Simple Pleasures vs Downing Straw
Simple Pleasures (Benjamin Moore) and Downing Straw (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the beige family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 4-point LRV gap — 43 for Downing Straw vs 39 for Simple Pleasures — means Downing Straw will open up a space more effectively. Where Simple Pleasures leans red, Downing Straw reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 2.7 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a 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
Simple Pleasures vs Downing Straw Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Simple Pleasures on one side and Downing Straw 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 Simple Pleasures comparisons
See how Simple Pleasures stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 39), opening up a space where Simple Pleasures encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 39, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 39 vs 6, Simple Pleasures is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 39), opening up a space where Simple Pleasures encloses it.
Simple Pleasures reads slightly lighter (LRV 39 vs 30), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 52 vs 39, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 39), opening up a space where Simple Pleasures encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 39, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 12-point LRV gap (39 vs 27) makes Simple Pleasures the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 39), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Simple Pleasures reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 39, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 39 vs 13, Simple Pleasures is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (44 vs 39) makes Hardwick White the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 39), opening up a space where Simple Pleasures encloses it.
Simple Pleasures reflects far more light (LRV 39 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 39, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 39, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 39, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Pigeon reads slightly lighter (LRV 51 vs 39), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 39 vs 12, Simple Pleasures is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 39 vs 8, Simple Pleasures is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 39, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 41 and 39, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 39 vs 12, Simple Pleasures is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (45 vs 39) makes Saybrook Sage the marginally brighter of the two.
Simple Pleasures reads slightly lighter (LRV 39 vs 31), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.