Barren Plain vs Big Chill
Barren Plain (Benjamin Moore) and Big Chill (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Barren Plain belongs to the greige-grey family and Big Chill to the grey family. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 62 vs 62 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Barren Plain leans red, Big Chill reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 1.3 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Barren Plain vs Big Chill in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Barren Plain and Big Chill 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. Barren Plain brings more warmth to the space, while Big Chill keeps things cooler and crisper.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Big Chill reads more restrained here, while Barren Plain adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Big Chill reads more restrained here, while Barren Plain adds a sense of enclosure and warmth.
Color Details
Barren Plain vs Big Chill Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Barren Plain on one side and Big Chill 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.
