Metropolitan vs Saybrook Sage

Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. Metropolitan (LRV 50) reflects noticeably more light than Saybrook Sage (LRV 45), a difference of 5 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean green, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. The ΔE 9.2 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Metropolitan vs Saybrook Sage in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Metropolitan and Saybrook Sage 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

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 brightness difference is modest but present — Metropolitan gives the walls a little more lift.

MetropolitanBm Metropolitan Modern Living Room

@firstsaturdayre

Saybrook SageBenjamin Moore HC-114 living room color

@laurengent_realtor

Bedroom

The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Metropolitan reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

MetropolitanMetropolitan Bedroom Accent Wall

@intentionaldesigns

Saybrook SageBenjamin Moore HC-114 bedroom color review

@the.willow.tree.design

Dining Room

A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. Metropolitan has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

MetropolitanAf-690 Dining Room

@katiebowlinghome

Saybrook SageBenjamin Moore Saybrook Sage Dining Room

@laurapetersonwittnebel

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. Metropolitan reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

MetropolitanMetropolitan Stylish Bathroom

@in.lakeview.we.built

Saybrook SageBenjamin Moore Saybrook Sage bathroom color

@dd_design_decor

Color Details

Metropolitan
Benjamin Moore · AF-690
Hex#BABDB8
LRV50.0
BrandBenjamin Moore
NumberAF-690
UndertoneGreen
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Saybrook Sage
Benjamin Moore · HC-114
Hex#B1B7A2
LRV45.5
BrandBenjamin Moore
NumberHC-114
UndertoneGreen
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium

Metropolitan vs Saybrook Sage Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Metropolitan on one side and Saybrook Sage on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Metropolitan comparisons

See how Metropolitan stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Metropolitan
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Metropolitan
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads noticeably lighter

Iron Ore
Metropolitan
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Metropolitan is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Metropolitan
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Nearly identical in tone

Evergreen Fog
Metropolitan
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Metropolitan reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Metropolitan
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Nearly identical in tone

Agreeable Gray
Metropolitan
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter

Denim Drift
Metropolitan
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Metropolitan reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Metropolitan
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter

Balboa Mist
Metropolitan
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
Metropolitan
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Metropolitan is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Metropolitan
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Metropolitan reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Metropolitan
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Metropolitan is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Metropolitan
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Metropolitan is the lighter choice

Black grey
Metropolitan
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Metropolitan is the lighter choice

Piazza
Metropolitan
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads noticeably lighter

Humble Yellow
Metropolitan
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads slightly lighter

Windmill Lane
Metropolitan
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Metropolitan reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Metropolitan
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Metropolitan reads slightly lighter

Lamp Black
Metropolitan
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Metropolitan is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Metropolitan
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen reads slightly lighter

Tea with Florence
Metropolitan
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Metropolitan is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Metropolitan
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Metropolitan reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Metropolitan
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Metropolitan is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Metropolitan
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Nearly identical in tone

Teton Blue
Metropolitan
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Metropolitan reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
Metropolitan
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-1
Metropolitan
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Metropolitan
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Metropolitan
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Metropolitan is the lighter choice