Guilford Green vs Gesso
Where Guilford Green belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Gesso is a Cloverdale Paint color. Guilford Green reads as beige-green, while Gesso reads as beige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Gesso (LRV 78) reflects noticeably more light than Guilford Green (LRV 57), a difference of 21 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 14.5, 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 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Guilford Green vs Gesso in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Guilford Green and Gesso in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Living Room
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Gesso will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Guilford Green would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Gesso reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Guilford Green.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Gesso reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Guilford Green.
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. Gesso reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Guilford Green.
Color Details
Guilford Green vs Gesso Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Guilford Green on one side and Gesso 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 Guilford Green comparisons
See how Guilford Green stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
