Denim vs Dyer's Woad
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Both sit in the blue family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Dyer's Woad (LRV 30) reflects noticeably more light than Denim (LRV 14), a difference of 16 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean cool, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 17.9, 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.
Denim vs Dyer's Woad in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Denim and Dyer's Woad 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Dyer's Woad will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Denim would.
House
Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Dyer's Woad reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Denim.
Front Door
A front door is a focal point — small color differences read clearly at this concentrated scale. The LRV gap is large enough that Dyer's Woad will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Denim would.
Color Details
Denim vs Dyer's Woad Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Denim on one side and Dyer's Woad 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.