Hawthorne Yellow vs Optimistic Yellow
Where Hawthorne Yellow belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Optimistic Yellow is a Sherwin-Williams color. Both sit in the beige-yellow family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Optimistic Yellow (LRV 76) reflects noticeably more light than Hawthorne Yellow (LRV 71), a difference of 4 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean warm, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. At ΔE 1.0, 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
Hawthorne Yellow vs Optimistic Yellow Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Hawthorne Yellow on one side and Optimistic Yellow 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 Hawthorne Yellow comparisons
See how Hawthorne Yellow stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
