Distance vs Smoky Azurite
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. Smoky Azurite (LRV 25) reflects noticeably more light than Distance (LRV 15), a difference of 10 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 11.7, 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 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Distance vs Smoky Azurite in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Distance 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
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 Smoky Azurite will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Distance would.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Smoky Azurite reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Distance.
Color Details
Distance vs Smoky Azurite Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Distance on one side and Smoky Azurite 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 Distance comparisons
See how Distance stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
