Paper White vs Smooth White
Where Paper White belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Smooth White is a Jotun color. Hue-wise, Paper White belongs to the green-grey family and Smooth White to the greige-grey family. Paper White (LRV 74) reflects noticeably more light than Smooth White (LRV 59), a difference of 15 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Paper White runs green while Smooth White is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 8.6 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.
Paper White vs Smooth White in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Paper White and Smooth White 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 LRV gap is large enough that Paper White will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Smooth White 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. Paper White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Smooth White.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Paper White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Smooth White.
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. Paper White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Smooth White.
Color Details
Paper White vs Smooth White Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Paper White on one side and Smooth White 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 Paper White comparisons
See how Paper White stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
