In the Blue vs Dockside Blue
In the Blue (Cloverdale Paint) and Dockside Blue (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the blue family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 43 vs 43 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. A ΔE of 0.4 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
In the Blue vs Dockside Blue in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. In the Blue and Dockside 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
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. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.
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. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Color Details
In the Blue vs Dockside Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see In the Blue on one side and Dockside 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 In the Blue comparisons
See how In the Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 43), opening up a space where In the Blue encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 43, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
In the Blue reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (52 vs 43) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 43 vs 30, In the Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 43), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 60 vs 43, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 43), opening up a space where In the Blue encloses it.
In the Blue reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 43 vs 43), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 43 vs 4, In the Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 43), opening up a space where In the Blue encloses it.
In the Blue reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
With LRVs of 44 and 43, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 84 vs 43, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 43 vs 21, In the Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 43), opening up a space where In the Blue encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 43), opening up a space where In the Blue encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 43), opening up a space where In the Blue encloses it.
In the Blue reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 43), opening up a space where In the Blue encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 43 vs 41), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 68 vs 43, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 43 vs 25, In the Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
In the Blue reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
With LRVs of 45 and 43, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 12-point LRV gap (43 vs 31) makes In the Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 43 vs 7, In the Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 43 vs 24, In the Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 43, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.