Midnight Oil vs Basically Black
Midnight Oil is a Benjamin Moore color while Basically Black comes from Dulux. Midnight Oil reads as grey, while Basically Black reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. With LRVs of 8 and 9, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. The tonal difference — Midnight Oil's blue character against Basically Black's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 3.7, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Midnight Oil vs Basically Black in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Midnight Oil and Basically Black 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.
House
At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.
Color Details
Midnight Oil vs Basically Black Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Midnight Oil on one side and Basically Black 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 Midnight Oil comparisons
See how Midnight Oil stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
