Nelson Blue vs Denim Drift
Where Nelson Blue belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Denim Drift is a Dulux color. Nelson Blue reads as blue-green, while Denim Drift reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Nelson Blue (LRV 65) reflects noticeably more light than Denim Drift (LRV 27), a difference of 38 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Nelson Blue runs green while Denim Drift is decidedly cool, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 28.6, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Nelson Blue vs Denim Drift in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Nelson Blue and Denim Drift 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Nelson Blue will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Denim Drift would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Nelson Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Denim Drift.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Nelson Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Denim Drift.
Color Details
Nelson Blue vs Denim Drift Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Nelson Blue on one side and Denim Drift 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 Nelson Blue comparisons
See how Nelson Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 65), opening up a space where Nelson Blue encloses it.
A 3-point LRV gap (69 vs 65) makes Ammonite the marginally brighter of the two.
Nelson Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 65 vs 52, Nelson Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 65 vs 30, Nelson Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Nelson Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 52), opening up a space where Mizzle encloses it.
A 5-point LRV gap (65 vs 60) makes Nelson Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
Nelson Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 65 vs 58), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 65 vs 43, Nelson Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 65 vs 4, Nelson Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Nelson Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 65 vs 55), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Nelson Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Nelson Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 65, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 65 vs 21, Nelson Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 66 and 65, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Shoji White reads slightly lighter (LRV 74 vs 65), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 65), opening up a space where Nelson Blue encloses it.
Nelson Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
With LRVs of 68 and 65, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 65 vs 41, Nelson Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 68 vs 65), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 65 vs 25, Nelson Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Nelson Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Nelson Blue reflects far more light (LRV 65 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 65 vs 31, Nelson Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 65 vs 7, Nelson Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 65 vs 24, Nelson Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (65 vs 57) makes Nelson Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
A 7-point LRV gap (72 vs 65) makes Just Walnut the marginally brighter of the two.