Barren Plain vs Nimbus
Barren Plain and Nimbus come from the same Benjamin Moore collection. These are both greige-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within greige-grey to land. The 3-point LRV gap — 62 for Barren Plain vs 59 for Nimbus — means Barren Plain will open up a space more effectively. Where Barren Plain leans red, Nimbus reads yellow and red — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 1.6 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Barren Plain vs Nimbus in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Barren Plain and Nimbus 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.
Living Room
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Color Details
Barren Plain vs Nimbus Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Barren Plain on one side and Nimbus 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 Barren Plain comparisons
See how Barren Plain stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 62), opening up a space where Barren Plain encloses it.
A 7-point LRV gap (69 vs 62) makes Ammonite the marginally brighter of the two.
Barren Plain reflects far more light (LRV 62 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (62 vs 52) makes Barren Plain the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 62 vs 30, Barren Plain is decisively the brighter choice.
Barren Plain reads slightly lighter (LRV 62 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 62 vs 60), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Barren Plain reads slightly lighter (LRV 62 vs 58), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Barren Plain reflects far more light (LRV 62 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 62 vs 43, Barren Plain is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 62 vs 4, Barren Plain is decisively the brighter choice.
Barren Plain reads slightly lighter (LRV 62 vs 55), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Barren Plain reflects far more light (LRV 62 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Barren Plain reflects far more light (LRV 62 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 62, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 62 vs 21, Barren Plain is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 62), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 62), opening up a space where Barren Plain encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 62), opening up a space where Barren Plain encloses it.
Barren Plain reflects far more light (LRV 62 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 68 vs 62), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 62 vs 41, Barren Plain is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (68 vs 62) makes Calamine the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 62 vs 25, Barren Plain is decisively the brighter choice.
Barren Plain reflects far more light (LRV 62 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Barren Plain reflects far more light (LRV 62 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 62 vs 31, Barren Plain is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 62 vs 7, Barren Plain is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 62 vs 24, Barren Plain is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (62 vs 57) makes Barren Plain the marginally brighter of the two.