Make Believe vs Strand of Pearls
Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. These are both beige-greiges, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within beige-greige to land. Strand of Pearls (LRV 72) reflects noticeably more light than Make Believe (LRV 52), a difference of 20 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Make Believe runs red while Strand of Pearls is decidedly yellow and red, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 12.7, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Make Believe vs Strand of Pearls Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Make Believe on one side and Strand of Pearls 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 Make Believe comparisons
See how Make Believe stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 52), opening up a space where Make Believe encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 52, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Make Believe reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 52 vs 52), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 52 vs 30, Make Believe is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 52 and 52, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
A 8-point LRV gap (60 vs 52) makes Agreeable Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Make Believe reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (52 vs 43) makes Make Believe the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 52 vs 4, Make Believe is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter (LRV 55 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Make Believe reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Make Believe reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 52, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 52 vs 21, Make Believe is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 52), opening up a space where Make Believe encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 52), opening up a space where Make Believe encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 52), opening up a space where Make Believe encloses it.
Make Believe reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 52), opening up a space where Make Believe encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (52 vs 41) makes Make Believe the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 52, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 52 vs 25, Make Believe is decisively the brighter choice.
Make Believe reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Make Believe reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 45), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 52 vs 31, Make Believe is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 52 vs 7, Make Believe is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 52 vs 24, Make Believe is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (57 vs 52) makes Guilford Green the marginally brighter of the two.