Northern Air vs Soft Shell

Northern Air and Soft Shell come from the same Benjamin Moore collection. Hue-wise, Northern Air belongs to the blue family and Soft Shell to the beige-pink family. The 24-point LRV gap — 73 for Soft Shell vs 49 for Northern Air — means Soft Shell will open up a space more effectively. Where Northern Air leans blue, Soft Shell reads red — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 29.0 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.