Taos Taupe vs Retreat
Taos Taupe is a Benjamin Moore color while Retreat comes from Sherwin-Williams. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. At LRV 24 vs 21, Taos Taupe will read as the brighter of the two — a 3-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Taos Taupe's red character against Retreat's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 6.3, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 7 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Taos Taupe vs Retreat in Real Spaces
7 real rooms side by side. Taos Taupe and Retreat 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
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.
Home Office
In a home office, wall color sits in your peripheral vision for hours at a time, so temperature and undertone matter more than you might expect. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.
House
At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.
Front Door
Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Kitchen Cabinets
On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.
Color Details
Taos Taupe vs Retreat Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Taos Taupe on one side and Retreat 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 Taos Taupe comparisons
See how Taos Taupe stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
