Chicago Blues vs Snowbound
Chicago Blues (Benjamin Moore) and Snowbound (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Chicago Blues reads as blue, while Snowbound reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 65-point LRV gap — 83 for Snowbound vs 18 for Chicago Blues — means Snowbound will open up a space more effectively. Where Chicago Blues leans blue, Snowbound reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 55.8 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Chicago Blues vs Snowbound in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Chicago Blues and Snowbound in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
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. Snowbound returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Chicago Blues vs Snowbound Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Chicago Blues on one side and Snowbound 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 Chicago Blues comparisons
See how Chicago Blues stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 18, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.
At LRV 18 vs 6, Chicago Blues is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 18, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 18, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (27 vs 18) makes Denim Drift the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.
Chicago Blues reflects far more light (LRV 18 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 18, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (18 vs 13) makes Chicago Blues the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 44 vs 18, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.
Artichoke reads slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 18), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 66 vs 18, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 18, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (18 vs 12) makes Chicago Blues the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 18, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.
Calamine reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.
Treron reads slightly lighter (LRV 25 vs 18), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 6-point LRV gap (18 vs 12) makes Chicago Blues the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 18, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.
Chicago Blues reads slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 7), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Cement grey reads slightly lighter (LRV 24 vs 18), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 18), opening up a space where Chicago Blues encloses it.