Denim Drift vs Alabaster
Denim Drift (Dulux) and Alabaster (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Denim Drift reads as blue-grey, while Alabaster reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 55-point LRV gap — 82 for Alabaster vs 27 for Denim Drift — means Alabaster will open up a space more effectively. Where Denim Drift leans cool, Alabaster reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 37.1 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Denim Drift vs Alabaster in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Denim Drift and Alabaster 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. Alabaster reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Denim Drift.
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. Alabaster 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. Alabaster returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Home Office
Home office walls matter more than most — you're looking at them all day, and a color that reads fine at first can become tiring over time. Alabaster returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Denim Drift vs Alabaster Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Denim Drift on one side and Alabaster 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 Denim Drift comparisons
See how Denim Drift stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 27, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 27, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 3-point LRV gap (30 vs 27) makes Evergreen Fog the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 27, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 27, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 4, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 27, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (27 vs 21) makes Denim Drift the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 27, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 27, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 27 vs 25), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (31 vs 27) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 27 vs 7, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 27 vs 24), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 57 vs 27, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 72 vs 27, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.