Nelson Blue vs Denim Drift

Nelson BlueBenjamin MoorevsDenim DriftDuluxΔE 28.6Very different colors

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.

Nelson BlueNelson Blue Living Room

@jordnemme

Denim DriftDulux Denim Drift living room paint review

@melshousetohome

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.

Nelson BlueBedroom

@bellahomedecorllc

Denim DriftDulux Denim Drift bedroom color review

@the_interior_lens

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.

Nelson BlueBm Nelson Blue Bathroom

@harmonyhaus

Denim DriftDulux Denim Drift bathroom color review

@homefunkyhome

Color Details

Nelson Blue
Benjamin Moore · CW-635
Hex#CED6D0
LRV65.4
BrandBenjamin Moore
NumberCW-635
UndertoneGreen
TemperatureCool
BrightnessLight
Denim Drift
Dulux · 87BG 27/077
Hex#7c8d95
LRV27.0
BrandDulux
Number87BG 27/077
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium

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.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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
Nelson Blue
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove reads noticeably lighter

Ammonite
Nelson Blue
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads slightly lighter

Iron Ore
Nelson Blue
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Nelson Blue is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Nelson Blue
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Nelson Blue reads noticeably lighter

Evergreen Fog
Nelson Blue
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Nelson Blue is the lighter choice

Mizzle
Nelson Blue
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Nelson Blue reads noticeably lighter

Agreeable Gray
Nelson Blue
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Nelson Blue reads slightly lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Nelson Blue
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Nelson Blue reads slightly lighter

Balboa Mist
Nelson Blue
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Nearly identical in tone

Vintage Vogue
Nelson Blue
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Nelson Blue is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Nelson Blue
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Nelson Blue is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
Nelson Blue
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Nelson Blue is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Nelson Blue
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Nelson Blue is the lighter choice

Just Walnut
Nelson Blue
Just Walnut
Dulux
Just Walnut
LRV 72

Just Walnut reads slightly lighter

Black grey
Nelson Blue
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Nelson Blue is the lighter choice

Piazza
Nelson Blue
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Nearly identical in tone

Humble Yellow
Nelson Blue
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Nelson Blue reads slightly lighter

Windmill Lane
Nelson Blue
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Nelson Blue is the lighter choice

Senses
Nelson Blue
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Nelson Blue reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Nelson Blue
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Nelson Blue is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Nelson Blue
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Nelson Blue reads slightly lighter

Tea with Florence
Nelson Blue
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Nelson Blue is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Nelson Blue
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Nelson Blue is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
Nelson Blue
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Nelson Blue is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Nelson Blue
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Nelson Blue reads noticeably lighter

Teton Blue
Nelson Blue
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Nelson Blue is the lighter choice

RAL 110-2
Nelson Blue
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-1
Nelson Blue
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 reads noticeably lighter

Paper
Nelson Blue
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper reads noticeably lighter

Passageway
Nelson Blue
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Nelson Blue is the lighter choice