Big Dipper vs Sea Mariner
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (6 vs 7), so they'll read as similarly Dark in most lighting conditions. Big Dipper runs neutral while Sea Mariner is decidedly cool, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 5.2 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Big Dipper vs Sea Mariner in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Big Dipper and Sea Mariner 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.
Mudroom
Mudrooms are seen in passing, often under whatever light comes through the door — a context that favors colors with some depth. Big Dipper reads more restrained here, while Sea Mariner adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Big Dipper vs Sea Mariner Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Big Dipper on one side and Sea Mariner 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 Big Dipper comparisons
See how Big Dipper stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 6), opening up a space where Big Dipper encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 6, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 6 and 6, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 52 vs 6, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 6, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 6), opening up a space where Big Dipper encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 6, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 6), opening up a space where Big Dipper encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 6), opening up a space where Big Dipper encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 6, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 6 vs 4), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 6), opening up a space where Big Dipper encloses it.
Bancha reads slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 6), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 6), opening up a space where Big Dipper encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 6, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 21 vs 6, Artichoke is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 6), opening up a space where Big Dipper encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 6), opening up a space where Big Dipper encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 6), opening up a space where Big Dipper encloses it.
Pewter Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 6), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 6), opening up a space where Big Dipper encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 6, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 6, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 25 vs 6, Treron is decisively the brighter choice.
Vintage Vogue reads slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 6), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 6), opening up a space where Big Dipper encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 6, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 7 vs 6), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 24 vs 6, Cement grey is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 6, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.