Earl Blue vs Network Gray
Earl Blue (Dulux) and Network Gray (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Earl Blue belongs to the blue-grey family and Network Gray to the grey family. The 4-point LRV gap — 41 for Earl Blue vs 37 for Network Gray — means Earl Blue will open up a space more effectively. Where Earl Blue leans cool, Network Gray reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 2.5 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Earl Blue vs Network Gray in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Earl Blue and Network Gray 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 reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
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 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Earl Blue vs Network Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Earl Blue on one side and Network Gray 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.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 41), opening up a space where Earl Blue encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (52 vs 41) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
A 11-point LRV gap (41 vs 30) makes Earl Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 60 vs 41, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 41), opening up a space where Earl Blue encloses it.
Earl Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 43 vs 41), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 41), opening up a space where Earl Blue encloses it.
With LRVs of 44 and 41, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 84 vs 41, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 41), opening up a space where Earl Blue encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 41), opening up a space where Earl Blue encloses it.
Earl Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Earl Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 41), opening up a space where Earl Blue encloses it.
Earl Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 41), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 10-point LRV gap (41 vs 31) makes Earl Blue the marginally brighter of the two.