Cromwell Gray vs Dix Blue
Cromwell Gray (Benjamin Moore) and Dix Blue (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. Cromwell Gray reads as greige-grey, while Dix Blue reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 21-point LRV gap — 41 for Dix Blue vs 20 for Cromwell Gray — means Dix Blue will open up a space more effectively. Where Cromwell Gray leans red, Dix Blue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 24.1 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.
Cromwell Gray vs Dix Blue in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Cromwell Gray and Dix Blue 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. Dix Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Cromwell Gray.
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. Dix Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Dix Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Dix Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Dix Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Cromwell Gray vs Dix Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Cromwell Gray on one side and Dix Blue 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 Cromwell Gray comparisons
See how Cromwell Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 20), opening up a space where Cromwell Gray encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 20, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Cromwell Gray reflects far more light (LRV 20 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 20, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (30 vs 20) makes Evergreen Fog the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 20), opening up a space where Cromwell Gray encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 20, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 20), opening up a space where Cromwell Gray encloses it.
Denim Drift reads slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 20), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 20, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 20 vs 4, Cromwell Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 20), opening up a space where Cromwell Gray encloses it.
Cromwell Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 20 vs 13), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 20), opening up a space where Cromwell Gray encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 20, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 21 vs 20), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 20), opening up a space where Cromwell Gray encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 20), opening up a space where Cromwell Gray encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 20), opening up a space where Cromwell Gray encloses it.
Cromwell Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 20 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 20), opening up a space where Cromwell Gray encloses it.
At LRV 68 vs 20, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (25 vs 20) makes Treron the marginally brighter of the two.
Cromwell Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 20 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 20), opening up a space where Cromwell Gray encloses it.
A 12-point LRV gap (31 vs 20) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 20 vs 7, Cromwell Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (24 vs 20) makes Cement grey the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 20, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 72 vs 20, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.