Sterling vs Washed Linen
Where Sterling belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Washed Linen is a Jotun color. Sterling reads as grey, while Washed Linen reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Sterling (LRV 62) reflects noticeably more light than Washed Linen (LRV 55), a difference of 8 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Sterling runs green while Washed Linen is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 7.8 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Sterling vs Washed Linen in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Sterling and Washed Linen 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 — Sterling gives the walls a little more lift.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Sterling reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Sterling vs Washed Linen Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Sterling on one side and Washed Linen 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 Sterling comparisons
See how Sterling stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
