Lulworth Blue vs Old White
Lulworth Blue and Old White come from the same Farrow & Ball collection. Hue-wise, Lulworth Blue belongs to the blue family and Old White to the beige-greige family. The 10-point LRV gap — 55 for Old White vs 45 for Lulworth Blue — means Old White will open up a space more effectively. Where Lulworth Blue leans cool, Old White reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 25.3 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Lulworth Blue vs Old White in Real Spaces
6 real rooms side by side. Seeing Lulworth Blue and Old White 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. Old White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Lulworth 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. Old White 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. Old White 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. Old White 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. Old White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Lulworth 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. Old White returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Lulworth Blue vs Old White Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Lulworth Blue on one side and Old White 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 Lulworth Blue comparisons
See how Lulworth Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 45), opening up a space where Lulworth Blue encloses it.
Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 45), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 45 vs 44), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 68 vs 45, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.