Carolina Gull vs Tranquil Dawn

Carolina GullBenjamin MoorevsTranquil DawnDuluxΔE 20.5Distinct difference

Carolina Gull is a Benjamin Moore color while Tranquil Dawn comes from Dulux. These are both green-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within green-grey to land. At LRV 55 vs 27, Tranquil Dawn will read as the brighter of the two — a 28-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Carolina Gull's green character against Tranquil Dawn's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 20.5, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Carolina Gull vs Tranquil Dawn in Real Spaces

6 real rooms side by side. Seeing Carolina Gull and Tranquil Dawn 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

Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Tranquil Dawn returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Carolina Gull2138-40 Hallway

@homemadefoodjunkie

Tranquil DawnDulux Tranquil Dawn living room fireplace review

@gwynfa_renovation

Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Tranquil Dawn will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Carolina Gull would.

Carolina GullCarolina Gull Bedroom

@paintcoloursuk

Tranquil DawnTranquil Dawn bedroom color review

@our_tooting_terrace

Dining Room

Dining room light is typically the warmest in the house, which shifts both colors toward the red end of the spectrum compared to daylight. Tranquil Dawn reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Carolina Gull.

Carolina GullBm Carolina Gull Dining Room

@thdesignandremodeling

Tranquil DawnDulux Tranquil Dawn 45GY 55/052 dining room

@gosford_322

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Tranquil Dawn will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Carolina Gull would.

Carolina GullCarolina Gull Bathroom Vanity

@blue.sliver.design

Tranquil DawnDulux Tranquil Dawn bathroom paint

@thesuffolkmanse

Home Office

In a home office, wall color sits in your peripheral vision for hours at a time, so temperature and undertone matter more than you might expect. The LRV gap is large enough that Tranquil Dawn will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Carolina Gull would.

Carolina GullBenjamin Moore Carolina Gull Home Office

@mandymilks_creative

Tranquil DawnDulux Tranquil Dawn home office color paint

@house_to_home.no5

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Tranquil Dawn will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Carolina Gull would.

Carolina GullCarolina Gull Kitchen Island

@colorfulcupboardpainting

Tranquil DawnTranquil Dawn kitchen cabinets color review

@everythingsrosiedecorating

Color Details

Carolina Gull
Benjamin Moore · 2138-40
Hex#858D81
LRV27.4
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number2138-40
UndertoneGreen
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux · 45GY 55/052
Hex#BDC3B9
LRV55.0
BrandDulux
Number45GY 55/052
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium

Carolina Gull vs Tranquil Dawn Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Carolina Gull on one side and Tranquil Dawn 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.

Carolina Gull
White Dove
Carolina Gull
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 27), opening up a space where Carolina Gull encloses it.

Carolina Gull
Ammonite
Carolina Gull
Ammonite
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

At LRV 69 vs 27, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.

Carolina Gull
Iron Ore
Carolina Gull
Iron Ore
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

Carolina Gull reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.

Carolina Gull
Purbeck Stone
Carolina Gull
Purbeck Stone
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

At LRV 52 vs 27, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.

Carolina Gull
Evergreen Fog
Carolina Gull
Evergreen Fog
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 30 vs 27), so neither reads brighter in a room.

Carolina Gull
Mizzle
Carolina Gull
Mizzle
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 27), opening up a space where Carolina Gull encloses it.

Carolina Gull
Agreeable Gray
Carolina Gull
Agreeable Gray
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

At LRV 60 vs 27, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.

Carolina Gull
Accessible Beige
Carolina Gull
Accessible Beige
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 27), opening up a space where Carolina Gull encloses it.

Carolina Gull
Denim Drift
Carolina Gull
Denim Drift
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

With LRVs of 27 and 27, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.

Carolina Gull
French Gray
Carolina Gull
French Gray
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

At LRV 43 vs 27, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.

Carolina Gull
Naval
Carolina Gull
Naval
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

At LRV 27 vs 4, Carolina Gull is decisively the brighter choice.

Carolina Gull
Bancha
Carolina Gull
Bancha
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

Carolina Gull reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.

Carolina Gull
Hardwick White
Carolina Gull
Hardwick White
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 27), opening up a space where Carolina Gull encloses it.

Carolina Gull
Pure White
Carolina Gull
Pure White
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

At LRV 84 vs 27, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.

Carolina Gull
Artichoke
Carolina Gull
Artichoke
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

A 6-point LRV gap (27 vs 21) makes Carolina Gull the marginally brighter of the two.

Balboa Mist
Carolina Gull
Balboa Mist
Carolina Gull
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 27), opening up a space where Carolina Gull encloses it.

Carolina Gull
Shoji White
Carolina Gull
Shoji White
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 27), opening up a space where Carolina Gull encloses it.

Carolina Gull
Snowbound
Carolina Gull
Snowbound
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 27), opening up a space where Carolina Gull encloses it.

Carolina Gull
Pewter Green
Carolina Gull
Pewter Green
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

Carolina Gull reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.

Carolina Gull
Skimming Stone
Carolina Gull
Skimming Stone
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 27), opening up a space where Carolina Gull encloses it.

Carolina Gull
Dix Blue
Carolina Gull
Dix Blue
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

At LRV 41 vs 27, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.

Carolina Gull
Calamine
Carolina Gull
Calamine
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

At LRV 68 vs 27, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.

Carolina Gull
Treron
Carolina Gull
Treron
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 27 vs 25), so neither reads brighter in a room.

Carolina Gull
Vintage Vogue
Carolina Gull
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

Carolina Gull reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.

Carolina Gull
Saybrook Sage
Carolina Gull
Saybrook Sage
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 27), opening up a space where Carolina Gull encloses it.

Carolina Gull
Pale Green
Carolina Gull
Pale Green
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

A 4-point LRV gap (31 vs 27) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.

Carolina Gull
Pine Needle
Carolina Gull
Pine Needle
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

At LRV 27 vs 7, Carolina Gull is decisively the brighter choice.

Carolina Gull
Cement grey
Carolina Gull vs Cement grey
Carolina Gull
Cement grey
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

A 3-point LRV gap (27 vs 24) makes Carolina Gull the marginally brighter of the two.

Carolina Gull
Guilford Green
Carolina Gull
Guilford Green
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

At LRV 57 vs 27, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.

Carolina Gull
Just Walnut
Carolina Gull
Just Walnut
Benjamin Moore
Carolina Gull
2138-40 · LRV 27

At LRV 72 vs 27, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.