Sombrero vs Hicks' Blue
Sombrero (Benjamin Moore) and Hicks' Blue (Little Greene) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Sombrero belongs to the beige family and Hicks' Blue to the blue family. Sombrero has an LRV of 48. Where Sombrero leans red, Hicks' Blue reads blue — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 56.7 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Sombrero vs Hicks' Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Sombrero on one side and Hicks' 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 Sombrero comparisons
See how Sombrero stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 48, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 48), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Sombrero reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 48), opening up a space where Sombrero encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (58 vs 48) makes Accessible Beige the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 48 vs 27, Sombrero is decisively the brighter choice.
Sombrero reads slightly lighter (LRV 48 vs 43), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 7-point LRV gap (55 vs 48) makes Tranquil Dawn the marginally brighter of the two.
A 4-point LRV gap (48 vs 44) makes Sombrero the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 48), opening up a space where Sombrero encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 48, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 48, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 48 vs 12, Sombrero is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 48 vs 8, Sombrero is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 48, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 48 vs 12, Sombrero is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 48 vs 45), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Sombrero reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Sombrero reflects far more light (LRV 48 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.