Denim Drift vs Refuge
Denim Drift (Dulux) and Refuge (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Denim Drift belongs to the blue-grey family and Refuge to the blue family. The 8-point LRV gap — 27 for Denim Drift vs 19 for Refuge — means Denim Drift will open up a space more effectively. Both share a cool character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. ΔE 8.3 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Denim Drift vs Refuge in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Denim Drift and Refuge 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. Denim Drift reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Refuge.
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. Denim Drift returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Dining Room
Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The LRV gap is large enough that Denim Drift will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Refuge would.
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. Denim Drift 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 Refuge Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Denim Drift on one side and Refuge 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.
