Polaris Blue vs Poolhouse
Polaris Blue (Benjamin Moore) and Poolhouse (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Polaris Blue belongs to the blue family and Poolhouse to the blue-grey family. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 29 vs 29 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Polaris Blue leans blue, Poolhouse reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 1.1 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Polaris Blue vs Poolhouse in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Polaris Blue and Poolhouse 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.
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. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
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
Polaris Blue vs Poolhouse Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Polaris Blue on one side and Poolhouse 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 Polaris Blue comparisons
See how Polaris Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 29), opening up a space where Polaris Blue encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 29, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Polaris Blue reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 29, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 30 vs 29), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 29), opening up a space where Polaris Blue encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 29, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 29), opening up a space where Polaris Blue encloses it.
With LRVs of 29 and 27, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 43 vs 29, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 29 vs 4, Polaris Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 29), opening up a space where Polaris Blue encloses it.
Polaris Blue reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 29), opening up a space where Polaris Blue encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 29, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (29 vs 21) makes Polaris Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 29), opening up a space where Polaris Blue encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 29), opening up a space where Polaris Blue encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 29), opening up a space where Polaris Blue encloses it.
Polaris Blue reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 29), opening up a space where Polaris Blue encloses it.
A 12-point LRV gap (41 vs 29) makes Dix Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 29, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (29 vs 25) makes Polaris Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
Polaris Blue reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 29), opening up a space where Polaris Blue encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 31 vs 29), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 29 vs 7, Polaris Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (29 vs 24) makes Polaris Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 29, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.