Black Bean vs Niebla Azul
Black Bean and Niebla Azul come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Hue-wise, Black Bean belongs to the grey family and Niebla Azul to the blue-grey family. The 49-point LRV gap — 53 for Niebla Azul vs 4 for Black Bean — means Niebla Azul will open up a space more effectively. Where Black Bean leans warm, Niebla Azul reads cool — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 56.4 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Black Bean vs Niebla Azul in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Black Bean and Niebla Azul in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
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. Niebla Azul returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Black Bean vs Niebla Azul Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Black Bean on one side and Niebla Azul 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 Black Bean comparisons
See how Black Bean stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 4, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Bean encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 6 vs 4), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Bean encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Bean encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 4, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Bean encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 4, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 4, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Bean encloses it.
With LRVs of 4 and 4, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 55 vs 4, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (13 vs 4) makes Bancha the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 44 vs 4, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Bean encloses it.
Artichoke reflects far more light (LRV 21 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Bean encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 4, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 4, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 4, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (12 vs 4) makes Pewter Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 4, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Bean encloses it.
Calamine reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Bean encloses it.
Treron reflects far more light (LRV 25 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Bean encloses it.
A 8-point LRV gap (12 vs 4) makes Vintage Vogue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 45 vs 4, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Bean encloses it.
Pine Needle reads slightly lighter (LRV 7 vs 4), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Cement grey reflects far more light (LRV 24 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Bean encloses it.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 4), opening up a space where Black Bean encloses it.