Mariner 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. Mariner (LRV 46) reflects noticeably more light than Smoky Azurite (LRV 25), a difference of 21 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 25.2, 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 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Mariner vs Smoky Azurite in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Mariner 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.
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. Mariner reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Smoky Azurite.
Color Details
Mariner vs Smoky Azurite Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Mariner 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 Mariner comparisons
See how Mariner stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 46, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 46), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Mariner reflects far more light (LRV 46 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 46), opening up a space where Mariner encloses it.
A 12-point LRV gap (58 vs 46) makes Accessible Beige the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 46 vs 27, Mariner is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 46 and 43, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 9-point LRV gap (55 vs 46) makes Tranquil Dawn the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 46 vs 44), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 46), opening up a space where Mariner encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 46, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 46, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 46 vs 12, Mariner is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 46, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 46 vs 12, Mariner is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 46 vs 45), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Mariner reflects far more light (LRV 46 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Mariner reflects far more light (LRV 46 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Mariner reflects far more light (LRV 46 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
Guilford Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 57 vs 46), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.