China Blue vs Distant Gray
Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. China Blue reads as blue, while Distant Gray reads as green-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Distant Gray (LRV 88) reflects noticeably more light than China Blue (LRV 65), a difference of 23 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. China Blue runs blue while Distant Gray is decidedly green, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 17.3, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
China Blue vs Distant Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see China Blue on one side and Distant Gray 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 China Blue comparisons
See how China Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 65, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Ammonite reads slightly lighter (LRV 69 vs 65), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 65 vs 6, China Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
China Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
China Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
At LRV 65 vs 52, China Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
China Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 65 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 7-point LRV gap (65 vs 58) makes China Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 65 vs 27, China Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
China Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
China Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (65 vs 55) makes China Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 65 vs 13, China Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 65 vs 44, China Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 65), opening up a space where China Blue encloses it.
China Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 66 vs 65), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 9-point LRV gap (74 vs 65) makes Shoji White the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 83 vs 65, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 65 vs 12, China Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
A 3-point LRV gap (68 vs 65) makes Skimming Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
China Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 41), opening up a space where Dix Blue encloses it.
With LRVs of 68 and 65, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
China Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 25), opening up a space where Treron encloses it.
At LRV 65 vs 12, China Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 65 vs 45, China Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
China Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
China Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
China Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
China Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 65 vs 57), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.