Poolside vs Santa Monica Blue
Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. Poolside (LRV 28) reflects noticeably more light than Santa Monica Blue (LRV 16), a difference of 12 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean blue, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 14.7, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Poolside vs Santa Monica Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Poolside on one side and Santa Monica 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 Poolside comparisons
See how Poolside stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 28, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 28), opening up a space where Poolside encloses it.
With LRVs of 30 and 28, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 28), opening up a space where Poolside encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 28, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 28 vs 27), so neither reads brighter in a room.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 28), opening up a space where Poolside encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 28, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 28, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 28), opening up a space where Poolside encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 28, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 28, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 28 vs 12, Poolside is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 28, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 28 vs 12, Poolside is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 45 vs 28, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 31 and 28, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Poolside reflects far more light (LRV 28 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Poolside reads slightly lighter (LRV 28 vs 24), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 28), opening up a space where Poolside encloses it.