Guesthouse vs Downing Straw
Where Guesthouse belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Downing Straw is a Sherwin-Williams color. Both sit in the beige family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Downing Straw (LRV 43) reflects noticeably more light than Guesthouse (LRV 40), a difference of 3 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Guesthouse runs red while Downing Straw is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. At ΔE 2.1, these are close — the kind of difference that matters when choosing between them, but doesn't read strongly in a finished room. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Guesthouse vs Downing Straw Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Guesthouse on one side and Downing Straw 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 Guesthouse comparisons
See how Guesthouse stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
