Varnished Ivory vs Pure White
Where Varnished Ivory belongs to Behr's range, Pure White is a Sherwin-Williams color. Varnished Ivory reads as beige, while Pure White reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Pure White (LRV 84) reflects noticeably more light than Varnished Ivory (LRV 72), a difference of 12 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Varnished Ivory runs red while Pure White is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 8.0 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Varnished Ivory vs Pure White in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Varnished Ivory and Pure White are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Pure White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Varnished Ivory.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Pure White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Varnished Ivory.
Color Details
Varnished Ivory vs Pure White Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Varnished Ivory on one side and Pure White 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 Varnished Ivory comparisons
See how Varnished Ivory stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
