Onyx vs Vandyke Brown
Onyx is a Benjamin Moore color while Vandyke Brown comes from Jotun. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. At LRV 18 vs 5, Vandyke Brown will read as the brighter of the two — a 13-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Onyx's red character against Vandyke Brown's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 27.3, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Onyx vs Vandyke Brown in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Onyx and Vandyke Brown 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
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Vandyke Brown returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Vandyke Brown will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Onyx would.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Vandyke Brown will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Onyx would.
Color Details
Onyx vs Vandyke Brown Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Onyx on one side and Vandyke Brown 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.
