Barely White vs Swansdown
Barely White (Cloverdale Paint) and Swansdown (Dulux) come from different manufacturers. Barely White reads as white, while Swansdown reads as greige-white — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 76 vs 76 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. A ΔE of 1.1 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Barely White vs Swansdown in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Barely White and Swansdown 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.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
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
Barely White vs Swansdown Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Barely White on one side and Swansdown 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 Barely White comparisons
See how Barely White stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Barely White reads slightly lighter (LRV 76 vs 69), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 7-point LRV gap (83 vs 76) makes White Dove the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 76 vs 6, Barely White is decisively the brighter choice.
Barely White reflects far more light (LRV 76 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
Barely White reflects far more light (LRV 76 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
At LRV 76 vs 52, Barely White is decisively the brighter choice.
Barely White reflects far more light (LRV 76 vs 60), opening up a space where Agreeable Gray encloses it.
At LRV 76 vs 58, Barely White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 76 vs 27, Barely White is decisively the brighter choice.
Barely White reflects far more light (LRV 76 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
Barely White reflects far more light (LRV 76 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
At LRV 76 vs 55, Barely White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 76 vs 13, Barely White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 76 vs 44, Barely White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reads slightly lighter (LRV 84 vs 76), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Barely White reflects far more light (LRV 76 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (76 vs 66) makes Barely White the marginally brighter of the two.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 76 vs 74), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 7-point LRV gap (83 vs 76) makes Snowbound the marginally brighter of the two.
Barely White reflects far more light (LRV 76 vs 51), opening up a space where Pigeon encloses it.
At LRV 76 vs 12, Barely White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 76 vs 8, Barely White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (76 vs 68) makes Barely White the marginally brighter of the two.
Barely White reflects far more light (LRV 76 vs 41), opening up a space where Dix Blue encloses it.
At LRV 76 vs 12, Barely White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 76 vs 45, Barely White is decisively the brighter choice.
Barely White reflects far more light (LRV 76 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.