Earl Blue vs Smoke Grey
Earl Blue and Smoke Grey come from the same Dulux collection. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. The 11-point LRV gap — 41 for Earl Blue vs 30 for Smoke Grey — means Earl Blue 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 9.2 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Earl Blue vs Smoke Grey in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Earl Blue and Smoke Grey 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. Earl Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Smoke Grey.
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. Earl Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Earl Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Earl Blue vs Smoke Grey Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Earl Blue on one side and Smoke Grey 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 Earl Blue comparisons
See how Earl Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
