Denim vs Smoky Azurite

DenimSherwin-WilliamsvsSmoky AzuriteSherwin-WilliamsΔE 14.1Distinct difference

Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. At LRV 25 vs 14, Smoky Azurite will read as the brighter of the two — a 11-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. They share a cool quality — useful to know if you're layering them in the same space. At ΔE 14.1, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Denim vs Smoky Azurite in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Denim and Smoky Azurite 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

Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Smoky Azurite returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

DenimLiving Room

@rogerandchris

Smoky AzuriteSherwin Williams Smoky Azurite Living Room

@megan_id_studio

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Smoky Azurite will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Denim would.

DenimSherwin Williams Denim kitchen cabinets interior

@santanapaintingco

Smoky AzuriteSW Smoky Azurite kitchen cabinets

@lloydsremodeling

Color Details

Denim
Sherwin-Williams · 6523
Hex#506B84
LRV13.8
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6523
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark
Smoky Azurite
Sherwin-Williams · 9148
Hex#708D9E
LRV25.1
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number9148
Undertone
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium

Denim vs Smoky Azurite Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Denim on one side and Smoky Azurite on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Denim comparisons

See how Denim stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Denim
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Denim
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
Denim
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Denim reads slightly lighter

Purbeck Stone
Denim
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
Denim
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Denim
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Denim
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Denim
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Denim
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Denim
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Denim
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Nearly identical in tone

Pale Green
Denim
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Denim
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Denim reads slightly lighter

Cement grey
Denim
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Cement grey reads slightly lighter

Black grey
Denim
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Denim reads slightly lighter

Piazza
Denim
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Denim
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Denim
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Denim
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Denim
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Denim reads slightly lighter

Washed Linen
Denim
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
Denim
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Tea with Florence reads slightly lighter

Thames Fog
Denim
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Thames Fog reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Denim
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Denim reads slightly lighter

Classic Silver
Denim
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Denim
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
Denim
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
Denim
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Denim
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Denim
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Nearly identical in tone