Denim Drift vs Cadet
Where Denim Drift belongs to Dulux's range, Cadet is a Sherwin-Williams color. Both sit in the blue-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Cadet (LRV 31) reflects noticeably more light than Denim Drift (LRV 27), a difference of 4 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Denim Drift runs cool while Cadet is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 6.7 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Denim Drift vs Cadet in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Denim Drift and Cadet 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 brightness difference is modest but present — Cadet gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
Denim Drift vs Cadet Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Denim Drift on one side and Cadet 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.
