Simply White vs Van Courtland Blue

Simply White and Van Courtland Blue come from the same Benjamin Moore collection. Simply White reads as beige-white, while Van Courtland Blue reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 58-point LRV gap — 90 for Simply White vs 31 for Van Courtland Blue — means Simply White will open up a space more effectively. Where Simply White leans yellow, Van Courtland Blue reads blue — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 36.5 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Simply White vs Van Courtland Blue in Real Spaces

5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Simply White 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.

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. Simply White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Van Courtland Blue.

Simply WhiteBenjamin Moore Simply White Living Room Fireplace

@stephanie.sarah.home

Van Courtland BlueVan Courtland Blue living room interior

@lifeonvirginiastreet

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. Simply White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Simply WhiteSimply White Bedroom Walls

@renovating.no.32

Van Courtland BlueVan Courtland Blue bedroom paint

@b.righthomes

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. Simply White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Simply WhiteBenjamin Moore Simply White bathroom paint review

@jaredspaintinghamilton

Van Courtland BlueBenjamin Moore Van Courtland Blue bathroom paint

@debbiemathewshome

House

A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Simply White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Simply WhiteOc-117 House Exterior Paint

@livingwithlady

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. Simply White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Simply WhiteBm Simply White Kitchen Cabinets

@kennebec_co

Van Courtland BlueKitchen Cabinets

@pinebaycollective

Color Details

Simply White
Benjamin Moore · OC-117
Hex#F6F6ED
LRV89.5
BrandBenjamin Moore
NumberOC-117
UndertoneYellow
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessLight
Van Courtland Blue
Benjamin Moore · HC-145
Hex#86989E
LRV31.5
BrandBenjamin Moore
NumberHC-145
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium

Simply White vs Van Courtland Blue Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Simply White on one side and Van Courtland Blue on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Simply White comparisons

See how Simply White stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Simply White
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

Simply White reads slightly lighter

Ammonite
Simply White
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Simply White reads noticeably lighter

Iron Ore
Simply White
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Simply White is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Simply White
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Simply White is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Simply White
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Simply White is the lighter choice

Mizzle
Simply White
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Simply White is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Simply White
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Simply White is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Simply White
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Simply White is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Simply White
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Simply White is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Simply White
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Simply White reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
Simply White
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Simply White is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Simply White
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Simply White is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
Simply White
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Simply White is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Simply White
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Simply White is the lighter choice

Black grey
Simply White
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Simply White is the lighter choice

Piazza
Simply White
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Simply White reads noticeably lighter

Humble Yellow
Simply White
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Simply White is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Simply White
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Simply White is the lighter choice

Senses
Simply White
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Simply White is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Simply White
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Simply White is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Simply White
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Simply White is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Simply White
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Simply White is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Simply White
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Simply White is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
Simply White
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Simply White is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Simply White
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Simply White is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Simply White
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Simply White is the lighter choice

RAL 110-2
Simply White
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

Simply White reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-1
Simply White
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

Simply White reads slightly lighter

Paper
Simply White
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Nearly identical in tone

Passageway
Simply White
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Simply White is the lighter choice