Hale Navy vs Magnolia
Hale Navy (Benjamin Moore) and Magnolia (Dulux) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Hale Navy belongs to the blue-grey family and Magnolia to the beige family. The 75-point LRV gap — 83 for Magnolia vs 8 for Hale Navy — means Magnolia will open up a space more effectively. Where Hale Navy leans blue, Magnolia reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 63.4 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.
Hale Navy vs Magnolia in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Hale Navy and Magnolia 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. Magnolia reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Hale Navy.
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. Magnolia 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. Magnolia returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Mudroom
In a hardworking space like a mudroom, the depth and warmth of a color reads differently than in a quieter room. The LRV gap is large enough that Magnolia will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Hale Navy would.
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. Magnolia returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Hale Navy vs Magnolia Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Hale Navy on one side and Magnolia 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 Hale Navy comparisons
See how Hale Navy stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
