Timid White vs Barely Pear
Timid White (Benjamin Moore) and Barely Pear (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Timid White reads as beige-white, while Barely Pear reads as beige-yellow — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 82 vs 83 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Timid White leans yellow, Barely Pear reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 1.5 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Timid White vs Barely Pear in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Timid White and Barely Pear 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. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.
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. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Color Details
Timid White vs Barely Pear Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Timid White on one side and Barely Pear 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 Timid White comparisons
See how Timid White stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Timid White reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 69), opening up a space where Ammonite encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 83 vs 82), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 82 vs 6, Timid White is decisively the brighter choice.
Timid White reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
Timid White reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
At LRV 82 vs 52, Timid White is decisively the brighter choice.
Timid White reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 60), opening up a space where Agreeable Gray encloses it.
At LRV 82 vs 58, Timid White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 82 vs 27, Timid White is decisively the brighter choice.
Timid White reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
Timid White reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
At LRV 82 vs 55, Timid White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 82 vs 13, Timid White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 82 vs 44, Timid White is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 84 and 82, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Timid White reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
At LRV 82 vs 66, Timid White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (82 vs 74) makes Timid White the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 83 vs 82), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Timid White reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 51), opening up a space where Pigeon encloses it.
At LRV 82 vs 12, Timid White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 82 vs 8, Timid White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 82 vs 68, Timid White is decisively the brighter choice.
Timid White reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 41), opening up a space where Dix Blue encloses it.
At LRV 82 vs 12, Timid White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 82 vs 45, Timid White is decisively the brighter choice.
Timid White reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.