Portland Gray vs Van Courtland Blue
Both are Benjamin Moore colors. Hue-wise, Portland Gray belongs to the greige-grey family and Van Courtland Blue to the blue-grey family. At LRV 60 vs 31, Portland Gray will read as the brighter of the two — a 29-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Portland Gray's red character against Van Courtland Blue's blue — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 23.5, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Portland Gray vs Van Courtland Blue in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Portland Gray and Van Courtland Blue in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
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 Portland Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Van Courtland Blue would.
Color Details
Portland Gray vs Van Courtland Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Portland Gray on one side and Van Courtland 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 Portland Gray comparisons
See how Portland Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 60), opening up a space where Portland Gray encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (69 vs 60) makes Ammonite the marginally brighter of the two.
Portland Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
A 8-point LRV gap (60 vs 52) makes Portland Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 30, Portland Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Portland Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 60 vs 60), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 60 and 58, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Portland Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 43, Portland Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 4, Portland Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Portland Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 55), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Portland Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Portland Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 60, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 21, Portland Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 60), opening up a space where Portland Gray encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 60), opening up a space where Portland Gray encloses it.
Portland Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 68 vs 60), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 60 vs 41, Portland Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (68 vs 60) makes Calamine the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 25, Portland Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Portland Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Portland Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 31, Portland Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 7, Portland Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 24, Portland Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 60 vs 57), so neither reads brighter in a room.