Earl Blue vs Steel Symphony 5
Both from Dulux's palette. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. Steel Symphony 5 (LRV 63) reflects noticeably more light than Earl Blue (LRV 41), a difference of 22 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean cool, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 14.2, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Earl Blue vs Steel Symphony 5 in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Earl Blue and Steel Symphony 5 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
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 LRV gap is large enough that Steel Symphony 5 will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Earl Blue would.
Color Details
Earl Blue vs Steel Symphony 5 Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Earl Blue on one side and Steel Symphony 5 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.
