Air Force Blue vs Lamp Black
Both from Little Greene's palette. Hue-wise, Air Force Blue belongs to the blue family and Lamp Black to the grey family. Air Force Blue (LRV 22) reflects noticeably more light than Lamp Black (LRV 3), a difference of 19 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Air Force Blue runs blue while Lamp Black is decidedly purple, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 39.8, 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 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Air Force Blue vs Lamp Black in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Air Force Blue and Lamp Black in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Air Force Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Lamp Black.
Dining Room
A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. Air Force Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Air Force Blue reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Lamp Black.
Color Details
Air Force Blue vs Lamp Black Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Air Force Blue on one side and Lamp Black 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 Air Force Blue comparisons
See how Air Force Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
