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Carolina Gull reads noticeably lighter

Classic Silver
Carolina Gull
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads noticeably lighter

Teton Blue
Carolina Gull
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-2
Carolina Gull
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Carolina Gull
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Carolina Gull
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Carolina Gull
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Carolina Gull reads noticeably lighter