Wythe Blue vs Upward
Wythe Blue (Benjamin Moore) and Upward (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Wythe Blue reads as blue-green, while Upward reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 9-point LRV gap — 57 for Upward vs 48 for Wythe Blue — means Upward will open up a space more effectively. Where Wythe Blue leans green, Upward reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 11.2 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 7 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Wythe Blue vs Upward in Real Spaces
7 real rooms side by side. Seeing Wythe Blue and Upward 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. Upward reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Wythe Blue.
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. Upward returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Upward returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Mudroom
In a hardworking space like a mudroom, the depth and warmth of a color reads differently than in a quieter room. The LRV gap is large enough that Upward will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Wythe Blue would.
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. Upward returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Upward reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Wythe Blue.
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. Upward returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Wythe Blue vs Upward Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Wythe Blue on one side and Upward 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 Wythe Blue comparisons
See how Wythe Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
