Malt vs Naval
Where Malt belongs to Cloverdale Paint's range, Naval is a Sherwin-Williams color. Malt reads as beige-greige, while Naval reads as blue — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Malt (LRV 52) reflects noticeably more light than Naval (LRV 4), a difference of 48 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 55.4, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Malt vs Naval in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Malt and Naval in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
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 LRV gap is large enough that Malt will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Naval would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Malt reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Naval.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Malt reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Naval.
Dining Room
A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. Malt returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Malt vs Naval Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Malt on one side and Naval 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 Malt comparisons
See how Malt stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 52), opening up a space where Malt encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 52 vs 52), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 52 vs 30, Malt is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (60 vs 52) makes Agreeable Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Malt reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (52 vs 43) makes Malt the marginally brighter of the two.
Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter (LRV 55 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Malt reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 52, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 52), opening up a space where Malt encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 52), opening up a space where Malt encloses it.
Malt reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Malt reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 52), opening up a space where Malt encloses it.
Malt reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Malt reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 45), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 52 vs 31, Malt is decisively the brighter choice.
