Newburyport Blue vs Downing Slate
Newburyport Blue (Benjamin Moore) and Downing Slate (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Newburyport Blue belongs to the blue family and Downing Slate to the blue-grey family. The 11-point LRV gap — 21 for Downing Slate vs 10 for Newburyport Blue — means Downing Slate will open up a space more effectively. Where Newburyport Blue leans blue, Downing Slate reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 18.6 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Newburyport Blue vs Downing Slate in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Seeing Newburyport Blue and Downing Slate 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. Downing Slate reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Newburyport Blue.
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. Downing Slate 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. Downing Slate 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. Downing Slate returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Downing Slate reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Newburyport Blue.
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. Downing Slate returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Newburyport Blue vs Downing Slate Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Newburyport Blue on one side and Downing Slate 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 Newburyport Blue comparisons
See how Newburyport Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
