Saybrook Sage vs Lichen
Saybrook Sage (Benjamin Moore) and Lichen (Farrow & Ball) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Saybrook Sage belongs to the grey family and Lichen to the greige-grey family. The 11-point LRV gap — 45 for Saybrook Sage vs 34 for Lichen — means Saybrook Sage will open up a space more effectively. Where Saybrook Sage leans green, Lichen reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. ΔE 8.4 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 7 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Saybrook Sage vs Lichen in Real Spaces
7 real rooms side by side. Saybrook Sage and Lichen 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
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Saybrook Sage reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Lichen.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Saybrook Sage returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Dining Room
Dining rooms often rely on warm incandescent or candlelight, which flatters warm undertones and mutes cool ones. The LRV gap is large enough that Saybrook Sage will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Lichen would.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Saybrook Sage returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Saybrook Sage returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Front Door
On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Saybrook Sage reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Lichen.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Saybrook Sage returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Saybrook Sage vs Lichen Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Saybrook Sage on one side and Lichen 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 Saybrook Sage comparisons
See how Saybrook Sage stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
