Onyx vs Stonewashed Blue
Onyx (Benjamin Moore) and Stonewashed Blue (Dulux) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Onyx belongs to the grey family and Stonewashed Blue to the blue family. The 23-point LRV gap — 28 for Stonewashed Blue vs 5 for Onyx — means Stonewashed Blue will open up a space more effectively. Where Onyx leans red, Stonewashed Blue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 41.1 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Onyx vs Stonewashed Blue in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Onyx and Stonewashed Blue 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. Stonewashed Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Onyx.
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. Stonewashed Blue 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. Stonewashed Blue 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. Stonewashed Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Onyx.
Color Details
Onyx vs Stonewashed Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Onyx on one side and Stonewashed Blue 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 Onyx comparisons
See how Onyx stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
