Magnolia vs De Nimes
Magnolia (Dulux) and De Nimes (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. Magnolia reads as beige, while De Nimes reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 64-point LRV gap — 83 for Magnolia vs 19 for De Nimes — means Magnolia will open up a space more effectively. Where Magnolia leans warm, De Nimes reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 44.7 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Magnolia vs De Nimes in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Magnolia and De Nimes 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
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. Magnolia reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than De Nimes.
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. Magnolia returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
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. Magnolia returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Magnolia returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Magnolia vs De Nimes Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Magnolia on one side and De Nimes 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 Magnolia comparisons
See how Magnolia stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
