Solitude vs Van Courtland Blue
Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. Solitude (LRV 42) reflects noticeably more light than Van Courtland Blue (LRV 31), a difference of 10 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. The ΔE 9.1 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Solitude vs Van Courtland Blue in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Solitude and Van Courtland Blue 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.
Living Room
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Solitude will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Van Courtland Blue would.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Solitude reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Van Courtland Blue.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Solitude reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Van Courtland Blue.
Color Details
Solitude vs Van Courtland Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Solitude 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 Solitude comparisons
See how Solitude stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
