Lichen vs Pitch Blue
Lichen and Pitch Blue come from the same Farrow & Ball collection. Lichen reads as greige-grey, while Pitch Blue reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 19-point LRV gap — 34 for Lichen vs 15 for Pitch Blue — means Lichen will open up a space more effectively. Where Lichen leans warm, Pitch Blue reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 38.9 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 7 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Lichen vs Pitch Blue in Real Spaces
7 real rooms side by side. Seeing Lichen and Pitch Blue 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. Lichen reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Pitch Blue.
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. Lichen 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 Lichen will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Pitch Blue 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. Lichen 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. Lichen returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Lichen reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Pitch Blue.
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. Lichen returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Lichen vs Pitch Blue Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Lichen on one side and Pitch Blue 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.