North Sea vs In the Navy
North Sea (Benjamin Moore) and In the Navy (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 6 vs 4 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where North Sea leans blue, In the Navy reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 1.3 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
North Sea vs In the Navy in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. North Sea and In the Navy 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.
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. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Color Details
North Sea vs In the Navy Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see North Sea on one side and In the Navy 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 North Sea comparisons
See how North Sea stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
