Colonial Blue vs Notable Hue
Colonial Blue (Benjamin Moore) and Notable Hue (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the blue family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 35 vs 37 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Colonial Blue leans blue, Notable Hue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 2.7 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Colonial Blue vs Notable Hue in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Colonial Blue and Notable Hue 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.
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. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Color Details
Colonial Blue vs Notable Hue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Colonial Blue on one side and Notable Hue 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 Colonial Blue comparisons
See how Colonial Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 35, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 35), opening up a space where Colonial Blue encloses it.
Colonial Blue reflects far more light (LRV 35 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 35, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (35 vs 30) makes Colonial Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 35), opening up a space where Colonial Blue encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 35, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 35), opening up a space where Colonial Blue encloses it.
Colonial Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 35 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 8-point LRV gap (43 vs 35) makes French Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 35 vs 4, Colonial Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 35), opening up a space where Colonial Blue encloses it.
Colonial Blue reflects far more light (LRV 35 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Hardwick White reads slightly lighter (LRV 44 vs 35), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 35, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 35 vs 21, Colonial Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 35), opening up a space where Colonial Blue encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 35), opening up a space where Colonial Blue encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 35), opening up a space where Colonial Blue encloses it.
At LRV 51 vs 35, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.
Colonial Blue reflects far more light (LRV 35 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Colonial Blue reflects far more light (LRV 35 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 35), opening up a space where Colonial Blue encloses it.
A 6-point LRV gap (41 vs 35) makes Dix Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
Colonial Blue reflects far more light (LRV 35 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 35), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 4-point LRV gap (35 vs 31) makes Colonial Blue the marginally brighter of the two.